Dr. Joseph J. Radakovich DMD

What is Oral Surgery?	Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dental practice that deals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries and defects of the mouth, jaws, face and related structures. This includes the removal of impacted and decayed teeth, placement of dental implants, biopsy and removal of cysts and tumors of the mouth and jaws, treatment of facial trauma and reconstructive jaw surgery.
What does maxillofacial mean?	Maxillofacial refers to the face and jaws, which along with the mouth comprise the areas of expertise of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Why am I being referred?	Your dentist believes that your present needs require the services of a specialist. Some procedures, like extractions, are far more complex than others. We are an extension of your dentist's skill, care, and concern for your well being.
What does it mean to be Board Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery?	Dr. Radakovich is a Board Certified Oral Surgeon. This means that he has graduated from an accredited dental school and has completed an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program approved by the American Dental Association Commission in Dental Accreditation. This required thirteen years of post-high school education and training. The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is recognized by the American Dental Association as the specialty board for oral and maxillofacial surgery. The board is responsible for reviewing all applicants for board certification, as well as administering the examination involved in the certification process. One must pass both a thorough written qualifying examination and a rigorous oral certifying examination to become board certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Diplomates are encouraged to maintain current competence by ongoing continuing education.
New Patients?	Call our office directly at 503-230-0322. No referral from a dentist or physician is necessary. Office hours are by appointment from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Every effort is made to see emergencies immediately. We pride ourselves in seeing you at your appointed time.
Is a Medical History needed?	A complete medical history is necessary for every patient of record. Please bring all pertinent medical information to your appointment, or you may register online at home prior to your visit. Any insurance information is also necessary. Call or e-mail us if you have any questions. Click here to register online.
How about X-Rays?	A panoramic radiograph that shows your full jaw is usually necessary for oral surgery. If your dentist has taken x-rays in the past six to twelve months they may be adequate, but we often need additional films to properly evaluate you and provide care.
What about Anesthesia?	We have found that our patients do better in their surgery if they have general anesthesia. If you want to be asleep for your procedure, you must have nothing to eat or drink (not even water) for at least six hours beforehand. A responsible adult must be with you to drive you home. Please wear short sleeves so that a blood pressure can be taken, and bring a case if you wear contacts. Prescription medications should be taken with a sip of water. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 18 even if local anesthesia is planned.
How is Insurance handled?	We accept most insurance plans, but please confirm your coverage with us. Most insurance plans pay a portion of your bill. The noncovered copayment and deductible amount is expected on the day of your procedure. We file claims promptly and we serve as your advocate.
Fees	We are happy to provide you with a presurgical estimate of fees. Payment is expected on the day of service unless other arrangements have been made in advance. We accept Visa and MasterCard, and payment plans can also be arranged. Please talk with our business manager for more details prior to your procedure.
What are dental implants?	A dental implant is a titanium fixture that is implanted in the jaw. It can replace a single tooth or it can be a support for a bridge or a denture.
Overview of Dental Implants	Replacing missing teeth has always been a challenge for dentists, but fortunately we have added another way to replace teeth that offers many advantages over conventional methods. Dental implants allow a missing tooth to be replaced without altering or trimming down neighboring teeth that would serve as anchors for a bridge, or without relying on neighboring teeth that are not strong enough to support a bridge. Partial dentures and full dentures can be supported or retained by implants so that the function of the denture is greatly improved. The problem of a lower full denture that moves around when talking or eating can often be corrected by placing implants in the lower jaw that hold the denture in place. Once dental implants are placed, the gradual deterioration that takes place in your jawbone where teeth are missing is slowed or eliminated.
How Do Dental Implants Work?	Dental implants are titanium fixtures placed in the jaw by an oral surgeon and allowed to heal for 3 – 6 months. The implants are then uncovered and your dentist makes teeth that attach to the implants. We have seen great success with dental implants, although they are not for everyone. Dental implants can fail, especially if they are not cleaned properly.
	Dr. Radakovich can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for replacing missing teeth with dental implants by discussing with you your goals and priorities for replacing your teeth, as well as performing an oral examination and taking appropriate radiographs.
Who is a candidate for dental implants?	Anyone in reasonable health who wants to replace missing teeth. You must have enough bone in the area of the missing teeth to provide adequate anchorage for the implants. Most people today are potential candidates for dental implants to replace a single missing tooth, small bridges or removable partial and full dentures.
What is the success rate of dental implants?	This depends on where the implants are placed and their function, as well as how well they are cleaned at home after they are completed. Most studies show success rates of at least 90%.
Why are dental implants so popular?	Implants offer tooth replacements that attach to the jaw and can have many advantages over conventional methods. They are both functional and esthetic. If you want to replace missing teeth, discuss dental implants with Dr. Radakovich or your dentist.
Does it hurt to have dental implants placed?	Most people experience minimal discomfort following dental implant placement. Most describe the implant as less painful afterward than having a tooth extracted. The procedure can be done either under local anesthetic or intravenous sedation.
While the implants are bonding to my jawbone, do I have to go without my "teeth"?	In most instances, temporary teeth can be worn during the healing period. On occasion, it will be recommended that a patient go without any temporary teeth for a short period of time.
Overview Of Wisdom Teeth Click Here for Photos and More information on Wisdom Teeth.	The last teeth to develop and erupt into the jaws are called the third molars. Third molars usually erupt in the late teen years, which coincides with passage into adulthood and is referred to by some as the age of wisdom; hence "wisdom teeth". Unfortunately, the wisdom teeth are now usually trying to erupt into a jaw that is too small. Wisdom teeth used to serve a useful purpose, but are now considered vestigial organs. A vestige is a degenerative or imperfectly formed organ or structure having little or no utility, but in the earlier stage of development of a species performed a useful function. The reasons that wisdom teeth are now "outdated" are many. Until quite recently, our diet included mostly very coarse food, as well as impurities such as dirt and sand. This coarseness would abrade teeth so significantly that they would take up less space in the jaw. Permanent teeth were also frequently lost at an early age, which would create more space in the jaw. Because the diet was so coarse and hard to chew, the jaw itself would develop into a larger bone because of this constant workout. All of these factors would create more space for the wisdom teeth when they came in. The heavily processed diet of today does not produce the tooth abrasion or jaw development that we used to see. Modern dentistry has pretty much eliminated significant loss of permanent teeth at an early age. This leaves us with too many teeth and not enough jaw. The wisdom teeth still develop as they always have, but they have no where to go. When this happens, the teeth are considered "impacted," meaning that they are not in normal position and function.