How much is your health worth? How much would you be willing to invest for a chance to restore your smile? Today, dental implants in Chicago Illinois can give you the opportunity to invest in your health, restore your smile, and dramatically improve the quality of your life.
Making the decision to replace your missing teeth, and selecting the tooth replacement solution that is most similar to your natural teeth can reinvigorate your social life. The embarrassing spaces left by missing teeth and the awkwardness of smiling in public will soon be forgotten. Instead, patients who choose dental implants can smile openly, chew effortlessly, and restore their lost confidence.
Dental implants are permanent substitutes for your natural teeth. Their design includes all of the anatomical details of real teeth: a tooth root and a functional biting surface. During the early phases of the procedure, the underlying jaw bone becomes permanently fused with the artificial tooth root fixture. This interaction, known as osseointgration, creates a sturdy anchor that can support normal biting and chewing.
Once the artificial tooth root fixture has been successfully implanted, a customized biting surface can be created to complete your smile. This may be in the form of a dental crown, and abutment for a dental bridge, or an attachment for a denture, depending on your needs or final desired outcome.
Your dental implants should be viewed as a long-term investment. With proper care, you can enjoy a lifetime of confident smiling. You can look forward to chewing the foods that you prefer, including meats and fruits. Implants are also a proven method for retaining the structure of your jaw bone and facial profile. In contrast to other tooth replacements that only function above the gumline, your implants will work actively around the clock to stimulate your bone and protect your oral health and facial proportions.
Drs. Steven Koos and Brian Shah, your oral and maxillofacial surgeons serving Chicago Illinois, are experienced in all of the intricacies of dental implant placement. From reviewing your medical history to preparing you for the procedure to communicating with your general dentist, you can be assured that you are in the hands of knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated dental surgery professionals. And, when you are making a decision that will impact your health and the quality of your life, isn’t that just what you want?
Call ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio at 312-328-9000 for your consultation about dental implants in Chicago, Illinois today.
First, a brief lesson in dental anatomy and terminology: the pathway that runs straight down through the root of the tooth and is occupied by the tooth’s nerve and blood vessels is known as the “root canal”. The canal ends at the very tip of the tooth’s root, referred to as the “apex”. When a root canal procedure is performed, the nerve is removed and the canal is sterilized and filled with a permanent filling material. If the tooth had been previously infected or “abscessed”, the root canal procedure typically resolves the infection and the tooth can be restored and saved.
In the event that the root canal procedure cannot effectively resolve the infection, our dual degree oral surgeon serving the Chicago Loop vicinity, can step in to remove the infected portion of the tooth root in order to save your tooth. The surgical procedure known as an apicoectomy, involves the removal of the tooth’s apex as well as any surrounding hard or soft tissue that may have become damaged, infected or if a cyst has developed.
Once the apex has been removed, sometimes a filling is used to seal the root. The area is usually always grafted in with bone and a membrane is used to cover the bony window that was made for access to the tooth root. The overlying gum tissue will be sutured together in the final step and all of this is carried out under the comforts of sedation. In a matter of months, the bone will heal around the root and a follow-up visit will be scheduled to monitor the healing process.
Generally, an apicoectomy is not the solution of choice when the tooth has been root canal has bee re-treated, or when the tooth root is fractured. It is an appropriate “final attempt” which can be an effective method of preserving your natural teeth that are already facing the possibility of extraction, although the success rates are only moderate.
All surgical procedures are unique, and the prognosis for the outcome of the procedure must be determined on an individual basis. In most cases, an apicoectomy is only recommended when there is a reasonable expectation that the tooth can be saved. Long term success, approximately 10 years, can be achieved in select cases. Some statistics demonstrate as high as about 85% of apicoectomy procedures are successful long-term, while others show the success rate as low as 25%. With the help of advanced dental technology, the success rate is often higher than average and the recovery period is more favorable.
To find out if an apicoectomy is necessary to save your tooth, contact ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio at 312-328-9000 today for an evaluation.
