Dr. Phillip Bushell-Guthrie Oral Surgery

For patients needing impacted wisdom teeth removal and other oral surgery treatments, our experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon serving Brisbane and Mackay can help. Dr. Phillip Bushell-Guthrie is accredited in both oral and plastic surgery, and is highly skilled and trained in a variety of surgical techniques. Relief from the pain of impacted wisdom teeth, dental implants to replace missing teeth, the removal of soft tissue and bone lesions and oral reconstruction are just a few of the many procedures Dr. Bushell-Guthrie can provide for patients.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal
Impacted, interrupted or partially erupted wisdom teeth most often need to be removed at some point. One of the main reasons for this is the development of infection leading to pain and swelling. There may also be a feeling of pressure. Other common reasons for removal are:

Dental decay in the tooth
The formation of cysts in the bone surrounding the tooth
Potential damage to the adjacent tooth roots
Crowding of the front teeth

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeon serving Brisbane and Mackay is an accredited oral and maxillofacial surgeon with many years of experience and training. Dr. Phillip Bushell-Guthrie can extract problem wisdom teeth and eliminate the pain, while saving the mouth and surrounding teeth from further damage they may cause.

The Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure
Wisdom teeth removal begins with an oral examination of the mouth and an x-ray, if you do not already have a recent one. Women who are or who may be pregnant should not have an x-ray taken. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia in a private hospital, and only occasionally, when suitable, under local anesthesia at our in-office operating theatre.

The procedure begins with a cut in the gum tissue which is folded back. Some bone is removed from around the tooth so that Dr. Bushell-Guthrie can wriggle it out with a surgical instrument. The gum is then sewn back with dissolving stitches. These stitches should break up after about two weeks. The entire procedure should take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your preference of anesthesia and the number of wisdom teeth being removed. If you have general anaesthesia you must have someone take you home and you must not drive for 24 hours.

Recovery
Patients may experience some residual bleeding from the operative sites during recovery. If this occurs, apply pressure to the site by biting on a handkerchief or gauze roll. There will be some pain postoperatively, but it should not be severe. Patients experiencing severe pain starting at 48 hours may have a dry socket, which occurs when the blood in the extraction socket doesn't clot properly. Dry sockets are treated by flushing out the site with a syringe. Dry sockets are uncommon. Some swelling of the face will occur, however we give you an anti-swelling injection. Excessive pain, fever, swelling and discharge indicate an infection and requires immediate attention. Though uncommon, these side effects can happen and it is important to notify our staff immediately.

Patients will most likely be prescribed an antibiotic. Pain killers containing aspirin should be avoided as aspirin causes bleeding by thinning the blood.

Impacted wisdom teeth removal is often necessary to prevent infection and buckling of the front teeth. For more information on wisdom teeth removal please contact our oral surgeon in Mackay and Brisbane.

Dental Implants
Dental implants provide a permanent alternative to traditional dentures and can not only replace missing teeth, but also improve chewing, speech, and cleaning. The multi-step process of dental implants begins with determining your candidacy for the procedure. Patients with healthy gums and sufficient bone in the jaw to accommodate the implant are typically good candidates. The actual dental implant procedure involves placing a titanium post into the area of the missing tooth. Over a period of months, the post will fuse to the jawbone, and a replacement tooth, or crown made by a prosthodontist will be attached to the post. The new tooth is durable and natural-looking.

TMJ Treatment
Patients suffering from TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) can find relief from the pain and discomfort the condition is known to cause. TMJ dysfunction can result from a number of factors, including teeth grinding or clenching the occlusion and oral habits, mental stress and loss of teeth.

Genioplasty
Genioplasty is designed to alter the shape of the chin. It can be used to correct the balance of facial features, and is helpful for correcting the facial profile when combined with rhinoplasty. Genioplasty is performed under general anesthesia in hospital. Dr. Bushell-Guthrie will create bony cuts in the bone of the chin, which will allow him to move the point of the chin sideways, forwards, backwards, up, or down to correct disproportions.
Patients should be able to resume normal daily routines within about a week following the procedure. Contact sports should be avoided for at least eight weeks.

Other Osteotomies of the Jaws
Disproportions of the face can often be corrected with surgery to the jaws. Osteotomies of the jaws can restore balance to facial features. An upper jaw (maxilla) that is too long or too short can be corrected by cutting into the bones and repositioning them. The lower jaw (mandible) can also be lengthened or shortened through this process. Cheek bones that have been pushed in by an earlier fracture can be repositioned. Patients can see significant improvement of facial appearance with these types of procedures.

Contact Our Oral Surgeon
Dr. P. Bushell-Guthrie Oral Surgeon
In addition to the procedures listed above, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon serving Brisbane and Mackay offers a range of techniques designed to correct conditions affecting the mouth, teeth and face. Please contact our facility to set up an appointment with Dr. Phillip Bushell-Guthrie, or to address any concerns you may have.