Oral Surgery

One Local Resident to Receive a Second Chance to Smile

Dr. Marashi of Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery will provide a new set of dental implants to a deserving individual of greater Charlotte

Charlotte, NC (January 15, 2016) – Dr. Amir Marashi, MD, DDS of Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery are offering a resident of the greater Charlotte area an opportunity to get back their smile. One deserving recipient will receive the full-arch restoration method to repair their teeth with dental implants to create a new set of fully functional, natural-looking teeth, at no cost.

“The struggle that some individuals in our community have been faced with throughout their lives is astonishing, and extremely unfortunate,” said Dr. Marashi. “We want to provide hope to our community and help our members overcome their daily battles due to their poor oral health. We feel blessed to be able to provide such an amazing opportunity and are excited to change someone’s life, starting with something as simple, yet vital, as a smile.”

Dr. Marashi is partnering with Dr. R. Bruce Miller of Charlotte Prosthodontics, to provide the full-arch restoration to the recipient. This is a revolutionary solution for patients who are missing teeth, are in the process of losing teeth, or have been told they will need dentures. The procedure will allow the recipient to experience the look, feel, and strength of natural teeth, while also enjoying their favorite foods again. This is a secure and lasting solution for those who suffer from multiple missing teeth.

Complications such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, and even diabetic complications are just some of the consequences that may result from poor oral health. Many dental implant candidates have experienced tragic physical or emotional struggles due to their oral health condition and would be deserving of this gift. The decision to pick one candidate to receive this complimentary treatment is sure to be difficult.

In addition to restoring oral function, an enhanced self-esteem, and a natural smile, the Second Chance program has a goal to improve the final recipient’s overall quality of life by addressing other specific needs of the patient, such as a physical fitness, nutrition, career counseling, and therapy. Community members interested in becoming a partner in the program should contact Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery, or visit their donation page, https://greatercharlotteoralsurgery.com/donate/.

Interested individuals are encouraged to visit Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery’s Second Chance program website (https://greatercharlotteoralsurgery.com/secondchance) to learn more about the program and submit their online application. The application period is extended to residents in the greater Charlotte area and the surrounding areas and runs from January 15, 2015, through February 15, 2015.

About Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery:

Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery is an American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities accredited facility, assuring that patients receive the highest level of care with the latest techniques and technology. Dr. Amir Marashi, MD, DDS is a trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon and medical doctor with years of experience. When choosing an oral surgeon in the greater Charlotte area, patients want to find a surgical team they trust and feel comfortable with and know that they will be provided with exceptional care. Dr. Amir Marash and his highly skilled surgical and office staff are a competent, caring oral surgery team who understands the uncertainty, worry, and stress that any oral surgery procedure can cause. Dr. Marashi offers the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery options including dental implants, wisdom teeth extractions, corrective jaw surgery, reconstruction, and much more. He also provides a wide variety of facial cosmetic procedures including face lifts, liposuction, Botox injections, and other cosmetic facial restoration treatments. With convenient office locations in Pineville and Steele Creek, any oral and maxillofacial surgery needs can be met by Greater Charlotte Oral Surgery.

What to do if you lose or break a tooth?

What to do if you lose or break a tooth

Losing or breaking a tooth can be frightening, especially if it’s caused by a sports injury. Fast action is needed to ensure the best results. Follow these tips to minimize discomfort and improve the chances of saving your natural tooth.

Broken tooth

Call your oral surgeon or dentist right away
Gently rinse your mouth with water
Bite on gauze or a tea bag to stop any bleeding until you can see your doctor
Use an ice pad to minimize pain and swelling
Take ibuprofen or Advil if needed

Knocked-out tooth

Call your oral surgeon right away
Only handle the chewing edge of the tooth. DO NOT touch the root (not even to wipe it off)
Submerge the tooth in whole milk or saliva until you reach the oral surgeon’s office
Bite on gauze to slow any bleeding and replace every 10 – 15 minutes until bleeding stops

Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery is here for you for all of life’s oral surgery needs – expected or unexpected. Call us at the location nearest you for direct access to board-certified oral & maxillofacial surgeons.

Oral Surgeons Want Young Athletes to Play Safe

Facial Trauma – Oral Surgeons Want You to Stay Safe

Youth sports are crucial to youth development – but this is also a leading cause of oral and facial trauma.

Not too long ago, only the hitter, catcher and umpire wore facemasks during youth softball and baseball games. But times have changed. Today, boys and girls on the field can be seen wearing masks under their caps. This precaution helps them to protect their faces from a fast-moving ball.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons agree that this extra precaution is a good idea. We see the damage sports activities can cause. According to estimates provided by the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, five million teeth are knocked out each year. The Association also estimates that one out of every three dental injuries is sports-related, and nearly one out of every five head or face injuries is sports-related.

It’s a fact that oral surgeons often have very strong backgrounds in athletics. So while it’s arguable that no one loves sports more than oral surgeons, we also want athletes (especially young ones) to play safely.

