Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Wisdom Tooth Surgery
How long will it take to recover from wisdom tooth surgery?
No two 3rd molar surgeries are alike. With that being said, the normal adolescent recovery for 4 wisdom teeth should be within 7 days, adults, depending on age can be longer.
Will I get swollen and for how long?
Most often there will be some degree of swelling and it is variable. It should begin to resolve by the 3rd day.
Will I be able to eat?
Yes, you can eat, chewing may be difficult for the 1st 2 days but is usually manageable.
Why should I have my 3rd molar surgery with New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
The doctors are all Board Certified and combined, have more experience than any group in North Jersey. All three offices are equipped with the very best equipment available and finally our staff and our availability are unmatched!
Dental Implants
Are Dental Implants expensive?
While there are numerous options when considering dental implants, the cost should be manageable and we invite you to speak to the doctor.
Are all Dental Implants the same?
That is a BIG NO. There are over 300 dental implant manufacturers and you should focus on the major companies, ie: Zimmer, Nobel, Straumann. There are many companies producing “knockoff” implants for a fraction of the cost of a high quality implant.
Can I get teeth in one day?
That is possible, however, this is possible in only a small number of cases. Generally treatment can range from 1 day to as long as 6 months depending on many variables.
Why should I have my Implant surgery with New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
Our doctors were some of the very first doctors to place osseointegrated dental implants in this country. We have been exclusively committed to the top implant manufacturer since the very 1st implant that we placed ensuring consistency and unprecedented support.
Facial Trauma
How do I know if I have a jaw fracture?
The degree and intensity of the symptoms are variable. Generally, your bite will be disrupted and you will have some degree of localized pain and swelling.
Will my jaw fracture heal on its own?
Generally, no, and the longer it remains untreated (not stabilized) the greater the likelihood of developing a deep bone infection.
Do I need to have my jaw wired together if it breaks?
The treatment for any bone fracture is positioning (reduction of fracture) and stabilization of the bony segments. One of the most important aspects of treating a jaw fracture is the “bite”. In many case the most efficient treatment is to fixate (wire) the jaws together and restore the patient to their original bite.
If I am traumatically injured why should I request a surgeon from New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
Our doctors have over 100 years of experience at treating trauma and have been affiliated with Hackensack University Medical Center which is a Class II major trauma center right here in North Jersey over all of those years. Dr. Nicholas Berardo is the Chief of the Oral Surgery section in the hospital and Co-chairmen of the Maxillofacial Trauma Division in the Emergency Department.
Orthognathic Surgery
How do I know if I need jaw surgery?
The need for jaw surgery or “orthognathic surgery” is usually manifested with a poor facial profile and/or gross malocclusion (poor bite – gross overbite or underbite).
If I need jaw surgery do I always need braces?
Yes, most often. The objective and commitment to jaw surgery lends itself to obtaining the very best possible result and all aspects of treatment must be coordinated and optimized.
If I have jaw surgery how long will it take to recover?
In general terms most patients are 75% recovered in 1 week, 90% recovered in 2 weeks. Recovery is variable depending on the patient’s age and specific surgery required.
Why should I have my Orthognathic surgery with New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
Together our group performs more that 75% of the orthognathic surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. We use unique, specialized equipment and all cases are planned with virtual technology.
Bone Grafting
Does every patient who gets implants need bone grafting?
No, this is a common misunderstanding. While many times it is necessary to add bone this is not always the case and may depend on the patients desires with respect to the final dental prosthesis.
Do I have to use cadaver bone?
No, this answer is tricky. With today’s products, cadaver bone is the indicated product for smaller bone grafting procedures that are usually necessary to optimize implant placement. It is the best and most efficient material available at this time.
Is cadaver bone safe?
Yes, 100%, that needs to be clarified with the assumption that a reputable biomaterial company is the supplier. All biomaterial products in our office are manufactured by Zimmer Biomet, Inc. the most recognized corporate name in orthopedic/implant/bone surgery.
Why should I have my bone grafting reconstructive surgery with New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
Our office is the best and most thorough at evaluating each patient to determine if these procedures are even necessary. If bone grafting is required for your reconstruction we have the most sophisticated equipment that is available to provide the very best and most predictable results.
General Anesthesia
Who will give me anesthesia?
The treating doctor/surgeon (a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon who has completed at least 4 years of hospital residency training) will provide the anesthesia along with 2 trained oral & maxillofacial surgical assistants.
Will I be asleep?
Yes, you will be asleep. The agents used are full general anesthetic agents, identical to those used in many hospital operating rooms.
Will I be monitored?
Yes, all patients are fully monitored as in a hospital operating room. We will continually monitor your pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, electrocardiogram (lead II) and carbon dioxide expiration levels. Anesthesia records are generated for every general anesthesia patient.
Why should I have general anesthesia when I am treated at New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
General anesthesia is an adjunctive pain/anxiety control procedure that we routinely provide. Our training as Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons requires up to 1 full year of full hospital based anesthesia training. The offices are all equipped with full recorded, state of the art monitoring for all of our patients.
TMJ Disorders
Do I have TMJ?
