Extractions     top of page

Wisdom teeth or third molars are the last teeth to come into the mouth. Normally they appear between the late teens and the early twenties. They are the most troublesome teeth in the human mouth. Most jaws are too small to accommodate these teeth which can cause problems. If a tooth is blocked from emerging normally into the mouth, it is called an "impaction." Impacted teeth can result in crowding, damage to other teeth, infections, earaches, headaches, decay and several other complications. The removal of wisdom teeth can eliminate these problems. The surgery can be done on an outpatient basis in most cases, and normal activities can be resumed within a few days of surgery.

Besides wisdom teeth extraction, we also perform extractions of other teeth as well. While undergoing multiple teeth extractions, other surgical procedures might be required to prepare the jaw bone for its reconstructive phase and to eventually receive the prosthesis. During your consultation, we will inform you if you will require any additional procedures necessary to ensure a good oral health. Whether you are experiencing symptoms or not, Dr. Marcos Díaz and his staff will recommend the wisest form of treatment for a healthy smile.

Dental Implants     top of page

Tooth loss can result in shrinkage of gums and jawbones that can lead to pain from ill-fitting dentures, decreased chewing function, and subtle malnutrition. It can also be a source of emotional or psychological distress. Dr. Díaz can provide a unique solution to the problem of toothlessness with dental implants. Dental implants are the next best thing to having your own teeth. The benefits of dental implants include an increased chewing capacity, improved speech and appearance. Implants can be the solution when it has become difficult or impossible to wear a removable dentures.

No matter what your age, if you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, dental implants may be the solution for you. With years of university-based research and clinical use, dental implants are now a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing alternative to missing teeth.

Dental implants are devices placed in your jawbone that are substitutes for the root portion of lost natural teeth. The implants provide a stable foundation which allows you to bite, chew and smile with the same confidence you had with your natural teeth. Individuals with adequate bone level and density who are not prone to infection and can maintain stringent oral hygiene are good candidates for implants.

The placement of dental implants is usually performed in the office under local anesthesia and IV sedation. The procedure is generally a two step procedure. The first step is where the implant is placed in the jaw bone where it remains for three to six months to allow for bone to grow up to the implant. This process is called "osseointegration," and has to occur if the implant is to work appropriately. The second procedure is where a metal attachment is placed to the implant onto which the final restoration is fabricated to replace the missing tooth.

Dental implants have helped thousands of people regain their self-confidence and live fuller, more active lives. Dr. Díaz has had the experience of placing hundreds of dental implants in satisfied patients with excellent long-term results. Let us at AACOMS help you obtain a shine in your smile for a lifetime!

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser Surgery     top of page

Lasers have been used in surgery for many years, but only recently have most people come to realize their importance and effective use as an alternative surgical tool to conventional surgery. At the Advanced Aesthetic Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery our laser experience spans a number of years using different types of lasers to provide and integrate the latest and most innovative laser surgical techniques and equipment into our every day practice.

There are many surgical uses which the laser can be applied. However, the laser cannot be used indiscriminately for all types of surgery. For example, soft tissue lasers are not regularly used for procedures involving bone or teeth. In spite of some limitations, there are many laser applications for their use both inside as well as outside of the mouth.

Some of these applications include biopsies, complete removal of benign, pre-malignant or malignant lesions, procedures required prior to completing dental crown and/or bridge work, management of snoring, arthroscopic surgery of the temporomandibular joint, pain control and enhancement of the natural healing process, as well as many cosmetic and aesthetic procedures. Newspapers, magazines and television have provided a lot of information about laser surgery and much has been sensationalized. AACOMS hopes to give you a clear picture and understanding of what lasers can and cannot do.

Most laser procedures have little discomfort, and bleeding is significantly reduced or non-existent after surgery. The laser has the unique characteristic of being more precise in its ability to cut tissue. The laser allows the surgeon to accurately control the amount of tissue being removed in the surgical field. The laser works without traumatizing surrounding or underlying tissue. Therefore, patients have less swelling, generally experience less pain, and heal better than with conventional surgical techniques.

In addition, the laser sterilizes as it cuts killing bacteria. This minimizes the chance of developing infections after surgery. Most laser surgery can be done under local anesthesia. If the circumstance arises, however, we can also provide laser surgery in combination with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia for your convenience as an outpatient procedure in the office. Our facility complies with the most stringent standards for infection control to provide laser surgical treatment in a safe and effective environment for the health and welfare of our patients. Laser surgery could possibly be an option for you!

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Orthognathic Surgery and Nose Surgery

Orthognathic Surgery     top of page

Orthognathic surgery, sometimes called "surgical orthodontics," is corrective jaw surgery which involves the repositioning of one or both jaws and the accompanying teeth. In conjunction with orthodontic treatment, orthognathic surgery is used to assist in the correction of a malocclusion (bad bite), especially when the malocclusion is severe. Depending upon the extent of the patient's problem, orthognathic surgery may range in involvement from minor movement of a single part of a dental arch to the repositioning of an entire jaw. In some cases, the adjoining facial bones may be included with the repositioning of both jaws as well.

Severe tooth and jaw imbalances can prevent patients from chewing, swallowing, and speaking correctly. In extreme cases, this can result in stress leading to deterioration of the gum tissues and supporting bone. A poor bite relationship may also cause pain and injury to the chewing muscles and jaw joints over the years. Psychological difficulties that can accompany this kind of problem are also important considerations for treatment. Correction of these imbalances may minimize these problems and promote a healthy, long lasting result.