Athletes can easily wear protective gear, avoid injury and remain competitive. Which is why Congress elected April as National Facial Protection Month – oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the individuals who urged this designation and we are happy to remind the public about it every year.

We believe the solution is pretty simple: Always wear helmets, facemasks and mouth guards, while playing sports. And while you play, stay alert while competing. That recommendation should be doubled for contact sports like football. But even other sports not typically associated with contact, such as cycling or volleyball, can easily lead to serious facial trauma and dental injury under the wrong circumstances.

If the surgeons’ message (which will be repeated this April) gets heard by parents and coaches, then fewer injured kids will have to come into the oral surgeons’ offices, and more young athletes using protective gear while they play. And nothing would make them happier.

3 Tips to Improve Your Oral Health and Well-Being This Self Improvement Month

September is Self-Improvement Month! To help you improve your oral health this month, our team at Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery picked some of our favorite tips for a better smile and overall attitude.

Re-evaluate your dental routine — We have all been told how important it is to floss and brush daily, but it’s easy to get lazy—especially in September when many people are busy going back to school and work after summer break. Now is the perfect time to re-evaluate your daily dental routine! Ask yourself: Are you brushing twice a day, every day? Are you brushing for a full two minutes when you brush? Are you flossing every night? These habits are crucial and will prevent future oral health problems; finding an extra five minutes to spend on your oral health will be worth it!
Try to reduce stress — You probably know that stress negatively affects mental and physical health, but did you know it also affects your oral health? People who are stressed out and anxious are more prone to bad habits like nail biting and teeth clenching or grinding. On top of contributing to bad habits, stress can cause poor dietary choices like eating sugary foods or drinking too much soda and coffee (bad news for your teeth). If you suffer from excess stress, try to find some time for yourself during the month of September. Maybe try a new exercise class, or take a walk every day; exercise is a healthy way to reduce stress. If exercise doesn’t work for you, perhaps try a new hobby like reading or gardening. Are you short on time? Try some deep breathing exercises for a few minutes every day. Even this short activity can really help you manage stress and clear your mind.
And lastly, (our favorite tip): smile more — If you are feeling down that summer is over or feeling pressured at work, try smiling more—even if you are under pressure or stress. Smiling is proven to improve your mood as well as the mood of those around you. Being more confident and embracing your smile is a great way to improve this September. However, if you are uncomfortable smiling and feel that it’s time to make a change, contact our office at (704) 542-9600 to learn more about some of the restorative options we offer, such as dental implants. Many of our procedures are in-office and have very reasonable recovery periods, making them possible for even the busiest schedules.

Thanks for checking out our tips! We hope you have a good Self-Improvement Month! We’d love to meet you and help you improve your oral health, so please feel free to contact us for additional information about any of the procedures on our website.

How to React After Breaking or Losing an Adult Tooth

Many people find the idea of losing adult teeth frightening, especially if facial trauma is involved. While dentists can treat many tooth injuries, more severe tooth and mouth injuries require procedures best performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons, such as complex extractions, tooth replacement, and sometimes even bone grafting procedures. In fact, oral surgeons are experts in treating facial injuries of all kinds, and many oral surgeons remain on call at hospitals to treat emergency facial trauma patients.

All of us at Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery understand how scary it can be to lose or break a permanent tooth. To help guide you through this experience, we’ve listed some instructions below to minimize discomfort and improve the chances of saving your natural tooth. If your natural tooth cannot be saved, we offer a wide variety of dental implant options to restore your oral function and smile.

Broken Teeth: If you break a tooth, contact your oral surgeon or dentist right away. Before making your way to the office, gently rinse your mouth with water, then bite on gauze or a damp tea bag to stop any bleeding. Use an ice pack to minimize pain and swelling. You can also control pain with ibuprofen or Advil.

While accidents or biting on hard objects can cause tooth damage, often internal problems, like cavities, contribute to a tooth breaking. Visiting a dental professional early ensures that your condition will be treated properly, whether you need a tooth repaired or restored with dental implants.

Knocked-Out Teeth: Following these instructions and bringing your tooth to an oral surgeon within 30 minutes will give you the best chance at restoration.

Only handle the chewing edge of the tooth and do not touch the root. The tissues attached to the tooth can be important for replacement, so do not wipe off or touch any tissue attached to the tooth. Submerge the tooth in some whole milk or saliva to keep it preserved until you reach the office. Do NOT try to clean the tooth using any sort of alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

Bite down on gauze to slow any bleeding and replace the gauze every 10-15 minutes until it comes out clean and the bleeding stops.

Oral surgeons are extensively trained in tooth replacement. If your natural tooth cannot be saved, we offer a multitude of permanent solutions like dental implants. Your oral surgeon will also examine surrounding facial and muscle tissues to ensure your face’s aesthetics and functionality remain.

Hopefully, you’ll never need to use these instructions, but it’s always best to be prepared. Contact our office right away if you have suffered a facial trauma or lost a tooth. We will do our best to schedule your appointment quickly—for most facial injuries, we will fit you in the day you call. Our surgeon specializes in tooth replacement through the placement of dental implants, and we are confident that we will find the right treatment to fit your needs.