Wisdom Teeth The average adult has 32 teeth by age eighteen: 16 teeth on the top and 16 teeth on the bottom. Each tooth inthe mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine, and premolar teeth) are ideal for graspingand biting food into smaller pieces while the back teeth, or molarteeth, are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable forswallowing. However, the average mouth is made tohold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in amouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your thirdmolars, also known as "wisdom teeth."
Why should I have my wisdom teeth removed? 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 beremoved. 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, even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find apathway 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 togrow 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 orcysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in thedestruction of the jaw bone 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, our dental 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 their mid-teenage years by their dentist ororthodontist. All outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. Dr. Lindsay has the training, and experience to provide I.V. sedation to allow patients to remaing relaxed throughout the treatment. These services are provided in an environment of optimum safety, utilising modern monitoring equipment and experienced staff.
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