Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that erupt in the late teens or early twenties — so-called because they come in around the age of maturity or “wisdom.” While teeth are designed to last a lifetime, wisdom teeth are often problematic requiring early removal because they frequently become impacted, meaning they are not able to erupt fully through the gums to become healthy functioning teeth. However, not all wisdom teeth need to be removed if they are fully erupted and functional.
Prevention: Having a tooth submerged below the gum, pressing on the roots of neighboring teeth can cause damage and decay even though you may not be feeling any discomfort. By the time the tooth becomes painful, significant damage may already have occurred. In addition, the ability of the body to heal following oral surgery tends to decrease with age. A recent study sponsored by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation strongly recommends that wisdom teeth be removed in young adulthood in order to prevent future problems and to ensure optimal healing.
Reasons for Removal: If your wisdom teeth are impacted against (pressing on) the roots of other teeth, damage can occur. To prevent infections, gum disease, decay, or damage to other permanent teeth, our office may recommend removal of your wisdom teeth.
What to Expect: If wisdom teeth removal is recommended, it can generally be done in the dental office as a surgical procedure with local anesthesia and conscious sedation (twilight sleep). After the surgery, you may experience some moderate discomfort and swelling depending on the degree of impaction and difficulty. Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen, or prescription medication for several days after surgery will provide pain relief and control swelling.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss any questions you may have regarding removal of your wisdom teeth. Read more about this topic in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Wisdom Teeth: To Be Or Not to Be?”
Comments:
Dentist - Boonville
911 Aigner Dr
Boonville, IN 47601
(812) 897-1410
Archive:
- 2018
- June (6)
- Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
- 3 Types of Tooth Pain and What They Might be Telling You
- Keep on Course during the 3 Phases of a Smile Makeover
- June Is National Safety Month: Be Prepared for Dental Emergencies
- Finding the Right Solution for Your Gummy Smile
- Watch Out for Signs of Gum Recession
- March (5)
- Get an Early Start Treating Root Resorption Before it's Too Late
- A Partial Denture Can Restore a Smile Marred by a Few Missing Teeth
- Consider Saving a Tooth Before you Decide to Replace it
- A Child's Teeth Grinding is Normal - But You Should Still Keep an Eye on it
- A Pediatric Dentist Could be a Great Choice for Your Child's Dental Care
- 2017
- December (5)
- Survey Says: They'd Rather Have a Root Canal
- Have a Loose Tooth? You'll Need This Two-Phase Treatment to Save It
- There's Still Hope for a Re-Infected Tooth After Root Canal Treatment
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Ways You Can Help Your Child Feel at Home at the Dentist
- June (5)
- Include Limitations on Sugar in Your Tooth Decay Prevention Strategy
- Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Overcoming Gum Recession will Restore Dental Health and your Smile
- February (5)
- The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
- Know the Facts Before Considering Botox for Jaw Joint Pain
- Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
- Avoid Permanent Tooth Alteration with No-Prep Veneers
- Don't Let Your Loose Tooth Become a Lost Tooth
- 2016
- October (5)
- Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
- Stop Annoying Canker Sores with These Effective Treatments
- New Understanding of Bacteria Promises Better Approaches to Oral Care
- Gum Recession Could Shorten the Life of Your Teeth
- Don't let Gum Disease - the 'Other Dental Disease' - Rob you of Your Smile
- August (5)
- A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
- Metal Dental Amalgam: Still a Safe and Effective Tooth Filling
- Keep Your Saliva Flowing - Your Oral Health Depends on it
- You can Still have Implants with Diabetes - if you have it under Control
- People Born with Missing Teeth can Still Gain a Beautiful Smile
- June (5)
- Be Sure Your Child has Access to Dental-Friendly Snacks at School
- Patchy Discolorations on the Tongue Aren't a Cause for Worry
- Take These Measures to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- 4 Reasons Saving Your Child's Decayed Baby Tooth is a Good Idea
- March (5)
- 5 Ways to Make Your Smile More Confident and Inviting
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Removable Dentures Remain a Viable Option for People with Total Tooth Loss
- Find out What Kind of Tooth Staining you Have Before Seeking a Solution
- Gaining a New Attractive Smile is More than Achievable
- 2015
- December (5)
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Customized Temporary Crowns let you 'Rehearse' Your Future Smile
- Paying Attention to Certain Factors Helps Ensure Successful Implant Outcomes
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
- 2014
- 2013
- December (5)
- Taking Care of your Teeth During Pregnancy Helps Both you and your Baby
- Dental Amalgam Fillings Remain a Safe and Reliable Tooth Restoration Option
- New Permanent Teeth - Faster Than Ever!
