Dental Services
If you live in Provo, Utah, and need access to exceptional dental care, Dr. Jenkins at Riverwoods Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery provides a wide variety of services to improve your oral health. You want to partner with a compassionate dentist who has the knowledge and experience required to perform various dental procedures to restore your teeth, mouth, gums and jaws after trauma and keep you healthy throughout life. We are proud to offer many of the extensive services you need to maintain exceptional oral health.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are third molars that typically erupt in people between the ages of 17 and 25. Most people need to have their wisdom teeth extracted because they become impacted when there is not enough room in the mouth to erupt fully. When not removed, impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infection, the growth of cysts and tumors or damage to other teeth.
However, not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. A small percentage of people have plenty of room in their mouths for their wisdom teeth, so it’s important to be evaluated by a maxillofacial surgeon like Dr. Jenkins to determine if you need surgery. If your wisdom teeth are fully erupted in healthy gums, you can avoid the removal process. The surgery is relatively simple with a recovery period of two to three days. Most people don’t remember the procedure due to sedation and have mild swelling and soreness after the surgery.
Bone Grafting
You must have sufficient bone structure to place a dental implant, but unfortunately, many people lose bone due to disease and trauma. If you don’t have enough bone under your gums to hold an implant, Dr. Jenkins will use bone grafting to replace it. You can choose an allograft or xenograft procedure in which the harvested bone comes from cadavers or animals. In Both cases, the bone is treated with a special solution to make it safe for grafting in live humans. You can also choose an autograft procedure and have the bone harvested from your own hip or tibia.
Corrective Jaw Surgery
Corrective jaw surgery is an extensive procedure that optimizes the function of the jaw. If you have issues with speech, chewing or pain due to the alignment of your jaw, corrective jaw surgery could be the solution for you. Candidates must wear a jaw brace for at least six months before surgery, and the procedure takes place in a hospital or surgery center. The surgery typically lasts less than four hours. Although the healing process takes at least six weeks, most people return to work or school within two weeks following surgery. Dr. Jenkins can correct your bite six months after surgery and ensure that you are healing properly from the procedure.
Dental Implants
If you have missing teeth, Dr. Jenkins can use dental implants to replace them. These implants are inserted directly into the bone underneath your gum to serve as anchors where you have an implanted tooth. Small titanium screws are inserted surgically while you are under anesthesia.
Facial Trauma Reconstruction
If your face has been injured by a sports accident, assault or car wreck, you may need facial trauma reconstruction. Dr. Jenkins works with broken bones and soft tissues to restore the appearance of your face after any type of trauma.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous condition in which people have decreased breathing when they sleep. People with this condition have relaxed tongues when sleeping, and when the tongue gets sucked to the roof of the mouth, it obstructs airflow. Dr. Jenkns specializes in a special surgery that corrects the position of the jaw to reduce the effects of this medical condition.
Oral Pathology
Skin changes, cysts and tumors in and around your mouth require immediate treatment. They must be checked thoroughly in case they are cancerous. One of Dr. Jenkins’ specialties is oral pathology. He can analyze changes in your mouth as well as biopsy cysts and tumors to determine if they are malignant or benign. If pathology reveals that an oral mass is cancerous, he can diagnose the type of disease and create a treatment plan that includes removal if necessary. It is crucial to see an oral pathologist immediately when you notice any change to the appearance of your mouth such as discolored gums or white patches on your tongue.
Oral Surgeon
Dr. Jenkins is an oral surgeon who is licensed to perform any type of dental procedure. Oral surgery is often necessary to restore the appearance of the face after it experiences trauma, but it can also improve the functionality of the mouth and reduce pain. The most common types of oral surgery include facial reconstruction and wisdom teeth extraction. As an oral surgeon, Dr. Jenkins performs a variety of surgeries on the teeth, gums and jaw to help you maintain good oral health.
TMJ Disorders
The joint that attaches your bottom jaw to your skull is called the temporomandibular joint. When the joint becomes inflamed for any reason, it can become painful to open your jaw to speak or chew. There are many TMJ orders that can cause inflammation, and the first step to treating your pain is identifying the root cause of the issue. Conservative treatment methods often help, but if you are still experiencing pain, a clicking noise or stiffness in your jaw, you may need to speak with Dr. Jenkins about surgical correction for TMJ disorders.
Maxillofacial Surgeon
As a maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Jenkins has extensive training that allows him to perform any type of oral surgery to improve the lives of his patients. Maxillofacial surgeons are required to complete a surgical residency in addition to medical school, and this training allows them to perform the following procedures:
- Removing cysts and tumors
- Performing reconstructive surgery
- Repairing cleft palettes
Make an Appointment Today
Dr. Jenkins at Riverwoods Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery offers a vast array of dental services to improve oral health. Because we received the Best Oral Surgery award in 2019 from Utah Valley Magazine, you can trust us to provide exceptional service. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for an oral surgery consultation.