The answer is 2 fold, everyone has a temporomandibular joint (in fact you have 2, a right and a left) but not everyone has temporomandibular joint symptoms. Your TMJ is quite simply the joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to your head or temple bone.
How do I know if I have TMJ symptoms?
TMJ pain encompasses a wide range of facial pain symptoms, ranging from headaches to the inability to move or function with your lower jaw.
Who do I go to if I have TMJ problems?
There is no recognized specialist in TMJ diagnosis or treatment. It is best to start with your regular dentist and if symptoms persist the most trained specialist in diagnosis and treatment of these symptoms is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon.
Why should I have TMJ surgery with New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
TMJ surgery is surgery that may be necessary in a very select number of “facial pain” cases. Our team will provide an extensive, thorough evaluation to isolate your symptoms, diagnose your problem and determine (if necessary) the exact type of surgery that may be required. Most of our cases are now treated arthroscopically (by a camera) at our state of the art Vanguard Surgical Center.
Dental Imaging
Why do I need a “big x-ray” when I see the oral surgeon?
Oral surgeons are the most trained specialty in dentistry and a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon has demonstrated and achieved the highest recognized level of expertise in their specialty. With that in mind, many times it is necessary for the oral surgeon to have a “scout film” of the entire oral and maxillofacial region (lower ½ of the face) to make the correct diagnosis and recommend the most effective treatment.
Is there a lot of radiation when I get x-rays at the oral surgeon?
This may be specific to the oral surgery office you visit. Our offices are equipped with the most modern, efficient imaging capabilities available today. In addition our surgical technicians have all been trained and licensed in dental radiography and every precaution possible is taken to minimize radiation exposure.
Can I ever use my own x-rays?
Yes; radiographs from other offices can be used as long as your radiographs are of good quality and within an accepted time frame. Our office is totally digitalized and can email as well as receive electronically transmitted films.
Why should I have my X-ray examination with New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
Our sophisticated imaging equipment is state of the art. Within our office we are able perform Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT). Our attention to radiation control is unparrrell. All x-ray images are 100% digitalized and easily transmitted via email.
Oral Pathology
How do I know if I need a biopsy?
Oral biopsies may be necessary for any number of reasons. The number 1 reason is an unexplained growth of tissue or sores in the mouth that are not healing (with in 1 week). If you are unsure, you are best off having an examination by an oral & maxillofacial surgeon.
Can I have a problem without any pain?
The answer is Yes! Many oral/dental problems are chronic in nature and very slow to develop. In fact they may be so slow that many times symptoms go entirely unnoticed for long periods of time (months to years).
How long does a cyst grow in my jaw?
It is important to understand that everyone has cysts in their jaw as our teeth normally develop inside cysts in our jaw throughout the first 2 decades of life. There are many types of cysts that can grow in your jaw, some directly related to your teeth, others unrelated to the teeth. The essence is that cysts may develop slowly over many years causing a wide range of problems as they slowly enlarge.
Why should I have my oral biopsy with New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
Our group is the most experienced group at evaluating any unusual pathology that is discovered in the oral cavity. All of the specimens that we obtain are quickly processed and submitted to a specialized laboratory that evaluates only oral pathology. 100% of the specimens submitted are evaluated by Board Certified Oral Pathologists.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
What is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon?
An oral and maxillofacial Surgeon is the most trained specialist in the field of dentistry. Extensive training entails 4-6 years of hospital based training after dental school. This period of time is more than 2 times the length of any other specialty program in dentistry.
Can my dentist do oral surgery?
Many dentists elect to perform a wide range of oral surgical procedures in their offices. You can be sure that if the dentist should encounter a problem during surgery, the patient will be immediately referred out to an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon. Here at New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial surgery we are uniquely trained and equipped to deal with any and all complications that may arise with respect to surgery in the maxillofacial region. Our office is on call and available 24/7 to address all of our patient’s urgent emergency needs.
What if I need oral surgery and I am in the hospital emergency room?
Most hospital emergency rooms have oral surgeons on staff. All of our doctors are on staff at Hackensack University Medical Center and Dr. Nicholas Berardo is the Chief of the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery section at this institution. We have over 100 years of combined experience in the emergency management of oral surgical emergencies.
Platelet Rich Plasma
What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?
PRP is a byproduct of a process where we are able to separate out your own platelets from your own blood with the use of a specially designed centrifuge. This concentrated precipitate is added to implant and bone grafting surgery providing concentrated growth factors directly into the surgical field.
Is PRP safe?
Yes; the entire platelet precipitate is a byproduct of the patients own blood. Disease transmission is not an issue.
Is there any reason not to use PRP in bone grafting procedures?
No; other than bleeding disorders (ie: hemophilia) and platelet deficiencies there is no reason not to use PRP as an adjunct to treatment. In fact it has been used in orthopedic and neuro-surgical procedures for over 2 decades.
Does New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery use PRP in their office?
Yes, we have been routinely using concentrated platelets to improve our implant and bone grafting results for 10 years. This procedure requires the use of a specifically designed centrifuge and meticulous preparation by a specially trained staff. We have 3 centrifuges and as far as we know, we are the only practice in North Jersey to routinely use this product on an out-patient basis.