Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery News

Welcome to the June 2010 issue of the Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery Newsletter. Each month we’ll provide you with the latest research findings in oral surgery to help you keep current with significant developments that could benefit your patients. We’ll also update you on Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery’s practice news and developments. We look forward to starting an open dialogue between our practice and yours.

Platelet Rich Plasma Used in Oral Surgery for Faster, More Seamless Healing

One of the most exciting new medical advances in recent years is the introduction of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). Platelet Rich Plasma uses the body’s own cells to help it heal. When PRP is injected directly into an injured area, it accelerates the body’s instincts to repair muscle, bone, and other tissue. I have been successfully using Platelet Rich Plasma to speed healing in my oral surgery patients. 

For dental implant patients, Platelet Rich Plasma invigorates and enhances bone growth around titanium dental implants, as well as other areas requiring additional bone.

PRP Can Be Used for the Following:

• Bone grafting for dental implants – includes onlay and inlay grafts, sinus lift procedures, ridge augmentation procedures, and closure of cleft lip and palate defects.
• Repair of bone defects creating by removal of teeth or small cysts. 
• Repair of fistulas between the sinus cavity and mouth.

Advantages of PRP:

• Safety - Because PRP is a by-product of the patient’s own blood, disease transmission, allergic reaction, and rejection are not concerns.
• Convenience: PRP can easily be gathered from a simple IV blood draw during an oral surgery procedure.
• Rapid healing - PRP can speed up bone and tissue growth and wound healing.   
• Faster bone growth – Adding PRP to a bone graft will increase the final amount of bone present. 
• Ease of application - PRP makes it easier to apply bone substitute materials and bone grafting products by making them more gel-like.

For more information on PRP, including how it is derived and used to help patients, see our Platelet Rich Plasma page.

Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery Adds Medical Aesthetician to Team

I am happy to announce that I’m incorporating something new into my oral surgery practice - aesthetics. This is the third part of my new logo - cosmetics. Medical aesthetician Debra Havelka, R.N. has joined our team. Debra has been a practicing nurse for over 25 years.  She will be providing BOTOX® Cosmetic and Juvederm™ XC injections.

BOTOX Cosmetic improves the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between your brows, crows feet and in your forehead. The treatment requires no downtime and results can last up to four months. 

Juvéderm XC is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. Juvéderm XC injectable gel is eased under the skin to instantly restore your skin's volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds. Smoothes your “smile lines” or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds - the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth) as well as restored fullness and youthfulness to your lips.

To help introduce these new services, we will be offering an introductory special of $50 off your first BOTOX or Juvederm treatment.  Limited to one discount per patient and must be redeemed prior to September 30, 2010.

Debra will be seeing patients at our Greenway Plaza office on Thursdays and at our Sugar Land office on Wednesdays. Patients can schedule appointments between noon and 6:00 p.m.

Did You Know?

Here are some facts you can use when talking with your patients about oral care:

• Tongue and lip piercing can cause blood poisoning, prolonged or permanent drooling, damaged sense of taste, toxic shock syndrome, permanent damage to tooth enamel and oral tissue, and transmission of infections such as hepatitis B and HIV.
• Tobacco is the primary cause of oral cancers. Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day or using smokeless tobacco quadruples the risk of developing oral cancer.  
• The biggest oral health problem for infants is early tooth decay, known as baby-bottle tooth decay. This results when babies routinely fall asleep with bottles filled with sugary liquids such as milk, formula, and juice—anything other than plain water.

Oral Surgery News You Can Use

Safer Hip, Knee and Dental Implants with Smart Coating
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a "smart coating" that helps surgical implants bond more closely with bone and ward off infection.  Read more.

Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery:  Patient Care You Can Trust

When your patients have oral surgery needs, you want to refer them to a highly-qualified oral surgeon. Dr. Eklund is consistently recognized by his peers for his expertise and by his patients for their commitment to quality care.  

From dental implants and wisdom teeth extraction, to complex facial traumas and corrective jaw surgeries, Dr. Eklund can quickly and expertly handle your most complex cases and then return your patients to you for their long-term care.

If you are a dentist or a physician who is interested in referring your patients to Dr. Eklund, visit the Referring Doctors section for more information. Treatment requests may be completed online and any radiographs uploaded at the same time. These of course can also be sent by fax, email or hard copy rather than on the Southwest Oral and Implant Surgery website. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a patient situation with me, please call 281-277-6622 or 713-439-7575.  I look forward to partnering in your patient’s care.