Did you know that by the age of 18, you should have 32 teeth (16 on the top and 16 on the bottom)? However, the average mouth can only comfortably fit 28 teeth. These four outsiders, known as wisdom teeth, are the third molars that more often than not need to be removed. Our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Bart Nierzwicki, at Millennium Surgical, can examine your wisdom teeth and make recommendations on how to remove these teeth when they need to come out.
When wisdom teeth won’t budge or emerge from the gum line partially or come in sideways, they are not going to align properly with the rest of your teeth. This can cause an overcrowding of your teeth, and will do damage to your healthy gum tissue. If you think you are a good candidate for wisdom teeth extraction, or have a referral from your primary dentist or orthodontist, please call today for an exam and consultation in our Chicago, IL office.
request an appointmentREASONS FOR TREATMENT
With an oral examination and X-rays of the mouth (usually performed first by your primary dentist in the mid-teenage years), our oral and maxillofacial surgeon can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth, and make a recommendation on their treatment. Wisdom teeth that need surgical treatment are usually poorly positioned, impacted teeth that can be the source of many dental problems.
- Even when wisdom teeth are partially erupted, the foundation around the teeth allows for bacterial growth, and will ultimately cause an unwanted infection, plus inflammation, stiffness, toothaches, and sickness.
- 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.
As wisdom teeth develop, their roots grow longer and the jawbone becomes more dense, making them more difficult to remove and complications more apt to occur. It is not wise to wait until your wisdom teeth start to bother you. Very often people are unaware of problems with their wisdom teeth because they experience few or no symptoms. The fact is that damage often occurs before you are aware of it. Complications are impossible to predict. The longer the wisdom teeth remain in your mouth, the more likely they are to cause problems. Researchers strongly recommend that in order to prevent future problems, wisdom teeth, even those that appear problem-free, be removed during early adulthood. Impacted wisdom teeth may become painful for the patient, and may crowd the rest of the mouth. Have them removed before they become a problem!
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.
Ten Health Reasons to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth
10. Because there is limited space for wisdom teeth to erupt and because surrounding gums are difficult to keep clean, infection and inflammation are common even when there are no apparent symptoms. Research shows that once inflammation takes hold it is almost impossible to eliminate and may spread to other teeth.
9. Research suggests that oral inflammation associated with wisdom teeth may contribute to preterm or low birthweight infants.
8. Even when wisdom teeth erupt through the gum tissues, they rarely provide any meaningful function and are always difficult to keep clean.
7. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth develop associated cysts and/or tumors. Removal of such lesions may require extensive procedures to repair and restore jaw function and appearance.
6. With age the chance for complications related to the removal of wisdom teeth increases. 5. Gum disease and inflammation associated with wisdom teeth may lead to receding gum tissues, deterioration of the jawbone and tooth loss.
5. Gum disease and inflammation associated with wisdom teeth may lead to receding gum tissues, deterioration of the jawbone and tooth loss.
4. Wisdom teeth may contribute to crowding of nearby teeth.
3. Even wisdom teeth that seem to be problem-free (asymptomatic) remain a breeding ground for oral infection and inflammation. Research supports the concept that such inflammation may enter the bloodstream and contribute to the development and/or progression of a variety of diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
2. Once it has been determined that a wisdom tooth will not successfully erupt into your mouth and be maintained in a healthy state, early removal of wisdom teeth is associated with faster and easier recovery.
1. The Number One Reason for Removing Your Wisdom Teeth – PEACE OF MIND.
DURING THE PROCEDURE
To keep our patient relaxed and pain-free, we perform wisdom teeth extractions under local anesthesia, or general anesthesia (and IV sedation). These options, as well as the surgical risks (i.e. sensory nerve damage, sinus complications, dry socket, and more), will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed. Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured. We ask that you bite down on gauze to help control the bleeding while you rest under our supervision. Once you are ready to be discharged, we will give you and/or a care giver post-operative instructions, a prescription for pain medication, antibiotics, and a follow-up appointment in one week for suture removal.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
All of our outpatient surgery procedures are performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. Our oral and maxillofacial surgeon and staff have the training, licensing, and experience to provide various types of anesthesia for patients to select the best options to meet his or her needs.
PLAN YOUR PROCEDURE
Recovery Time 1 Week
Average Procedure Time 30 – 45 Minutes
Post-op Follow-up 2 Weeks
Procedure Recovery Location Office
MAKE A WISE CHOICE
When your primary dentist suggests that your wisdom teeth need to come out, we know it can cause a lot of anxiety to hear that you need surgery. Make a wise choice, and schedule the appointment for your consultation. Many of our referral dentists trust our services and skill to perform your wisdom teeth extraction. Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes modern monitoring equipment, along with a staff who is experienced in anesthesia techniques. Call today for an appointment.