When a tooth fails to emerge through the gums, it is considered to be an impacted tooth. This commonly occurs in the case of canine teeth.
It is important to treat an impacted tooth in order to prevent the improper eruption of nearby teeth, cyst formation, possible infection or other negative changes in the jaw. Continue reading
Basically, it is a form of contiguous grafting (pedicle graft} which utilizes as the donor site only the connective tissue of the palate adjacent to the ridge. The epithelium over the pedicle is first removed. This is readily done, using a non-epinephrine bearing anesthetic, by sharp dissection or by use of a rotary diamond instrument. Free bleeding, permitted by the non-epinephrine anesthetic, is evidence of complete epithelial removal. The tissue is then infiltrated with an anesthetic containing a hemostatic agent, and a connective tissue pedicle flap is outlined through to the osseous, and then elevated from the palate within the de-epithelialized zone. In this procedure, it is important that the proximal marginal tissue of the adjacent abutment teeth is not involved. This will ensure stability of the crown margin to tissue relationship. Continue reading
These are rare and virtually all are malignant. They are most common in the palate. The most common type is an adenoid cystic cancer which has a tendency to invade along nerves and has a high incidence of local recurrence irrespective of the treatment employed. Continue reading
Le Fort fractures (also spelled as LeFort fractures) are types of facial fractures involving the maxillary bone and surrounding structures in a usually bilateral and either horizontal, pyramidal or transverse way. LeFort fractures are classic in facial trauma. The Le Fort fracture was named after French surgeon René Le Fort (1869–1951), who described them in the early 20th century. Continue reading