Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  The older the patient, the more likely an impacted canine will not erupt by nature’s forces alone even if space is available for the tooth to fit in the dental arch. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a panorex screening x-ray, along with a dental examination, be performed on all dental patients at around the age of seven years to count the teeth and determine if there are problems with eruption of adult teeth. It is important to determine whether all adult teeth are present or missing.
• X-rays

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
  We may prescribe an antibiotic rinse for certain procedures.  This rinse should be used in the morning and at bedtime after routine mouth care.  Do not eat or drink or rinse your mouth after using the medicated rinse.  Using this rinse may cause staining, but it will easily be removed with your next dental cleaning.

Restorative

• Fillings
• Crowns
  What does it depend upon? The location of the implant in the jaw, whether the bone has been resorbed and requires bone grafting, any other health conditions that might cause complications, the cost of the actual implant and crown, the doctor’s experience and expertise, and the insurance policy.
• Bridges
  Modern dentistry can help with the Bar Attachment Denture. The Bar Attachment Denture treatment concept replaces your missing teeth with a full dental bridge supported by only four dental implants. With less implants needed, overall treatment time and cost is reduced. The unique Bar Attachment Denture solution also ensures greater stability in the bone, reducing the need for bone graft surgery to increase bone volume.
• Dental Bonding
• Restorative Dentistry
  These jaw defects can create major problems in performing restorative dentistry whether your treatment involves dental implants, bridges, or dentures. Jaw deformities from tooth removal can be prevented and repaired by a procedure called socket preservation. Socket preservation can greatly improve your smile’s appearance and increase your chances for successful dental implants for years to come.

Endodontics

• Root Canal Treatment
  Isolated injuries to teeth are quite common and may require the expertise of various dental specialists. Oral surgeons usually are involved in treating fractures in the supporting bone or in replanting teeth that have been displaced or knocked out. These types of injuries are treated by one of a number of forms of splinting (stabilizing by wiring or bonding teeth together). If a tooth is knocked out, it should be placed inside the mouth alongside the cheek. Otherwise, the next best option is storing in milk. The sooner the tooth is re-inserted into the dental socket, the better chance it will survive. Therefore, the patient should see a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible. If the event occurs after hours, proceed to an Emergency Room.  Never attempt to wipe the tooth off, since remnants of the ligament that hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of replanting the tooth. Other dental specialists, such as endodontists, may be asked to perform root canal therapy. If injured teeth cannot be saved or repaired, dental implants are often utilized as replacements for missing teeth.

Prosthodontics

• Dentures
  Bar Attachment Denture is a contemporary restoration that has revolutionized the way surgeons and dentists think of replacing a full set of teeth. Dentures are unsecured prostheses with very limited success. Most often, dentures are painful, inconvenient, and unstable. Such dentures can make chewing foods difficult limiting the foods that you once enjoyed.

Implants

• Dental Implants
  Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. With a dental implant, you will be able to eat virtually anything. Replacing missing teeth with dental implants preserve and restore youthful facial contours. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Surgery
  When not performing oral surgery, Dr. Seago can be found participating in multiple marathons and has even completed three Ironman triathlons in Texas, Tennessee, and Canada. He stays active in the community through his leadership in a weekly men’s bible study, participation in numerous foreign mission trips, and maintains membership in local dental societies. The joy of his life is his family. He is married to Stacy Harmon Seago and has been blessed with the honor of raising Bryant, Mary Grace, Ellie, and Annie Louise.
• Jaw Surgery
  Dr. Seago and Dr. Brown use modern computer techniques and three-dimensional models to prepare for jaw surgery. Comprehensive facial x-rays and computer imaging facilitates the surgical process. Our goal is to help you understand the benefits of orthognathic surgery.
• Pre-prosthetic Surgery
• Gum Surgery
  Shortly after surgery, the patient will return to the orthodontist. A rubber band will be attached to the chain to put a light eruptive pulling force on the impacted tooth. This will begin the process of moving the tooth into its proper place in the dental arch. This is a carefully controlled, slow process that may take up to a full year to complete. Once the tooth is moved into the arch in its final position, the gum around it will be evaluated to make sure it is sufficiently strong and healthy to last for a lifetime of chewing and tooth brushing. In some circumstances, especially those where the tooth had to be moved a long distance, there may be some minor “gum surgery” required to add bulk to the gum tissue over the relocated tooth, so it remains healthy during normal function. Your dentist or orthodontist will explain this to you if it applies to your specific situation.
• Maxillofacial Surgery
  The following websites are provided as a resource for our referring doctors. This page contains hyperlinks to World Wide Web sites created and maintained by other organizations. We have included these links because we think our referring doctors may find them of interest. Keep in mind Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates does not necessarily endorse the views expressed on these websites. Also, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information presented on these sites.
• Tooth Extractions
  Removal of teeth is sometimes necessary because of pain, infection, bone loss or fracture of the tooth. The bone that holds the tooth in place (the socket) is often damaged by disease and/or infection resulting in deformity of the jaw after the tooth is extracted. In addition, when teeth are extracted, the surrounding bone and gums can shrink and recede very quickly after the tooth extraction resulting in unsightly defects and collapse of the lips, and cheeks.
• Ridge Augmentation
  A ridge augmentation procedure is typically performed in our office under local anesthesia. Some patients may also request sedative medication in addition.
• Bone Grafting
  The following are the most common causes for jawbone deterioration and loss that may require a bone grafting procedure.

Orthodontics

• Orthodontics
  Orthognathic surgery is needed when jaws don’t meet correctly and/or teeth don’t seem to fit with jaws. Teeth are straightened with orthodontics and corrective jaw surgery repositions a misaligned jaw. This not only improves facial appearance but also ensures that teeth meet correctly and function properly.
• Braces
  In cases where canines will not erupt spontaneously, the orthodontist and oral surgeon work together to get these unerupted canines to erupt. Each case must be evaluated on an individual basis, but treatment will usually involve a combined effort between the orthodontist and oral surgeon. The most common scenario will call for the orthodontist to place braces on the teeth (at least the upper arch). A space will be opened to provide room for the impacted tooth to be moved into its proper position in the dental arch. If the baby canine has not fallen out already, it is usually left in place until space for the adult canine is ready. Once space is ready, the orthodontist will refer the patient to the oral surgeon to have the impacted canine exposed and bracketed.