Park
Cities Dental
"The
Art and Science of a Healthy Smile"
Third Molar (Wisdom Teeth)
Extractions
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, do not always erupt properly when they decide to make an appearance. It's wise to get an early opinion from your dentist on getting wisdom teeth pulled before they become impacted, causing pain, swelling, infection, caries and gum disease.
Why don't wisdom teeth grow in
correctly?
The shape of the modern human mouth is often too small
to accommodate wisdom teeth which make their first appearance in young
adults 17 to 26. Over the course of time, humans have developed smaller
jaws. When humans learned to harness fire for cooking foods and developed
blade tools to better process food before consumption, they reduced the
need for strong jaws to chew food. According to studies of ancient skull
specimens, over time, a full set of teeth in a smaller jaw caused crowding
in permanent teeth because of lack of space.
What does impacted mean?
When wisdom teeth don't have room to grow or they haven't
reached their final position by age 25, they are considered impacted -
no place to go and no plans to grow. Third molar impaction is the most
prevalent medical developmental disorder. A full set of healthy teeth sometimes
doesn't leave much room for wisdom teeth to grow.
What kind of problems can impacted
third molars cause?
Partially erupted wisdom teeth are breeding grounds for organisms
that may cause infection, and cysts and tumors may grow on a trapped wisdom
tooth. Jaw pain and gum disease may occur. Not all wisdom teeth cause problems,
however.
Can't I just use an antibiotic?
Antibiotics only soothe infected wisdom teeth for a short time.
Since people frequently use a wide variety of antibiotics, the infection
may be resistant to such medication and doesn't solve the real problem:
The tooth can't fit in your mouth.
When is removal necessary?
It isn't wise to wait until wisdom teeth bother you.
Early removal, as advised by your dentist, is generally recommended to
avoid problems, such as an impacted tooth that destroys the second molar.
People younger than 16 heal easier too. At an early age, people should
be evaluated by their dentist who can track third molar development with
the help of X-rays. Second molars should be visible to lessen the chance
of damaging them during surgery. This occurs at age I I or 12, so wisdom
teeth should be removed when the decision has been made that they cannot
erupt into an acceptable position.
What if I don't have any symptoms?
People with symptoms of impaction, such as pain, swelling
and infection should have their wisdom teeth removed immediately. However,
those with no symptoms can avoid the chance of ever suffering from impacted
wisdom teeth or achieve better orthodontic treatment results by having
them removed. Asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth also should be removed
to reduce unexplained pain, accommodate prosthetic appliances, or avoid
cavities, periodontal disease, bone shrinkage and tumor development.
How is the tooth removed?
Surgery for impacted wisdom teeth consists of removing
gum tissue over the tooth, gently stripping connective tissue away from
the tooth and bone, removing the tooth and sewing the gum back up.
Click for Dental Surgery Post Operative Instructions (Adobe PDF) (Word Doc)
Yes! Dr. Hibbs performs wisdom tooth removal in his practice.
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Send comments to: Dr. J. Eric Hibbs