- Quitting the Smoking Habit Could Vastly Improve Your Dental Health
- Loose Dentures Could Lead to Further Bone Loss
- 2012
- 2011
Tags
- sensitive teeth (2)
- oral health (65)
- celebrity smiles (11)
- dental implant (2)
- veneers (8)
- gum disease (22)
- periodontal disease (8)
- heart disease (2)
- oral hygiene (28)
- dental hygiene (4)
- teeth whitening (8)
- dental implants (29)
- dental emergencies (1)
- sports dentistry (1)
- dental injuries (3)
- nutrition (10)
- root canal (8)
- tooth decay (15)
- smile makeover (17)
- cosmetic dentistry (34)
- tooth colored fillings (5)
- fillings (4)
- tooth wear (2)
- grinding (1)
- prepless veneers (2)
- dental injury (8)
- dental emergency (4)
- common symptoms (6)
- snoring and sleep apnea (3)
- oral sedation (2)
- sedation dentistry (4)
- dental anxiety (1)
- fluoride (5)
- oral cancer (9)
- smile (1)
- wedding day smile (1)
- dental fillings (4)
- pediatric dentistry (29)
- thumb sucking (6)
- floss (1)
- crowns (6)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- dental crowns (2)
- braces (3)
- orthodontics (8)
- laser dentistry (3)
- periodontal (gum) disease (3)
- diabetes (3)
- tmd (2)
- tmj (3)
- bridgework (3)
- oral piercings (1)
- tooth decay quiz (1)
- wedding day smiles (1)
- snoring (4)
- sleep apnea (4)
- dentures (7)
- dental hygienist (1)
- clear aligners (2)
- chipped tooth (1)
- bonding (2)
- dry mouth (2)
- bad breath (2)
- mouth rinse (1)
- loose teeth (3)
- cracked tooth syndrome (1)
- porcelain veneers (5)
- tongue piercing (1)
- pregnancy (3)
- periodontal plastic surgery (1)
- whitening (1)
- sealants (2)
- crown (2)
- invisalign (2)
- clear orthodontic aligners (3)
- loose dentures (1)
- smoking (2)
- mouthguards (1)
- saliva (1)
- denture (1)
- teething (3)
- mouthguard (1)
- furcation (1)
- herbal remedy (1)
- dental treatment (2)
- dental care (1)
- dental health (1)
- crown lengthening (3)
- toothache (5)
- baby teeth (2)
- power bleaching (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- dental exam (2)
- partial denture (4)
- bridge (3)
- missing tooth (2)
- replacing teeth (1)
- orthodontic treatment (5)
- topical fluoride (2)
- sinus surgery (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- tooth pain (3)
- ulcers (1)
- canker sores (2)
- dental specialists (1)
- tooth replacement (2)
- missing teeth (3)
- periodontal surgery (2)
- root canal treatment (4)
- tooth staining (1)
- removable dentures (1)
- smile design (3)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- salvia (1)
- gum recession (4)
- oral appliance (1)
- night guard (1)
- teeth grinding (4)
- toothpaste (2)
- tmj disorders (3)
- bone grafting (2)
- space maintainer (2)
- extractions (1)
- bruxism (2)
- sugar (1)
- x-rays (1)
- flossing (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- root resorption (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- periodontist (1)
- gummy smile (1)
Categories:
