Patients often enter orthodontic treatment with dual goals of enhancing the smile’s appearance as well as improving the way the upper and lower jaw fit together to form the bite. However, braces alone are sometimes insufficient for achieving those goals when a skeletal deficiency is also present.
When orthodontic treatment does not completely correct the problems with the alignment of the teeth, jaw surgery in the Chicago Loop can be used as part of a comprehensive approach to address a variety of patients’ issues. Jaw surgery is also known as orthognathic surgery (orthognathic means “straight jaws”), and many oral surgeons will use the two terms interchangeably.
Jaw surgery may be necessary to correct a variety of abnormalities. If the patient has an open bite, in which space remains between the jaws even when the mouth is closed, surgery may be required. Additionally, a pronounced underbite or a recessed lower jaw can also be fixed through surgery. It may also be necessary to surgically reposition the lateral placement of the jaws in patients whose jaws are skewed to one side of the face.
Orthognathic surgery is typically performed in either a hospital or a dedicated surgical center. The patient is placed under full general anesthesia, and the surgery can last as many as 4-6 hours in complex cases. The dual-degreed oral surgeon will need to hold the jaw in place using plates and screws (rigid fixation) to ensure that the jaw does not shift during the healing process. Sometimes the jaws need to be wired closed for a short period of time depending on the complexity and stability of the case.
If orthognathic surgery is recommended in your case, it is important to consult with a dual-degreed oral surgeon. Without surgery, you may continue to have chewing problems or obstructions of the airway even after you have completed orthodontic treatment. When orthognathic surgery is indicated, you would also be unlikely to get the full aesthetic and functional benefits using only orthodontia.
When beginning your treatment, ask your orthodontist if you will also need to consult with an oral surgeon. If you are a candidate for orthognathic surgery, Dr. Steven Koos, a dual-degree oral surgeon serving the Chicago Loop, will work closely with your dentist and orthodontist to ensure that your overall course of treatment stays on track.
The numerous health and dental advantages of wisdom teeth extraction have been well-documented. Patients are less susceptible to infection, damage to adjacent teeth and painful abscesses when their wisdom teeth have been removed. However, a less prominent major benefit has recently been identified. Wisdom teeth house valuable potent adult stem cells that can be directed to form any type of cell in the body, presenting a possible treatment for unforeseen conditions that may affect patients in the future.
When an oral surgeon removes the wisdom teeth, the stem cells can be harvested and stored for a variety of uses. Stem cells are already being used as therapies for illnesses like muscular dystrophy and cancer. Additional applications may be on the horizon. For example, researchers are exploring whether such stem cells can be used to re-grow a natural replacement for a missing tooth. Stem cells also may have potential to treat a variety of systemic conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, among others.
Because the stem cells are housed in the dental pulp, any tooth that has been extracted or fallen out, including baby teeth, can serve as a source of the cells. When using wisdom teeth, it’s best to extract the stem cells from an adolescent patient, which provides extra incentive to have the wisdom teeth removed as early as possible.
Harvesting and storing the stem cells is a straightforward, simple process. The stem cells can be readily removed from the pulp as soon after a tooth’s extraction as possible, as the pulp becomes less viable as more time passes following the separation of the pulp from its blood supply. Dr. Steven Koos, a dual-degree oral surgeon, will then store the cells in a personalized kit, and the stem cells will be transported to a storage facility, where they will be cryogenically preserved.
If you are planning to have your wisdom teeth removed in Chicago, ask Dr. Koos about steps that can be taken to preserve the stem cells found in the teeth. This safe, non-controversial source of stem cells that are compatible with your body’s unique biological composition may give you the opportunity to benefit from your wisdom tooth extraction for decades to come.
Oral surgeons are highly trained dental surgery practitioners who complete intensive 4 -6 year residency programs in their specialty area in addition to four years of dental school. Some oral surgeons even complete medical school and therefore possess a dual-degree. As a result, an oral surgeon is capable of treating a variety of conditions that are far beyond the scope of a general or family dental practice.
Many people have their initial experience with oral surgery when it is time to have their wisdom teeth removed, and indeed this is a procedure commonly performed by oral surgeons. Dr. Steven Koos, a dual-degree oral surgeon serving Chicago, can skillfully remove the wisdom teeth in both routine and complex cases, such as patients who have wisdom teeth that are severely impacted, within the sinus cavities and close to sensory nerves. He can also do this providing comfortable, relaxing sedation.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can also perform reconstructive surgery to repair damage caused by trauma or disease. For example, an oral surgeon would be called upon to reconstruct an eye socket, repair a fractured nose and re-set a broken jaw to ensure proper healing. Reconstructive oral surgery also addresses congenital conditions such as cleft lip or cleft palate. If a patient has a suspicious mass in the mouth or jaw bone, an oral surgeon would be the doctor who would also remove tissue to be biopsied or remove the entire mass.
Additionally, an oral surgeon is the most capable dental specialist to replace a missing tooth (or teeth) by placing dental implants. The implants, which are small titanium screws, are surgically inserted into the jaw by an oral surgeon, and then the surrounding bone forms a bond with the implants.. The dental implant is topped with an artificial tooth cap or crown to complete the replacement of the tooth structure.
