Your teeth are incredibly strong because they need to be used daily for biting, crunching and chewing. They are invaluable to allowing you to eat and speak so that you can live your day-to-day life and eat all of the healthy food your body needs. And while most of your teeth are vital to these necessary functions and your smile and facial appearance, there are a few teeth that are not needed and often cause more problems than they are worth. It is therefore common for these teeth to be removed, and it is often recommended that they be removed before they begin causing any problems at all.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, typically grow and develop between the ages of 17 and 25. They can sometimes harbor harmful oral bacteria, which can cause gum disease, decay, infections, pain, crowding, misalignment and damage to otherwise healthy teeth. Studies have shown that even fully erupted wisdom teeth can cause unhealthy bacteria and periodontal conditions to develop. By proactively removing wisdom teeth during this initial period of development, Dr. Imanuel Babayev can prevent complications and help encourage healthy oral habits.
Understanding Impacted Wisdom Teeth
An impacted tooth is one that is blocked from erupting. Impacted wisdom teeth that are blocked from coming in properly:
• May instead come in at an angle, pushing against the molars and causing overcrowding.
• May not erupt fully, remaining instead either partially or fully below the gum line.
• May cause bacteria to become trapped beneath the gum and lead to infection and gum disease.
Wisdom teeth extraction in Norwalk, Connecticut, is generally used by our oral surgeon as an effective means of preventing crowding of the teeth, impaction of wisdom teeth, swollen or painful gums caused by a partially erupted wisdom tooth, gum disease, and tooth decay. Call Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Fairfield County at 203-489-0980 today to learn more about this service or schedule a visit to our office.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WISDOM TEETH
WHEN SHOULD WISDOM TEETH BE REMOVED?
During the patient’s teenage years is the best time to have your wisdom teeth removed. Having the procedure done at this time will mean that the roots of the teeth will not have had time to grow. This will mean the patient needs less time for recovery, the technical aspects of the surgery will be easier and there is a lower risk of complications.
SHOULD I REMOVE MY WISDOM TEETH IF THEY ARE NOT BOTHERING ME?
Yes. Wisdom teeth do not have a beneficial function, and they can cause issues with your oral health. They are located in the very back of your jaw, which means they are difficult for you to brush or floss. This means that these teeth will be more likely to get cavities or an infection. They can also cause orthodontic issues as they grow. Patients who wait until a later age to have their wisdom teeth removed will end up undergoing a more difficult surgery and a longer recovery time. We believe that you should always have your wisdom teeth removed, even if they come in straight and aren’t bothering you.
HOW LONG DOES RECOVERY TAKE?
Recovery time varies from person to person. When a patient is a teenager, recovery can take less than a week. But if they wait until their roots are full formed and have grown into the jawbone then their recovery time may be greatly increased. Our estimations for recovery times are less than a week if they are under 20-years-old; one to two weeks if the patient is in their early to late twenties; and it may take more than two weeks if the patient is in their late twenties or thirties.
WILL I NEED PAIN MEDICATION? WHAT KIND?
There are two types of medications that our oral surgeon may prescribe after you have had surgery. Prescription-strength ibuprofen is the first medicine. It can provide some minor pain relief without the side effects of stronger medicines. If ibuprofen is not enough to manage your pain then you may be prescribed the second type of medication, which is a stronger narcotic, either Vicodin or Percocet. These stronger narcotics can have a plethora of unwanted side effect, and so they should only be used when absolutely necessary.
CAN I RECEIVE ANESTHESIA FOR MY PROCEDURE?
Yes. There is no medical reason that makes anesthesia unsafe for use in wisdom teeth removal, and so we highly recommend this option to help our patients be comfortable during this procedure. We can help reduce patient anxiety by ensuring that you are asleep and comfortable during your surgery. It is very likely that you will not remember any part of the surgery when you wake up.
CAN MORE THAN ONE WISDOM TOOTH BE REMOVED AT A TIME?
How many teeth can be removed at a time is determined on a case by case basis. When the patient is younger, we often will recommend removal of all four with the same procedure. When the patients are older and the procedure is more difficult, then we may recommend that we only remove the teeth on one side of the mouth at a time. For example, we would remove the upper and lower wisdom teeth on the left side, and then, after that side has finished healing, we will remove the upper and lower teeth on the right side of the mouth.
