Dr. Gregg Welsh Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

we will be out of the office for our winter break, we hope you have a very merry Christmas!

Do humans produce the same number of baby teeth as adult teeth? If you guessed no, you're right. Humans produce 20 baby teeth that are replaced by 32 adult teeth when a child is between 6 and 12 years of age.

A gingival graft involves transfer of gum tissue from one part of the mouth to another. In the most common procedure, tissue is removed from the roof of the mouth and sutured to an area where the gums have thinned.

There are two types of bone grafts. A minor graft uses outside material. However, for a major bone graft, a patient may be hospitalized so that the graft to be used can be taken from one of several locations, often the hip or the knee of the patient.

Socio-economic status plays a significant role in dental health. Studies have shown that 33 percent of low-income adults have untreated tooth decay, compared to only 16 percent of middle- and higher-income individuals.

Often, when teeth have to be removed for any reason, whether it's wisdom teeth, an accident, or infection, the expertise of an oral surgeon is often required. The surgeon can assess any risks of nerve damage or potential sinus complications and handle the range of anesthesia options - from nitrous oxide to general anesthesia.

You know flossing is the best way to avoid pesky bacteria that can hide between teeth. Care to guess the ideal length for a convenient strip of dental floss? If you guessed 18 inches or so, you're right. It's long enough to wrap around your fingers for a tighter grip.

The best fit for most adults is 28 teeth. However, the final four teeth to erupt wisdom teeth run the count to 32 teeth. That’s possible in some cases when these third molars are properly aligned. It is more common for wisdom teeth to become impacted because of the lack of room, and that’s when an oral surgeon is required to remove wisdom teeth.

Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing for a short period of time while sleeping. One out of five adults has mild sleep apnea, and 1 in 15 has more moderate cases, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

So why can’t molars simply be pulled like other teeth? Unlike front teeth, molars typically have more than one root, thus requiring surgery. In addition, wisdom teeth that are impacted may be partly or fully covered by gum tissue or bone, further complicating the removal process.

We realize that the idea of developing any kind of cancer is a frightening possibility for many people. Since oral cancer can be aggressive, it’s critical that you maintain good oral hygiene habits and see your dentist regularly, as they may be able to help you catch certain symptoms early.

Are you putting off your wisdom tooth extraction because your dentist told you you’d need to see a specialist? Let’s talk about how working with an oral surgeon can help you have better results and less pain after your surgery.

Saliva helps bathe your mouth, washing away destructive bacteria. Care to guess how much saliva the human body produces over a lifetime? If you guessed about 6,250 gallons worth, you're right.

A Computed Tomography (CT) scan can be used to image the jawbone. The Greek root tomos means slice, referring to the multiple sections used in the imaging process. The creators of the CT scan won a Nobel Prize for their work in 1979.