A sinus lift is a common dental surgical procedure that can be performed prior to, or at the time of, dental implant placement. In this procedure, the bone and related anatomy at the bottom of the sinus cavity is augmented to create the needed vertical height to provide a more ideal environment for a dental implant.
To best position you for a successful implant, Dr. Steven Koos, your implant dentist serving Downtown Chicago, will need to assess the proposed location for your replacement tooth. If the quality or quantity of the bone structure is deemed inadequate, the implant may fail to heal properly if bone grafting is not done due to a lack of vertical support. Fortunately, this determination does not necessarily prevent you from enjoying a healthy dental implant. Instead, additional procedures may be recommended to provide increased support for the new tooth.
As it related to the actual sinus cavity, a sinus lift can only be performed in the upper jaw. A sinus lift is never relevant when an implant is used to replace a missing lower tooth. When an upper tooth needs to be replaced with a dental implant, the location of the floor of the sinus cavity should be verified with the use of advanced 3D dental x-rays. If roots of the upper teeth tend to extend towards and into the sinus, then it is reasonable to expect that the proposed dental implant will also extend into the same area.
To prepare the bone in the vicinity of the sinus, your implant dentist will carefully make a small window in the bony wall of the sinus and raise or “lift” the floor of the sinus membrane. The new space will then be filled with natural or artificial bone and be permitted to heal. With the additional vertical bone depth, the implant can be expected to heal properly with support throughout its length and serve you well for many years.
There are a number of available procedures designed to improve the success of your dental implant. Since every procedure is not recommended in every instance, trust Dr. Koos to select the procedures that are best for you. Start by calling ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio in Chicago, Illinois to schedule your consultation to discuss dental implants today.
Choosing a sedation dentist in Chicago Illinois can remove much of the tension and apprehension experienced by many dental patients. While sedation dentistry is not a substitute for a talented, experienced and caring oral and maxillofacial surgeon, it can certainly make any procedure more relaxing.
Depending upon the type of sedation and the level of sedation that you receive, it is possible that you will have little or no memory of the procedure. Aside from general anesthesia, which most patients choose, most other forms of sedation can be highly effective at promoting a deep level of relaxation. During your initial consultation and health history review, the appropriate form of sedation will be recommended for you. When nitrous oxide, along with intravenous sedation is administered, patients find themselves so relaxed that they indeed fall asleep. Imagine that, taking a restful nap while having procedures carried out in your mouth!
Whether you are asleep or awake during your scheduled procedure, it is common to remember very little about your dental visit. You may drift in and out of sleep or simply not feel inclined to pay attention during the treatment. There are a host of other advantages to sedation dentistry:
Greater degree of relaxation and comfort
Subdued gag reflex
Ability to tolerate longer or more complex dental visits
Reduced restlessness during procedures
Safe, fast onset
Can be customized according to individual needs
Elimination of stress, anxiety and fear
In light of the fact that most patients have little or no memory of their dental procedure, your sedation dentist in downtown Chicago will review the details of the visit prior to administering any medication. All treatment recommendations, alternatives, and risks will be thoroughly reviewed. Written and detailed instructions will also be provided to you or a responsible adult companion.
Today, there are a number of sedative options that can make oral surgery procedures virtually painless. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are the only specialists to receive extensive training in all aspects of anesthesia administration. As surgical specialists in the dental field, their level of expertise enables them to select the option that is best for you. For a detailed professional consultation regarding sedation dentistry, call the downtown Chicago office of Drs. Steven Koos and Brian Shah at 312-328-9000 for your appointment today.
– Dr. Steven Koos, owner of ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio, a practice specializing in oral and jaw surgery in the Chicago Loop neighborhood of Chicago IL, is among a group of oral and maxillofacial surgeons nationwide that are promoting National Facial Protection Month.
