Wisdom Tooth Removal - What is Involved?

Are your back molars painful? Are you wondering why your wisdom teeth never grew in? Is the back of your mouth getting crowded? If you have experienced any of these, you may want to ask your dentist to take a second look at your wisdom teeth.

 

Wisdom teeth are your final set of molars, usually not appearing until your late teens or early 20s. When they grow in properly, they can improve the efficiency of your chewing and are an asset to your mouth. More often than not, however, these teeth are misaligned and must be removed, which could be an expensive procedure if you do not have dental insurance. Sometimes the wisdom teeth can even be stuck deep in the jaw bone, or even simply remain below the gum, and will never grow in. Wisdom teeth that will not grow in are “impacted.”

Your dentist will visually examine the area as well as take X-rays to assess the situation under the gum line. This helps determine if and how the wisdom molars need to be extracted. Dentists recommend extracting them by age 18 if they look like they could be problematic. Patients aged 35 and up have a greater risk of complications from the procedure, because the impacted teeth fuse to the jaw bone as people age. An extraction may be necessary if it looks like the wisdom teeth might interrupt normal sinus functionality or cause the other teeth to shift. Third molars that never emerge from the gum can be painful as well.

 

If one or more of your wisdom teeth must be taken out, the procedure can vary from a simple extraction to full surgery under anesthesia. The type of procedure typically depends on the position of each wisdom tooth. 

 

• If the tooth is fully visible and completely erupted through your gum, a general dentist can quickly and easily remove it without surgery.

• If the tooth is impacted under your gum or embedded in your jaw bone, it will require more complicated intervention. An oral surgeon or dentist will make an incision in the gum, and any bone covering your tooth will be removed. The impacted tooth is then taken out, often in small sections to minimize the amount of overlying bone that must be sacrificed. This complex procedure often requires an oral surgeon.

 

Most dental insurance will help lower the cost of your wisdom teeth extraction if you have met your deductible. You you have reached your maximum, or if you have no dental insurance, a discount dental plan could lower the cost even more. 

 

One other cost-saving tip: Follow your dentist’s instructions! Recovery from a usually takes no more than a few days to a week, but if you ignore the dentist’s directions for how to take care of the area, you could face additional problems. Dry socket, for example, is a painful situation where the blood clot comes out instead of closing the wound where the tooth originally was. This occasionally happens completely on accident, but more often than not, it occurs when the patient fails to clean the area or doesn’t eat soft food. If you want to avoid expensive complications, listen to your dentist or oral surgeon.

Cavity Protection Begins with Baby Teeth

For hundreds of years the tooth fairy has traded gifts for baby teeth left under pillows while children sleep. Unfortunately, the tooth fairy does not take bacteria or infection that the cavity may have left behind. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that one out of 10 2-year-olds are already infected with at least one cavity.

 

From the time a child is born, plaque can build up on the gums. Plaque is formed from the combination of acid, saliva and bacteria present in the mouth. While a baby’s teeth are not yet visible, an environment of bacteria sets the stage for poor oral health once the teeth begin to grow in. Children are born with their teeth developed below the gum line and, according to the American Dental Association, decay can begin as soon as a tooth appears.Unlike adults, a child gets a “second chance” with his teeth, but just because children’s primary teeth fall out and are replaced does not mean that care for the first set should be neglected.

 

Cavities lead to tooth decay and even tooth loss, as a result of bacteria left in the mouth. They are also contagious; meaning that a cavity in a primary tooth can easy spread to a neighboring permanent tooth. An infection in the root of a primary tooth may spread to the upcoming permanent tooth. Even more serious, premature tooth loss can cause long term problems for a child’s oral health.

 

Establishing good habits with children at a young age is crucial for ensuring future oral hygiene. It is encouraged for persons of all ages to brush and floss twice a day. Kids need to understand that brushing and flossing is not a “chore,” but a chance to protect their teeth and overall health.

 

The biggest enemies of tooth-brushing for kids are sugary snacks. Packed with sugars that promote plaque and tooth decay, their consumption counteracts the efforts of tooth-brushing. Forming the habit of brushing is also a challenge because kids may become frustrated for many reasons. Brushing can feel like a chore, especially when they’re being forced to do it twice a day. If a child doesn’t like the taste of his toothpaste he certainly won’t be eager to brush, especially if he is using too much. For a kid-sized mouth, only a drop of toothpaste the size of a pea is needed. Too much will result in excess froth, and a mess all over the bathroom counter.

 

Most kids don’t get excited to brush their teeth, and parents can have a hard time obtaining cooperation. Kids will be kids, so make brushing fun! Try turning the task into a game or using a reward system to generate excitement. Let kids pick out their own toothbrush at the store so that they feel some ownership with their own brush. Also choose “kid-friendly” toothpaste. Many types of toothpaste that adults use may be too spicy for little taste buds, so choose bubblegum or another flavored kid’s paste.