Wisdom Teeth Extractions
By the age of eighteen, 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 or
molar teeth are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable
for swallowing. As recently as the early 1900s, early loss of molar
teeth to dental decay was quite common. In these instances the
third molar or wisdom teeth which develop in adolescence would
erupt and serve as a molar replacement. With the advent of
fluoridated water and improvements in dental care, however, early
loss of the molar teeth is much less frequent in our time and the
majority of patients do not have room for proper eruption or
positioning of the third molars.
Why Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?
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 erupt successfully.
These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems.
When they are partially erupted, the opening around the tooth
allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The
result: swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from
the erupting wisdom tooth 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 tooth,
resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth.
Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves
these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future
problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the
procedure.
Oral Examination
With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, your surgeon
can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there
may be present or 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 to
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. Associated Oral & Maxillofacial
Surgeons of Peoria surgeons have the training, licenses and
experience to provide various types of anesthesia for patients.
Removal
In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under
IV/General anesthesia. Anesthesia options as well as the surgical
risks will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed.
Once the teeth are removed, the gum tissue is sometimes sutured. To
help control bleeding, bite down on the gauze placed in your mouth.
You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are
ready to be taken home. Upon discharge, your post-operative kit
will include postoperative instructions, a prescription for pain
medication, antibiotics if necessary and a follow-up appointment if
necessary. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
call us at (309) 682-1213.
Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Peoria services
are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes
modern monitoring equipment and staff that are experienced in
anesthesia techniques