The goal of treatment is not only the correction of jaw deformities but also the establishment of a stable, functional balance among the teeth, jaws and surrounding facial structures while maintaining and/or improving the patient's appearance. This result can only be achieve if a team approach between the orthodontist and surgeon is sought.

There is sometimes the need to correct the underlying bone structure to adequately address the soft tissues of the face in cosmetic surgery since it is at this level where the problem sometimes lies.

Dr. Marcos Díaz has performed in the hospital many surgical corrective and reconstructive jaw procedures such as over bites, open bite and a narrow upper jaw in conjunction with orthodontist to obtain cosmetically pleasing, functionally, long lasting results.

The process of evaluation, preparation, surgery, recuperation and aftercare is lengthy. However, the "new you" that will emerge at the completion of the process will be well worth the wait.

Pathology     top of page

Any suspicious lesion or growth on the face and neck, or in or around the mouth, should be checked out by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon without delay. Lumps and sores or reddish or whitish patches can be signs of oral cancer.

At AACOMS, via a thorough intraoral and extraoral examination we can detect many potential problems and proceed with the indicated therapy; a diagnostic work-up consisting of imaging studies or labs, followed by a biopsy and then treatment, if need. Incisional and excisional biopsies are performed to ensure that the proper diagnosis is arrived at with any suspicious lesion, and therefore nothing is missed.  Early detection is a our goal since treatment of cancer greatly increases the chance of complete recovery. Treatment depends on the condition and presentation, but rest assure appropriate care will be delivered.

Besides cancer, Dr. Díaz also treats other benign pathological conditions associated with the maxillofacial region such as cysts, infections and tumors. Reconstructive procedures are sometimes required after eradicating the disease (see Trauma and Reconstruction Section below).

Snoring     top of page

Snoring is a subject that many jokes have been based on. But in reality, snoring can be an indication of a more serious problem than a loud annoyance. Habitual snoring might indicate a disorder called "Sleep Apnea." In sleep apnea unsuccessful attempt to breathe through the nose and mouth is caused by obstruction involving any of the following the soft palate, uvula, nose, tonsils, adenoids or the base of the tongue. Dr. Díaz can offer several options to help treat snoring and sleep apnea, ranging from intraoral appliances to the reshaping of the soft palate through laser surgery, or jaw and chin advancement surgery to reposition the tongue more anteriorly and help relieve the airway obstruction posteriorly. At AACOMS, we want to get you back on track for a good night's sleep.

TMJ Arthrocentesis

TMJ     top of page

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are a family of problems related to the complex jaw joint (TMJ). These problems can develop for a number of reasons. Clenching or grinding your teeth tightens your jaw muscles and stresses the TMJ.  Some of the signs and symptoms are misaligned bite, clicking, popping or grating noises when the mouth is opened or closed, trouble opening the mouth wide, frequent headaches, tenderness of the muscle of your jaw, inability to chew due to pain, or sensitive, loose, broken or worn down teeth. Moreover, injury or disease like arthritis can also cause a problem internally within the joints. Poor posture can also cause muscle to tighten up, putting pressure on the TM joints causing some of the irritation and pain associated with this problem.

An extensive evaluation is required to confirm the diagnosis of a TMJ disorder. It also clarifies the causes of your disorder, helping the doctor to set stage for treatment. Although we are a surgical specialty, at AACOMS we maintain the philosophy of conservative care and have seen excellent results in our years of experience. We believe in non-surgical treatment as a first modality prior to discussing any surgical benefits.

Dr. Díaz has had specialized training in the treatment of TMJ disorders having completed a one (1) year arthroscopic and TMJ surgery fellowship. He has treated TMJ disorders for many years.

We offer a number of surgical procedures and are excited to see excellent results with our in-office superior joint space lavage. This procedure is commonly known as arthrocentesis. Technically, it is a washing out of the joint itself along with the placement of anti-inflammatory medications (steroids)  which help reduce the painful inflammatory response in the jaw joints.  The procedure is accomplished under light IV sedation and local anesthesia.

We can also provide a safe and very cost-effective way of delivering minimally invasive TMJ surgery in an office setting. This allows the patient to return home the same day. Diagnostic and operative (surgical) joint arthroscopy are also performed at our facility under local and IV anesthesia. We are able to reposition (recapture) discs back to their normal anatomic position via suturing techniques as well as performing joint debridement procedures using motorized micro-instrumentation or laser. For those TMJ disorders that have significant joint pathology, open joint procedures are met with good success although generally these are done in the hospital. At AACOMS, we provide a the full scope of temporomandibular joint management.

If you continue to suffer from pain in the joint that are refractory to splint therapy and non-surgical management, please don't hesitate to call us; we will be glad to evaluate the surgical adjuncts and alternatives to provide you patients with improved function with the best possible results. 

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Cheek Bone and Upper Jaw Fractures

Trauma and Reconstruction     top of page

Traumatic injuries occur always at the most inopportune time. Sport injuries, motor vehicle and personal accidents, cuts and lacerations, dog bites and lodging of foreign bodies or materials are some of the injuries we treat. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the specialists called to treat fractured (broken) facial bones, jaws, splint loose teeth and to re-implant knocked-out (avulsed) teeth. Be it a loss of a tooth from a fall requiring re-implantation and splinting, a facial laceration requiring plastic closure due to cosmetic concerns, or the facial reconstruction needed from a major motor vehicle accidents, Dr. Díaz has extensive trauma and reconstructive experience in facial hard and soft tissue injuries to treat your injury.  In addition, Dr. Díaz's experience also includes the treatment of tumor ablative surgery requiring major reconstructive procedures.

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