Online PR News – 12-April-2012 –Chicago, IL – Dr. Steven Koos, owner of ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio, a practice specializing in oral and jaw surgery in the Chicago Loop neighborhood of Chicago IL, is among a group of oral and maxillofacial surgeons nationwide that are promoting National Facial Protection Month this April. This promotional campaign is sponsored by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Orthodontists on a national level, with more localized promotion by regional oral surgeons such as Dr. Koos, as well as other dental professionals.
The primary focus of Facial Protection Month is to make more people aware of the dangers that can result from not wearing helmets and mouthguards while engaged in sports-related activities. Injuries sustained when this protective gear is not worn can result in issues that send children and adults alike to emergency rooms or straight to the offices of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Some of the most common injuries result in the need for these surgeons to provide treatment of facial bone trauma (such as treating broken noses – nasal bone fractures, broken cheek bones – zygomatic fractures, facial fractures –LeFort fractures, broken jaws – mandible fractures), facial soft tissue trauma treatment (such as lacerated tongues and lacerated lips) and dental trauma treatment (such as treating broken teeth, avulsed teeth, displaced teeth).
Dr. Koos is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon that is regularly called upon to perform facial trauma repair and oral surgery in Downtown Chicago due to injuries sustained while patients are engaged in sports without the proper protective gear for their head and face. “Many people think that they’re immune to the types of serious injuries that people warn them about if they don’t wear a helmet or mouthguard,” explains Dr. Koos. “They take an ‘it’s not going to happen to me’ attitude. Unfortunately, there’s no predicting when an injury is going to occur and who it will affect. Oftentimes the results of an injury are even more devastating when you realize that the injury could’ve easily been prevented. I completely endorse a proactive injury prevention approach. Traumatic injuries occur in an instant, but can be devastating and take weeks to months to heal.”
The statistics on the effectiveness of an effort as simple as wearing a mouthguard or helmet are hard to ignore, and it is up to oral surgeons in Chicago such as Dr. Koos, as well as medical and dental professionals nationwide, to spread the word and make people more aware of the effectiveness of this protective gear. And, there’s certainly good reason to heed the advice being promoted by Chicago oral surgeons and others across the nation. The American Dental Association estimates that mouthguard usage can prevent over 200,000 oral injuries per year, while the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety claims that athletes are sixty times more likely to sustain tooth damage when protective mouthguards are not worn. Unfortunately, however, only about a third of children engaged in organized sports wear mouthguards and only about a third of those that wear mouthguards in games will also utilize them during practice. Yet, over 60% of sports-related injuries happen during practices.
When it comes to helmet usage, a properly fitted helmet is estimated to prevent up to 45,000 head injuries and up to 55,000 facial injuries per year from bicycle accidents alone, according to Safe Kids USA. And wearing bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head and brain injury by almost 90%. In addition to promoting the usage of helmets, medical and dental professionals are providing information to the public about the proper way to wear a helmet, including sizing, the fit of chin straps, and more.
While Dr. Koos’ focus tends towards promoting the importance of mouthguards and face protecting shields in contact sports, since those are the primary injuries he comes into contact with as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he also makes sure to remind parents and kids alike how important it is to wear a good-fitting helmet. Even when it comes to mouthguard usage, the Chicago Illinois jaw & oral surgeon explains the importance of a proper fit. He explains that the most effective and comfortable mouthguards are custom-made to fit well over all teeth and cover gums, while allowing for normal breathing and speech. Store-bought “boil and bite” mouthguards do not offer the same level of protection or comfort, he further explains, although they are preferable to wearing nothing at all. Interestingly, custom performance mouth guards also have scientific research behind them demonstrating improvements in endurance, speed and strength.
“This spring, I will be sure to remind patients that visit my office about the importance of facial protection when engaging in sports,” says Dr. Koos. “While it seems like it should be common sense, the statistics show that it is an uphill battle to keep these kids as safe as possible, but we’re working on changing those statistics the best that we can.”
