Oral Surgery

Some of the most common services that we offer include:

• Apicoectomy
• Bone grafting
• Corrective jaw surgery
• Dental implants
• Jawbone atrophy
• Oral cancer screenings
• Panorex panoramic x-rays
• Tooth extraction
• Treatment for facial trauma
• Wisdom teeth removal

Dental Pathology

Our oral pathology services include the diagnosis of any growths or lesions that appear in the mouth. If you have noticed changes in the color or texture of the soft tissue of your mouth, gums, lips, face, or neck, contact our Cocoa Beach or Melbourne offices immediately to schedule a cancer screening.

Quick and Painless Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer is extremely common, particularly among men. The chances of successful treatment increase dramatically if it is diagnosed in its early stages and surgery or other timely treatment is administered.

Oral cancer screenings are painless, and the exams only take a few minutes. During your appointment, we will assess the soft tissue with a laser light to detect cell changes that might indicate cancer. If changes are present, a small tissue sample, or biopsy, will be taken and sent to a laboratory.

Types of Growths or Lesions

Not all lesions or growths in the mouth are cancerous; there are many common and benign conditions, including:

• Mucoceles: In this condition, patients have a fluid-filled skin sac, or cyst, coming out of a salivary gland. Removing the cyst can increase comfort, alleviate problems, and improve speech.
• Leukoplakia: Leukoplakia are white spots or patches that appear inside the mouth. While most cases of leukoplakia are benign, it is important to have these checked out by a doctor.

Corrective Jaw Surgery

Orthognathic surgery, or corrective jaw surgery, addresses misalignment of the jaws and teeth. Your upper and lower jaws may not meet correctly because of an open bite, underbite, overbite, or crossbite. If these conditions can’t be corrected with braces alone, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can perform corrective jaw surgery.

Corrective jaw surgery can minimize wear on your teeth, address chronic jaw and muscle pain, reduce headaches, and improve your ability to chew food. To find out if this procedure is right for you, schedule an appointment with our oral surgeons in Cocoa Beach or Melbourne.

Apicoectomy

During the apicoectomy procedure, the tip of an infected tooth root is removed. This dental treatment may be recommended after root canal therapy if inflammation or infection persists.

The root canals are complex, and reaching the tiny branches at the tip can be difficult. Instead, we can directly access the infected canal by going in at the root. With a 94 percent success rate, apicoectomy can effectively save your tooth without requiring root canal re-treatment or the removal of your restoration.

Facial Trauma

Automobile crashes, falls, and other unforeseen accidents can result in lacerations, fractured teeth, broken jaws, fractured facial bones, and knocked-out teeth. All of these facial and dental injuries require reconstruction.

While there are obvious aesthetic reasons for repairing facial and dental damage, there are serious health concerns that can result from even a small amount of trauma. Among these long-term problems are difficulties with respiration, speech, and swallowing.

There are several different facial repair techniques that our surgeons can perform at our Cocoa Beach and Melbourne practice:

• Damaged facial bones can be held together with wiring or small plates and screws.
• Facial lacerations can be treated with stitches.
• If a tooth has been knocked out of the mouth, it can still be reinserted if a dentist can treat the patient quickly enough after the injury.
• If the natural tooth does not survive, we can place implants to restore a natural, complete look to your smile. Dental implants can secure crowns, bridges, and dentures in place.

Dental Implants

Dental implants enable our maxillofacial surgeons to replace the roots of your tooth, which preserves your jawbone structure and overall oral health. We can determine if implants are right for you during a consultation at our practice.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

The wisdom teeth may erupt at an angle or become impacted, putting your surrounding teeth and gum tissue at a higher risk of infection and other dental problems. We can remove your wisdom teeth safely and painlessly.

Why Choose an Oral Surgeon?

The health of your mouth has a profound effect on your overall health. When your needs exceed the services of a general dental practice, it is important that you seek the care of a dentist experienced in advanced treatments. Oral surgeons are specifically trained to perform more complicated surgical procedures that are usually outside the realm of a general dentist's expertise. 

Drs. Bird and Johnson are certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. With their specialized training and expertise, they can help you improve the health and appearance of your smile.