Oral surgery may also be performed to correct aesthetic abnormalities in the jaw, such as a prominent underbite or overbite or an excessively lengthy upper jaw bone. This type of procedure is referred to as orthognathic surgery and is a major facial surgical procedure. Oral surgeons often collaborate with orthodontists to plan orthognathic surgery in conjunction with orthodontic treatment.
Oral surgery may also be used in severe or advanced cases of TMJ disorders, when a patient has problems caused by the way the jaw joint fits together. When more conservative treatments fail to alleviate symptoms associated with TMJ disorders, such as facial pain, a surgical intervention may become necessary. Similarly, an oral surgeon can remove excess soft tissue in the rear of the mouth as a method for treating excessive snoring or sleep apnea.
If you have a need for any of the procedures described above, visit our oral surgery practice in Chicago to discuss your options and learn more about the procedures and the process.
By far, the best dental studio I have ever been to.
I have been to both the Wicker Park and South Loop locations.
I love the Wicker Park location and the fact that Dr. Thurston will always be playing great music, because I don’t think anyone can even comprehend what an incredible difference it makes, at least for a total music nerd like myself, when you are listening to Kings of Convenience, Royksopp or Sigur Ros while you are in the dentist’s chair… it makes it sooooo much less nerve-wracking and so beautiful.
The South Loop location was where I wound up having all 4 wisdom teeth removed, and let me tell you I was terrified, having never undergone general anesthesia before. Dr. Koos did a great job to calm my nerves, and it was a great experience overall. Unfortunately the music was not what I had hoped for after my experience at the Wicker Park office… but when nitrous is being administered to me and then the next minute I am fully unconscious, do I really have time to think about the fact that daytime television and top 40 music are pretty much my all-time pet peeves??
I woke up with my mouth full of blood and gauze of course which is never too pleasant, but was prescribed some painkillers and was told to ice my very swollen face. I spent the next couple of weeks recovering at home.
The best part though, was that Dr. Koos actually called later that same night around 8 pm to make sure that I was doing alright!
2 and a half weeks later, well, I still have massive holes in the back of my mouth (yeah, it’s pretty disgusting) but I think that’s pretty much par for the course. I am just so happy that I have not developed dry socket! I figure it’ll be about a month or so until I can eat solid food again (anyone eating steak and potatoes the day after they got their wisdom teeth out is either lying, or going to develop some complications that I don’t wanna think about…) but again, that’s pretty normal for wisdom teeth removal since the holes are not stitched up but left open. I can only hope that the “heroin chic” look will come back into style at some point, lol…
Dr. Steven A. Koos, D.D.S., M.D., owner of ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio – a dental practice specializing in oral surgery and jaw surgery in Chicago, Illinois – is pleased to announce that his practice is the recipient of this year’s Clinic Partner for Change Award for Environmental Excellence.
Chicago implant dentist and oral surgeon Dr. Steven Koos is this year’s recipient of the Clinic Partner for Change Award for Environmental Excellence.
Online PR News – 02-June-2011 –Chicago, IL – Dr. Steven A. Koos, D.D.S., M.D., owner of ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio – a dental practice specializing in oral surgery and jaw surgery in Chicago, Illinois – is pleased to announce that his practice is the recipient of this year’s Clinic Partner for Change Award for Environmental Excellence. The award is bestowed annually to organizations that lead the healthcare sector with innovative environmental initiatives during the global CleanMed conference.
The CleanMed conference, which was attended by the oral surgeon and implant dentist in the Chicago Loop area, brings professionals in the health care sector together from around the globe with a focus on sustainable health care. During the conference, the award is given out by Practice Greenhealth to health care facilities that have made effective strides to make their practices “greener”. This includes initiatives such as pollution prevention, recycling and waste reduction programs, as well as reduction or elimination of mercury.
Dr. Koos’ Chicago oral surgery practice was honored with this year’s Clinic Partner for Change Award for Environmental Excellence. His practice proudly holds the distinction of being the first ever dental surgical facility to win the award. “We strive to run our oral surgery practice in Chicago with an eye towards sustainability and environmental friendliness,” explains Dr. Koos. “From eliminating the use of mercury in our Chicago Loop oral surgery facility to recycling, reducing waste and designing our offices with sustainable materials, we remain committed to leading the way in ‘greening’ the dental industry by demonstrating our use of greener techniques, procedures and programs.”
In addition to receiving the Clinic Partner for Change Award for Environmental Excellence, the Chicago Loop oral surgeon has also been recognized with other distinctions in the past due to his ongoing environmentally friendly practices. He has received the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award, also given out during the annual CleanMed conference, was awarded a Gold Star rating from the Green Health Care Program, and has become a Gold Certified Charter Practice through the Eco-Dentistry Association’s™ GreenDOC™ Dental Office Certification Program.
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ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio, owned by Chicago implant dentist and oral surgeon Dr. Steven Koos, leads the way in environmentally responsible and sustainable dental practices within the industry. To date, he has received numerous accolades and certifications to recognize his green dentistry initiatives. For more information about the environmentally friendly oral surgery practice in Chicago, visit http://orasurgery.com.
Patients often enter orthodontic treatment with dual goals of enhancing the smile’s appearance as well as improving the way the upper and lower jaw fit together to form the bite. However, braces alone are sometimes insufficient for achieving those goals when a skeletal deficiency is also present.