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Dr. Steven Koos is an oral, maxillofacial and jaw surgeon serving Cook County Chicago and is owner of ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio. The Chicago Loop oral surgeon is committed to educating the public about the importance of facial protection during sporting activities and is proudly promoting the information put forth by national dental, orthodontic and oral surgery organizations during the month of April for Facial Protection Month. For more information about how you can prevent facial, oral or dental trauma through the use of properly fitting mouthguards and helmets, or to find out more about Dr. Koos and his Chicago oral surgery practice, visit http://orasurgery.com.
If you consider the ingenious design of our natural teeth, it’s easy to appreciate the success of dental implants. Both consist of a root portion that serves as an anchor to the jaw bone and both extend above the gumline to create a strong biting or chewing surface.
If you compare the design of the natural teeth to that of a traditional denture, it quickly becomes evident that the denture falls short in a several key areas. That’s why patients who wear dentures in Chicago are choosing dental implants to resolve those discrepancies as well as the stigma and discomfort that a set of unanchored false teeth brings.
Without anchoring to the jaw bone like a natural tooth root, a denture is essentially an appliance that relies on soft gum tissue for support. Floating on top of such an unstable foundation presents a major challenge for denture wearers. Typically, even with the help of denture adhesives and pastes, keeping a denture in place can begin to consume all of your waking hours and can severely restrict your diet.
To eliminate the dilemma, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon can utilize a few strategically placed dental implants to retain (anchor) your denture.
Right away, you’ll notice that there will never again be a need to purchase denture pastes or adhesive products. That’s because the implants work together with your jaw bone to create a strong and permanent foundation for your denture teeth. The implants are resistant to the bone loss that would occur in the absence of a tooth root, therefore their positions remain constant even after years of daily use.
Next, you’ll notice that a new level of self-confidence will begin to emerge. That’s because you can enjoy eating, speaking, and smiling without the embarrassment of an ill-fitting denture. Living with the fear that your denture will slip, click, or otherwise be publicly revealed isn’t really living at all!
The substantial support that dental implants provide can transform your denture from a “plate” into a comfortable and efficient set of teeth.
To learn more about what dental implants can do for your denture in Chicago Illinois, call ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio for a well needed soulution.
Oral surgery can be a major proposition, and patients facing these procedures gain peace of mind when they know that the oral surgeon has the training, experience and expertise needed for a successful surgery.
When choosing an oral surgeon in Downtown Chicago, patients should carefully consider the qualifications of the professionals who will be operating on them.
The oral surgeons at at ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio, Dr. Steven Koos and Dr. Brian Shah, are accomplished professionals who have dedicated themselves to excellence, reaching well beyond the basic requirements for oral surgery practice.
Dr. Koos belongs to an exclusive group of oral surgeons who also graduated from medical school, earning his dental degree from Northwestern and his medical degree from Case Western. He also completed an intensive six-year surgical residency in which he rotated through the top Cleveland hospitals. That educational path gave Dr. Koos countless opportunities to enhance and hone his surgical skills by working with varying patient populations and conditions.
An honored and accomplished oral surgeon, Dr. Koos belongs to a number of professional associations including the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Koos was awarded the Patient’s Choice Award in 2011, an honor achieved by a mere 5 percent of physicians.
Dr. Koos also has demonstrated a commitment to practicing oral surgery in an environmentally sustainable fashion. He is a certified sustainability practitioner (CSR-P) and serves on the Council for Environmentally Responsible Surgery as well as the advisory board of the Eco-Dentistry Association.
Like Dr. Koos, Dr. Brian Shah also holds dual degrees in dentistry and medicine. He earned his dental degree from The Ohio State School of Dentistry and graduated from medical school at Harvard University. Dr. Shah completed his surgical residency at several Boston-area hospitals.
Dr. Shah is also a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and holds membership in a number of professional dental and medical organizations.
All oral surgeons must complete a post-graduate residency in the specialty after finishing dental school, but this is the minimum qualification to practice oral surgery. The most dedicated practitioners will pursue ongoing education opportunities and strive to become leaders in the field, as the oral surgeons at ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio have.
To learn more about Drs. Koos and Shah and to schedule a consultation in the Chicago area, call 312-328-9000 today.
