FAQ

We specialize in a wide range of oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures, with a focus on dental implants. Our expert team is trained to perform complex surgeries such as all-on-4 treatment, bone grafting, sinus lifts, and more.

We also offer cosmetic services like Botox for headache/TMD relief, jaw contouring, and buccal fat pad removal. Additionally, we treat TMJ disorders, sleep apnea, facial trauma, and provide emergency dental care.

We pride ourselves on providing exceptional, patient-centered care. Here are a few things that set us apart:

- **Expertise**: Our team consists of highly trained and experienced oral surgeons who specialize in various aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

- **State-of-the-Art Facility**: We use advanced technology and equipment to ensure precise, efficient, and safe treatment for our patients.

- **Personalized Care**: We take the time to listen to each patient's concerns and develop tailored treatment plans that prioritize their unique needs and goals.

- **Comfortable Environment**: Our offices are designed to be welcoming and relaxing, helping to ease any anxiety you may have about your procedure.

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides accreditation services to ambulatory health care organizations. The AAAHC certification demonstrates that a facility has met rigorous national standards for quality and safety in patient care.

Greater Atlanta Oral Facial Surgery is proud to be the only oral surgery practice in Georgia certified by the AAAHC, ensuring that our patients receive superior level of safety and comfort during outpatient surgery.

At your first visit to Greater Atlanta Oral Facial Surgery, we'll spend time getting to know you and understanding your dental needs. We'll start with a comprehensive consultation, which includes discussing your medical history, current medications, and any specific concerns or goals you have for your smile.

Our team will perform a thorough examination of your mouth, jaw, and surrounding structures using advanced diagnostic tools like digital X-rays and 3D imaging. Based on our findings, we'll develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique situation.

Preparing for dental implant surgery involves several steps to ensure a successful procedure and smooth recovery. Here are some tips to help you get ready:

1. **Consultation**: Attend your pre-operative consultation where we'll discuss the details of your surgery, answer any questions, and address any concerns.

2. **Medical History**: Provide us with a detailed medical history, including any medications, supplements, or allergies you have.

3. **Arrange Transportation**: Make arrangements for someone to drive you home after your surgery since you'll be under sedation.

4. **Follow Pre-Operative Instructions**: Follow the specific instructions provided by our team regarding eating, drinking, smoking, and taking medications before your surgery.

The recovery process after dental implant surgery depends on various factors such as the number of implants placed, your overall health, and how well you follow post-operative instructions. Here's a general overview of what to expect:

1. **Immediate Aftercare**: After your surgery, we'll provide you with detailed aftercare instructions. You may experience some swelling, bruising, and discomfort, which can be managed with medication.

2. **Rest**: Take it easy for a few days following your surgery. Avoid strenuous activities that could dislodge the blood clot and slow down healing.

3. **Diet**: Stick to a soft diet for a couple of weeks, gradually introducing firmer foods as you heal.

4. **Oral Hygiene**: Keep the surgical site clean by gently rinsing with warm salt water or using prescription mouthwash (if provided).

5. **Follow-Up Appointments**: Attend your follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress and make any necessary adjustments.

If you're experiencing a dental emergency, it's important to seek immediate care. Some common dental emergencies include severe toothache, knocked-out teeth, damaged or broken braces, and soft tissue injuries in the mouth.

We offer emergency dental services for new and existing patients. If you have an emergency during regular business hours, please call our office right away. For after-hours emergencies, you can reach us through our on-call service.

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that replace missing teeth. They're made of biocompatible materials like titanium and serve as a sturdy foundation for crowns, bridges, or dentures. Unlike traditional removable dentures, dental implants provide a permanent solution.

The implant process involves surgically placing the implant into your jawbone, allowing it to integrate with the bone over time through a process called osseointegration. Once integrated, we can attach an abutment and then place a crown on top.

The All-On-4 treatment is a revolutionary approach to replacing a full arch of teeth using just four strategically placed dental implants. This technique allows us to provide patients with fully functional, natural-looking teeth in a single day.

The procedure involves placing two implants near the front of the jaw and two angled implants towards the back. Once integrated, we can attach a temporary bridge on the same day, which will be replaced by a permanent one after the healing period.

Bone grafting is a procedure that aims to build up or regenerate bone in areas where it has been lost due to injury, disease, or extraction. In oral surgery, bone grafting is often performed before dental implant placement to ensure the jawbone is strong and healthy enough to support the implant.

The most common type of bone graft used in dentistry is autogenous bone, which comes from your own body, usually from the chin or ramus (back part) of the lower jaw. We can also use allografts, which are human bone grafts from a bone bank, or xenografts, which come from animals.

A sinus lift, also known as sinus augmentation, is a procedure that adds bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars. This region often has insufficient bone height for dental implant placement due to the presence of sinuses.

The procedure involves making an incision in the gum tissue where the back teeth used to be, elevating the sinus membrane, and filling the newly created space with bone grafting material. After healing, we can then place dental implants in this area.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder refers to a group of conditions that affect the joints connecting your lower jaw to your skull. These joints allow you to move your jaw up and down, side to side, and forward and backward.

TMJ disorders can cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw, face, and neck, as well as difficulty chewing, locking or clicking of the jaw, and changes in the way your teeth fit together. We offer treatments like splints, medication, and surgery to help manage TMJ disorders.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It occurs when the muscles in your throat relax too much to allow normal breathing, leading to repeated episodes of paused breathing (apnea).

The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), caused by obstruction of the airway. We offer treatments like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and oral appliances to help manage sleep apnea.

Sedation dentistry involves the use of medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It's often used for people with anxiety, fear, or phobias about going to the dentist, as well as those who need extensive treatment or have a strong gag reflex.

We offer different levels of sedation, from minimal (oral sedatives) to moderate (intravenous sedation), ensuring that our patients are comfortable and at ease throughout their procedure.

Oral pathology is the study and diagnosis of diseases affecting the mouth, jaw, and related structures. It involves examining, testing, and analyzing tissue samples to determine if they are cancerous or benign.

Our team is trained to identify and manage a wide range of oral health conditions, from common issues like canker sores and cold sores to more serious concerns like oral cancer and autoimmune disorders.

Facial trauma refers to injuries affecting the face, jaw, or skull. These injuries can result from accidents, assaults, sports-related incidents, or other types of trauma. They may involve soft tissue injuries, fractures, or a combination of both.

We have extensive training and expertise in treating facial trauma, and our team is well-equipped to handle emergencies. We work closely with other specialists to ensure the best possible outcome for our patients.