If you are asking this question, chances are your wisdom teeth are giving you some trouble.  Wisdom teeth are your third molars.  They are the last teeth to come in and are located the farthest back in your mouth.  Occasionally, wisdom teeth will erupt with absolutely no pain, issues or cause for concern. Others will experience unpleasant symptoms and will want or need to have their wisdom teeth extracted.  How do you know?

• Pain in the jawbone
• Pain that radiates from ear, jaw and head
• Tooth pain caused by wisdom teeth growing sideways and putting pressure on adjacent teeth
• Swelling and inflammation indicating infection
• Sensitivity in the third molar that might be caused by cavities
• Bad breath which may indicate infection
• Bad breath caused by inability to clean and floss properly
• Sinus pain and pressure caused by third molars pressing up against the sinuses
• Shifting teeth
• Formation of cysts around the third molar

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, we encourage you to consult with your dentist for an exam and x-ray.  If the wisdom teeth appear to be problematic, your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon that is uniquely qualified to handle the surgical extraction of wisdom teeth and the administration of IV anesthesia.

For more information about wisdom teeth or the oral surgeons at Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, please visit www.texasoralsurgery.com.

Dr. Zahid Lalani – Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Facial Trauma Team

UPDATE: Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center receives Level II trauma center verification (READ MORE)

Following a tragic event and traumatic injury, the proximity and availability of a trauma center can greatly affect patient outcome. In the greater Houston area, there are currently two level I trauma centers – Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute and Ben Taub Hospital. A level I trauma center provides total care for every aspect of the most serious injuries from prevention to rehabilitation. The center is required to have in-house 24-hour trauma surgeons and a staff of specialists and sub specialists on call. Many times critical patients will be transferred to a level I center from a level II, III or IV center or emergency room; thus, increasing the time lapsed before appropriate care is administered.

In response to the growing need for a higher-level trauma care in the communities north of the Texas Medical Center, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, previously a level III trauma center, has begun providing services to patients as a level II trauma center since summer 2015. As a level II trauma center, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital will provide 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons as well as by specialists in orthopedics, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care. In addition, there are sub-specialists on-call who are required to respond to an emergency within a stringent time frame. The goal is to provide immediate and comprehensive care to trauma patients and reduce the burden on level I trauma centers.

The American College of Surgeons recommends that an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon be a member of a level I or II trauma team. Dr. Zahid Lalani, a board certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon practicing with Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, spearheaded the formation of the facial trauma team with Dr. Bryan Correa, a board certified plastic surgeon.  In addition, Dr. Lalani has assumed the responsibility of the on-call Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital providing treatment for all types of traumatic facial injuries.  “I am pleased to be a part of the expanded team of affiliated physicians covering facial trauma call at the hospital. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are one of the most qualified specialists to handle serious and complex trauma to the face and jaw.  Treatment of facial trauma and reconstructing deformities is my passion. It makes a huge difference for patients when you help them get their identity back after an injury.” Dr. Lalani was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons, having been nominated by his peers in the country for this honor.

For more information about trauma care at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, visit trauma.memorialhermann.org.  For more information about Zahid Lalani, D.D.S., PhD, M.B.A., please visit texasoralsurgery.com.

At Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we participate as “in-network” providers for many of the most popular dental plans*. When you call our office to schedule your consultation with one of our board-certified oral surgeons, please be prepared to let us know about your insurance. We will be able to confirm that we are or are not an in-network provider.

Before your appointment, please complete the registration form online at texasoralsurgery.com. Provide correct information. In addition, you must bring your insurance card and identification with you to the appointment.

Following your examination, a treatment plan will be established and one of our experienced insurance verifiers will contact your insurance provider. Within 72 hours (2 to 3 business days) of your visit, you can expect a phone call with an estimate of how much your surgical procedure will cost, how much insurance is expected to cover and what portion will be your responsibility. It is important to know that the totals that we communicate to you are our best estimates and are based on the information that the insurance company provides to our verifier during a telephone conversation.

There are several things that will affect what your insurance will pay:

• Does your insurance plan cover the prescribed treatment? It is not uncommon for some services to be covered while others are not.
• What is the maximum coverage allowed by your plan and have you exhausted your annual dental coverage? Did you have cavities filled or a root canal performed? These services chip away at your benefits and will reduce the amount left over for oral surgery.
• Do you have a deductible or a co-pay?

It is our objective at Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery to help you maximize your dental benefits. We encourage you to become familiar with your insurance benefits and ask questions so that you understand how insurance will play a part in the financial aspect of your oral surgery. For more information please contact one of our six locations today.

*Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery has opted out of Medicare and does not accept any Medicare supplemental plans.