A face mask seems like a relatively simple object. After all, all you have to do is secure it over your mouth and nose, and you are protected from COVID-19, right? Well, not exactly. There are several different types of face masks, each of which has a rating that gives insight into the level of protection it provides. In this blog post, we will discuss those ratings so you can better understand how your oral surgeon is keeping you safe and which type of face mask you should wear in order to protect yourself from contamination.

The Centers for Disease Control is recommending that everyone wears a face mask in public settings. Some businesses are even requiring that customers do so. Indeed, there is no doubt that a mask can do much to protect you and those around you from potential contagions, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But a mask is only effective if you wear it wear it correctly. Here are some guidelines to help you make sure that your facial covering is doing its job.

When COVID-19 began to spread, many people flocked to supermarkets to buy hand sanitizer and hand soap. There is no doubt that these items can play a pivotal role in helping you to stay healthy throughout this pandemic season — but only if you use them properly. The team at Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is deeply concerned about the health and well-being of our patients and the community in general. That is why we have put together this simple guide on how to keep your hands clean.

Think about your morning routine. If you’re like a lot of people, once you get up, you start making coffee, and then you munch on some cereal, toast, or maybe a small breakfast bar before you grab a cup and rush out the door. Now, imagine you had to take whatever you wanted to eat, put it in a blender, and turn it into mush, because you can’t actually chew it. This was the reality for Sharon Tillotta, a Pasadena woman who was missing most of her teeth. The remaining ones were either broken or failing, and she didn’t have the funds to replace them because her husband was spending a lot of time in the hospital due to both kidney and heart disease. She was in a desperate situation that didn’t seem to have an end, and that’s when Bill Spencer, Dr. Terri Alani, and our own Dr. Steve Koo decided to help.

The wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that often show up beginning in late adolescence. When these teeth appear, they can cause real problems — including impaction, infection, and other issues. A big part of a successful wisdom tooth extraction procedure is what you do at home while you heal. Your oral surgeon in Houston recommends taking it easy and letting the healing happen naturally, but there are some things you can do to speed up the recovery process and get back on your feet sooner.

Prepare for your wisdom tooth extraction recovery before your surgery. Schedule your surgery to take place when you have a few days off for recovery. After the procedure is complete, you will undergo a recovery period of about 2 weeks if everything goes correctly. Planning ahead will ensure that you’re prepared for a restful, relaxing recovery.

(more…)

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are dental specialists who have years of additional training and experience focusing almost completely on the bone, skin, and muscles of the face, mouth, and jaw. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have unique knowledge and expertise that exclusively qualifies them to diagnose and treat a host of functional and cosmetic conditions affecting this area of the body. If you’re searching for a qualified and compassionate oral health specialist, call to schedule an appointment with our team of specialists in Houston at Piney Point Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery today.

(more…)

If you are like most people, you probably don’t think about your jaw too much — until something goes wrong with the way it functions. Having a tight jaw can cause mild to moderate pain all throughout your neck and head. Of course, identifying a solution for this uncomfortable problem requires identifying the cause. Keep reading to learn more about what we attribute jaw pain to as well as some tips for how to improve it.

(more…)

Bruxism (teeth grinding) at night is a common but serious problem. If the issue goes on for an extended period of time, it may lead to a range of unpleasant symptoms, such as headaches, a sore jaw, and premature wear and tear on the teeth. If you suspect that you are grinding your teeth while you are asleep, it’s important that you seek professional help! Your dentist or oral surgeon in Houston will first seek to identify the cause of your bruxism and then design a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs.

(more…)

Did you know that dental implants are successful in over 95 percent of cases? This outstanding statistic is thanks to the skill and precision of the dentists who place and restore implants. Unfortunately, however, there are rare instances when dental implants fail. Here, we discuss some of the reasons why this happens and how your oral surgeon in Houston may be able to save your restored smile.

(more…)

If you grind your teeth at night, you are at-risk of a number of dental problems, including weak and worn tooth enamel, tooth sensitivity, and even tooth decay. Some interventions can help, like Botox. Maybe it sounds surprising — but your oral surgeon in Houston knows there are more applications for Botox than purely cosmetic treatments. Keep reading to learn more about how Botox can help with bruxism, and where to find medical Botox.

(more…)