Online PR News – 14-March-2012 –Chicago, IL – Dr. Steven Koos, a Downtown Chicago oral surgeon and owner of ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio, is uniquely offering patients an oral HPV screening test at his Chicago Loop oral surgery practice. The test, called the OraRisk® HPV Salivary Diagnostic Test, screens for the presence or absence of the human papillomavirus within the mouth and throat.
Human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, is among the most common of all virus groups worldwide. Specific forms of HPV can pose potential health risks and are considered to possibly increase a person’s chance of developing both cervical cancer in women and oral cancer in both women and men. With early detection, monitoring and treatment can be performed with the aim of preventing subsequent health risks that may result from the presence of an HPV infection within the mouth.
The OraRisk HPV diagnostic test is extremely accurate, quick, easy and non-invasive. Dr. Koos can administer the test in only a few minutes when patients visit his Chicago oral surgery practice. In addition to determining if HPV is present in the mouth, the diagnostic tool can also identify the specific type of HPV present, making it easier to determine what the proper course of action should be. Dr. Koos recommends this simple HPV screening test to all patients. This especially includes patients that are considered at risk for oral cancer, have a family history of oral cancer, exhibit signs and symptoms of oral cancer, have suspicious looking oral lesions or are sexually active. Certain strains of HPV (HPV 16 and HPV 18) are among the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States and can be transmitted through oral or genital contact. Approximately 6 million new cases of HPV are identified each year.
“We are strongly recommending that all our patients consider being screened for oral HPV in much the same way that doctors encourage women to maintain regularly scheduled pap tests or suggest that men obtain PSA tests,” explains the Chicago, Illinois oral surgeon. “Certain types of the HPV virus can lead to potentially serious health risks, including oral cancer. As with other types of screening tests, if the virus is identified early monitoring and treatment can be initiated.”
Up until now, many patients have been unaware that a screening test exists for oral HPV and have not understood the potential risks that the virus can cause if it goes undetected. Patients are also unaware of how prevalent oral HPV infection actually is and Dr. Koos is trying to change that. ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio is unique in offering the OraRisk HPV Salivary Diagnostic Test to patients, and Dr. Koos is actively encouraging patients to consider the quick, painless and easy-to-administer test. This initiative is in line with the Chicago Loop oral surgeon’s general philosophy of running his practice with a focus on individualized patient care and a commitment to staying up to date on the latest advances in the fields of medicine and dentistry.
“It’s worth a minute to identify potential health risks,” says Dr. Koos. “As a medical and dental professional, I feel it is my job to make patients aware of the fact that a risk does exist and to inform them of the steps they can take to detect any potential threat to their health. That’s why I am encouraging all of my patients to have the oral HPV screening test performed when they visit my office.”
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ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio is owned by Dr. Steven Koos, an oral surgeon in Downtown Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Koos is unique in offering the OraRisk HPV Salivary Diagnostic Test in his office, a test that can detect the presence of the human papillomavirus in the mouth and can identify the type of virus that is present. This diagnostic tool offers early detection of a virus that is believed to potentially increase the risk of oral cancer. For more information about the oral HPV screening tool offered by Dr. Koos, or to find out more about the other types of oral and jaw surgery the Chicago oral surgeon offers, visit ORA®‘s website at http://orasurgery.com.
Patients who are considering dental implants in Illinois sometimes express concern that they are too old to be candidates for the treatment. That worry is unfounded, though. Additionally, the need for proper nutrition and the ability to eat a wide variety of foods is a vital necessity at any age. Dental implants can also restore lost confidence in older patients and increase their oral comfort tremendously.
The good news is that dental implants can be placed in adult patients of any age, as long as sufficient bone is present to support the implant. The oral surgeon will consider a number of characteristics, such as overall health and condition of the teeth and gums, when determining a patient’s appropriateness for dental implants, but age is not on that list.
