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Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth or third molars are the last permanent teeth to form and move into the mouth. Wisdom teeth will usually emerge at around 16 to 18 years of age and be fully developed by the age of 22 or 23. This was assumed to be the “age of wisdom”, which is where the term wisdom teeth originated.
There are usually four wisdom teeth, one in each corner of the mouth, and when added to the other 28 teeth, make a total of 32 teeth. The average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth.
Problems Caused by Impacted Wisdom Teeth
All extractions are performed in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere under anesthesia that is appropriate for the patient.
If the jawbone is not long enough, the wisdom teeth will not have enough room to erupt and will become trapped inside the jawbone. In this case, the wisdom teeth have become impacted.
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 Tooth Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom tooth extraction, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom tooth extraction are discussed.
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Advantages to Early Removal of Wisdom Teeth
It is best to remove the teeth before the roots are fully formed. As you age, the roots will thicken and become more firmly anchored to the jawbone. If you wait until your wisdom teeth cause you trouble, risks and chances of complications are higher, and recovery may not proceed as smoothly as when they are removed electively.
Removing impacted wisdom teeth early is usually a less involved procedure than waiting until complications and pain develop.
All extractions are performed in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere, with a friendly, trained staff, under anesthesia that is appropriate for the patient. We utilize state of the art monitoring equipment and anesthesia techniques:
- Local Anesthesia
- Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen
- Intravenous Sedation
- General Anesthesia
- Continuous EKG Monitoring
- Automatic Blood Pressure Device
- Continuous Pulse Monitors
- Continuous Oxygen Monitors
Oral Examination
With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, Dr. Overbeck can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and determine if there are present or potential problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in the mid-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. Dr. Overbeck has the training, license and experience to provide various types of anesthesia for patients to select the best alternative.