Leonardo da Vinci was not only an artist but also a scientist. It is said that his knowledge of the human body as a researcher is what enabled him to so accurately portray it in his art. One’s beauty is, after all, not supported by his or her teeth, lips and eyes—the features easily seen—but by the bone structures that lie below the surface.
Likewise, Anthony Farole, D.M.D., a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, is not just a doctor but also an artist. His intimate knowledge of the structure of the facial bones, their functions and their aesthetically pleasing proportion allows Dr. Farole to not only repair physical malformations caused by disease, trauma, developmental defect or aging through reconstructive surgery but also to improve a patient’s cosmetic appearance with surgery, dental implants or noninvasive procedures; he also performs other beneficial surgeries, such as wisdom tooth extraction and sleep apnea correction. “Reconstructive surgery is complex and provides experience in knowledge of the intricate anatomy of the jaw bones,” he says. “This allows more precise and exacting placement of implants for optimal function and aesthetics.”
Dr. Farole began cultivating his extensive knowledge at the University of Pittsburgh, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He then went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston, followed by his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Certification and training at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital System. He later completed a one-year Fellowship in Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate and Orthognathic Corrective Surgery.
Since then Dr. Farole has performed more than 3,500 reconstructive/cosmetic facial procedures that improve the beauty and function of the facial area. Dr. Farole also offers Botox and peri-oral skin resurfacing, as well as enhancement of chin, cheek bones and eyelid surgery. Many of these procedures can be done in his office to avoid unnecessary time and money spent in the hospital. Dr. Farole sees these services as a natural complement to reconstructive procedures. He says, “Cosmetic enhancements of the facial area are complemented and enhanced when all of the facial subunits are improved. This creates aesthetic balance and harmony between the lips, teeth, cheek bones, chin and eyes.”
In the area or oral and maxillofacial surgery, dental implants are a particular area of focus for Dr. Farole. Dental implants provide strength and support for the jaw bones of those who have one or more missing teeth or for those wearing full or partial dentures, while improving the appearance of the smile. An implant is an effective artificial tooth replacement that is secured permanently in the jawbone. The implant avoids atrophy of the jawbone and replaces a missing tooth to help the patient maintain a youthful appearance.
According to Dr. Farole, dental implants can offer a potential solution for patients of all ages and backgrounds, including “elderly who do not want to wear removable partial dentures, younger patients, [with tooth loss] secondary to trauma or sports injuries, and as support for dentures when bone loss from the jaws and supporting structures is severe.” No matter their reason for seeking his help, patients will be pleased to know they can glimpse the outcome through the use of video imaging. His office was among the first to offer the technology to its patients. This tool allows him to offer the patient a prediction of the final aesthetic outcome of the procedure prior to undergoing the procedure.
Nearly all dental implant procedures can be performed as an outpatient procedure at Dr. Farole’s office using local anesthesia or, if desired, intravenous sedation. The first visit involves surgery to place the implant as a tooth root replacement, where it will reside just below the gums during the healing process. This will allow the bone to grow around the implant to make sure that it is secure and strong to last what could be a lifetime. This can often be done simultaneously with the extraction of teeth. “In other words, teeth can be removed and implants placed in the extraction sites the same day,” Dr. Farole says. Once the healing is complete, the implant is surgically exposed to begin the second stage. This post will accept the prosthetic tooth. The final step, which is performed by a general dentist, involves attaching the prosthetic tooth (or teeth) to the post. “The actual placement of teeth on top of the implants … takes place after a healing period of two to four months,” he says, “but temporary teeth can be made and worn during the healing phase.”
With normal good oral hygiene Dr. Farole says, implants can last as long as natural teeth. With 30 years of experience and knowledge, he is so confident in the success of the dental implant surgeries he performs that he offers patients a guarantee. Dr. Farole offers replacement of any dental implant he has placed, at no charge, should it be required due to surgical failure or loosening. This guarantee is valid for any reason through the entire procedure and time line, from post placement to implant completion.
In addition to appreciation from countless patients for the outcomes he has provided, Dr. Farole has earned significant recognition for his work outside of his practice. For example, he was selected as one of only 65 surgeons in the country as a board examiner on the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for six years. He also has been the associate director and associate professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, for 19 years. He remains actively involved in the teaching faculty at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, teaching surgical procedures to residents. Lastly, he has used his training in cleft lip/cleft palate and orthognathic corrective surgery to volunteer for four missions with Healing The Children. This organization provides underserved children throughout the world with urgently needed medical assistance they otherwise would be unable to obtain.
Whether a patient needs to have a procedure to correct a medical concern or chooses to do so to improve their appearance, Dr. Farole says, “Having patients say, ‘I am glad I did this’ or how happy and confident they are after functional and aesthetic improvement is what I find most rewarding about my field.”
Dr. Anthony Farole
191 Presidential Blvd., Suite W-2
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-668-3300 | www.drfarole.com
Photography by Jody Robinson
