Piney Point Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Houston Blog

Maybe you brush and floss just like you’re supposed to, but you could be doing significant harm to your teeth without even realizing it if you’re guilty of one or more of these 7 habits. Find out what they are — and how to start breaking them!

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If you have chronic headaches that pound right behind your ear, that could be your body trying to tell you there’s something off with your TMJ. The temporomandibular joint is the network of ligaments, muscles, and bones that help your jaw to open, close, and move from side to side. If something goes awry with the way it lines up, you’ll probably feel it in the form of chronic jaw, head, neck, or ear pain. Fortunately, TMJ treatment provides relief for many people.

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Are you planning for an upcoming root canal therapy? One of the best things you can do right now is to stock your fridge, freezer, and pantry with plenty of soft (but delicious) foods and snacks. You may not have much of an appetite right at first, but in the days following your root canal you will want to stick to foods that won’t stick to your teeth. To help, we’ve put together a menu just for you! You can still eat well while you recover from a root canal — you just need to do a little prep work first.

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It’s probably not something you think about very often, but more people than ever are getting oral cancer. Awareness surrounding the disease remains critically low, and your Houston oral surgeon, Dr. Steve Koo is working on improving outcomes following oral cancer diagnoses by emphasizing the need for regular screenings. Did you know you can give yourself an oral cancer exam at home? It’s easy — read on to learn how.

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Patients who are eligible for dental implants in Houston can look forward to a high quality, long lasting tooth replacement. Dental implants complete a smile like nothing else, and Dr. Steve Koo and the team at Piney Point are true leaders in implant dentistry. First, we prepare for dental implants, then place them in the jawbone, and after a healing period of six months to one year, we restore them with the final prosthetic. Keep reading to learn what you can expect from the dental implant surgery and preparatory procedures.

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If you often feel like saying “ouch” upon opening your mouth, or if you hear a click or pop with every bite you take, it’s time to take a load off your TMJ. When something’s off with the alignment of your jaw joint, you’ll definitely feel the pain. Doing some exercises can help, and so can taking smaller bites and applying moist heat to the jaw. Once you’ve tried everything and still haven’t found relief, it’s time to visit your Houston oral surgeon for TMJ therapy, Dr. Steve L. Koo.

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If you have wisdom teeth, you’re probably thinking there’s nothing very “wise” about them. There is rarely enough room for the teeth to emerge properly, and impaction or infection are likely to occur. Don’t panic if you need to have wisdom tooth extraction — at Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, we offer comforting sedation dentistry to help you receive the care you need without any pain. With a combination of local anesthesia and IV sedation or general anesthesia, wisdom tooth extraction is nothing to fear.

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Many people go their entire lives without needing oral surgery — but for others, the time will come when surgery is the recommended approach to protect oral and overall health. It’s especially common for older teens, who often require wisdom teeth removal. So, is it time for you to schedule an oral surgery? Let’s take a look at some of the most common procedures for your oral health.

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You’ve had a dramatic underbite your entire life. It’s always the first thing you notice whenever you look in the mirror or see a picture of yourself. You had braces as a child to make your teeth straighter, but they did little to actually correct the position of your jaw. What can be done about it? You’ve heard you can get it fixed with corrective jaw surgery, but that sounds very dramatic, is it really necessary? Today, Dr. Thomas Weil, a Houston oral surgeon, is going to discuss why you might need to get corrective jaw surgery. (more…)

If you’re suffering from Sjogren’s Syndrome, you might think that you’ll be tied to medication and eye drops for the rest of your life. However, a new study just released by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons shows that Botox could now be an effective way to manage the salivary gland inflammation common with the disorder. This is exciting news for patients, especially those who suffer from frequent parotitis. By now you’re probably asking, “How does this work?” and, “Would this be right for me?” (more…)