Straight talk about wisdom teeth
The back-most molars, known as “wisdom teeth,” are commonly associated with a range of complications. Notably, they tend to become impacted. These complications are often addressed with the expertise of a specialist, such as our teams at Associates for Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery in Mount Prospect, Bartlett, Elk Grove Village, and Chicago, Illinois. As needed, patients and other dentists may turn to us for the expert removal of these teeth.
What are wisdom teeth, and why are they called that?
These third molars are typically the last teeth to erupt through the gums. Since their development usually ends during the teen years and early 20s, they are often referred to as “wisdom teeth,” as this is a phase traditionally associated with the onset of maturity and the transition to adulthood.
Why are they so notorious?
For most people, 32 adult teeth will develop in their mouths. But, many times, the jaws are simply too small to accommodate all of these teeth properly. When there isn’t enough space for these last four wisdom teeth to develop at the back corners of the mouth, these molars may fail to erupt or break through the bone and gums normally. This situation leads to a common complication called “impaction.”
What is impaction?
This complication takes on many different forms. There may be soft tissue, partial bony, or complete bony impactions. We have the expertise and tools to accurately understand what is going on in your mouth and with the development of wisdom teeth. From there, we can move forward with the following steps to preserve or restore the health and comfort of your mouth. Soft tissue impactions primarily arise when there isn’t sufficient room for the gum tissue to retract, which presents a challenge to effectively cleaning the teeth. The latter two bony impactions occur when these molars either partially erupt or do not have any space to erupt and become trapped in the jawbone.
When do I need to have wisdom teeth removed?
Impactions can cause intense pain and pressure. They also put your mouth at increased risk of infections, cysts, teeth crowing, and damage to the adjacent teeth. So, it is generally advised to remove wisdom teeth that are not developing correctly before they threaten the health of other teeth and oral and facial tissues.
How do you remove wisdom teeth?
First, during your consultation, we can discuss appropriate sedative options to keep you relaxed at all times. Additionally, all outpatient surgeries are administered under appropriate anesthesia for utmost comfort. It is crucial to arrange transportation, and we request that a parent or responsible adult accompanies and stays with you for the remainder of the day. Treatment takes around 30 to 60 minutes. Recent medical and technological advancements allow us to use techniques that promote rapid healing and minimize post-operative pain and other side effects. We will also review all after-care instructions to ensure that any complications (like dry socket or the dislodging of the blood clot at the extraction site) are avoided.
At Associates for Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery, we bring an uncommon level of specialty expertise to common treatments such as wisdom teeth removal. Schedule a consultation or contact us with more questions today. Our offices in Mount Prospect, Bartlett, Elk Grove Village, and Chicago, IL, can be reached at (847) 255-7080, (630) 289-5002, (847) 593-0535, and (773) 736-3300, respectively.
