Wisdom Teeth
By the age of 18, the average adult has 32 teeth; 16 teeth on the top and 16 teeth on the bottom. Each tooth in the mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine, and bicuspid teeth) are ideal for grasping and biting food into smaller pieces. The back teeth (molar teeth) are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable for swallowing.
The average mouth is large enough to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your third molars, also known as “wisdom teeth.”
Why Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to successfully erupt.
These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the teeth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain, and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom teeth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure.
Wisdom Teeth Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.
Oral Examination
With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, our surgeons can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there are present or may be future problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in the early teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
All outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. The center’s surgeons have the training, licenses and experience to provide various types of anesthesia for patients to select the best alternative.
Removal
In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. In some cases, local anesthesia can by used alone. These options, as well as the surgical risks (i.e., sensory nerve damage, sinus complications), will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed. Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured. To help control bleeding, patients are instructed to bite down on the gauze placed in the mouth. You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge, your postoperative kit will include postoperative instructions, a prescription for pain medication and, in some cases, a follow-up appointment in one week for post operative evaluation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at one of our three locations.
Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes modern monitoring equipment and staff who are experienced in anesthesia techniques.
Loved the experience from start to finish. Dr Davis had my X-Rays up for review, had a brief discussion, Q & A time offered but not needed, extractions, recovery and home. I have had ZERO pain which totally astonishes me. My jaws feel a little sore and I can feel the stitches, but other than that, I am back to work and feeling great!
Not loving the soft diet too much, but I think in a couple of days, I might be able to enjoy a sandwich or piece of pizza. Thank you Dr. Davis and your wonderful, friendly, caring staff! - Lisa C I loved Dr. Warda. He made me feel very eased before and after surgery. Gave me anxiety medicine the night before and day of surgery, and I hardly remember a thing. I would definitely recommend him to my friends for the same procedure. He did a great job, and the pain was surprisingly less than I thought it would be! 😀 - Kaitlin The care and compassion demonstrated by everyone was individualized, personalized and awesome. Thank you. - SAUNDRA S Dr. Davis was very calm and courteous which helped with a nervous patient! Very informative regarding post op care~my son healed nicely. Extra shout out to one of the reception gals (forgot name) who helped me find a doggie daycare! Those little things mean a lot. - Jeri Lynn E Doctor Dyer did an incredible job not only with the original surgery but also follow up. - Ben S Dr. Pansegrau is a very good doctor. He explained everything to me and made me feel comfortable going into the procedure. The receptionist and the other office staff were very helpful and caring. I am only a few hours post surgery, but I feel the surgery went very well. I would highly recommend Dr. Pansegrau. - Lori S Dr. Dyer and his team are exceptional. I was nervous about my surgery and they made me feel relaxed and cared for. My surgery went very well and I would recommend them to others. Thank you! - Cheryll Bossingham Highly skilled & Professional
Friendly - Jon B My son was well taken care of and the staff was courteous and informative. - Daniel P Everything went very smooth. - John B We were totally satisfied with all aspects of our visit today - Ben H Dr. Warda did an exceptional job keeping my nerves low and getting me through my surgery. Very friendly and personable staff! - Ashley S I appreciate all the friendly, knowledgeable staff that helped me with my procedure. - Brianna H Staff was very friendly. I arrived a few minutes before they requested and didn't need to wait much longer before they called me in. - Chelsea P Staff was always very helpful when contacted. Dr. Warda was great, very personable, took time talking to us before the procedure, wasn't overly rushed. Overall great experience! As great as everyone was, glad son didn't have to go back in with pain, "no dry socket!" 6 days out so I think we are safe; - Janet S Highly recommended to others and would come back!! - JennyCenter for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
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