Dental implants are so effective because they integrate with the bone, becoming a permanent part of the mouth’s structure. In that way, the jawbone atrophy that occurs when a tooth is lost may jeopardize the dental implant process.
Older patients may lose more bone over time, particularly if the tooth has been missing for years. Even patients with significant bone loss may still be able to take advantage of implants, though. The implants can be placed strategically to maximize available bone, or a preliminary bone augmentation graft surgery can provide supplemental bone at the dental implant site.
Although there is no upper age limit for dental implant candidates, some patients are too young to qualify for the devices. Dental implants should not be placed until growth is complete and the jaw bone is fully developed.
If dental implants are inserted to the jaw prematurely, they may shift out of the proper position as the jaw bone continues to evolve. Some younger patients may qualify for dental implants in conjunction with an overarching orthodontic treatment plan, but in most cases, patients should wait at least until their late teens before pursuing dental implants.
Rest assured that no patient is too old for dental implants, but other factors, such as general oral health, may influence the success of the procedure. Consult our dual-degree Chicago oral surgeons at ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio to find out if dental implants will be effective in your case. Call at 312-328-9000 to schedule your visit.
Dental abscesses can lead to a host of complications, ranging from simple inflammation of the oral cavity to fatal systemic infections. If an abscess progresses far enough, Chicago patients may need much more that just a tooth extraction to prevent the bacteria from traveling throughout the body.
These bigger problems can arise when the bacteria found in the abscess of the dental pulp or root have the opportunity to escape the confines of the tooth and jaw bone and spread elsewhere.
Therefore, patients should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of dental abscesses, such as severe tooth pain and bad breath, so that they can visit an oral surgeon in Downtown Chicago for a timely intervention.
In addition to the common localized pain and swelling that accompanies a dental abscess, a more rare complication of a tooth abscess can occur called a cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST). This is just one example of another serious issue that can arise from a dental abscess.
The cavernous sinuses are cavities located at the base of the skull. A cavernous sinus thrombosis is usually a complication of an infection of the central face, paranasal sinuses, bacteremia, trauma, and infections of the ear or maxillary (upper) teeth. A CST is generally a sudden and severe process with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Yes, once again, as with Ludwig’s angina and mediastinitis, you can die from a tooth abscess that leads to a CST!
The cavernous sinuses receive blood from a web of veins that contain no valves, therefore blood can flow in any direction depending on the prevailing pressure gradients. Since the cavernous sinuses receive blood via this distribution, infections of the upper teeth and face can spread easily via the facial vein into this complex of veins. The infection causes an inflammatory thrombotic reaction in the vasculature and cavernous sinus cavities leading to a host of severe symptoms.
Symptoms of the condition include bulging eyes, drooping eyelids, headache, and immobility of the eye, among related problems. Patients with cavernous sinus thrombosis are also likely to develop acute headaches early on. Signs of sepsis are an indication of severe progression.
Typically, death is due to sepsis or central nervous system infection. With aggressive management, the mortality rate is now less than 30%. Morbidity, however, remains high, and complete recovery is rare, even with early intervention. Roughly one sixth of patients are left with some degree of visual impairment, and one half have cranial nerve deficits.
Patients who develop cavernous sinus thrombosis face hospital admission and a prolonged regimen of strong IV antibiotics to eradicate the infection. That course of medication may be delivered for several weeks.
In many cases of dental abscesses, a tooth extraction can help patients prevent negative outcomes like a cavernous sinus thrombosis. If a dental abscess is treated early, before the bacteria have a chance to spread to nearby structures, the bacteria can be contained and removed from the mouth.
It’s important to recognize the signals that may indicate a tooth abscess. If you feel that you may have a dental abscess, consult with our oral surgeon serving Chicago IL and the surrounding Chicago-land suburbs to get a confirmed diagnosis and to begin planning for treatment.
How much is your health worth? How much would you be willing to invest for a chance to restore your smile? Today, dental implants in Chicago Illinois can give you the opportunity to invest in your health, restore your smile, and dramatically improve the quality of your life.
