dental health
WHEN IT’S TIME FOR WISDOM
TEETH REMOVAL BY JESSICA ZIMMER What are wisdom teeth? Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that typically come in between the ages of 17 and 25. For many patients, these teeth aren’t welcome. Wisdom teeth can remain trapped in the gums or develop too close to other teeth. Sometimes they impact other teeth and cause infections. A patient who is in their late teens or early twenties and experiencing pain in the back of their mouth should consult a dentist or oral or maxillofacial surgeon, a type of dentist that specializes in surgery of the face, mouth, and jaws.
WHAT EXTRACTION INVOLVES Extraction involves three steps: numbing the area, separating the tissue connecting the tooth to the jawbone, and removing the tooth. A dentist numbs the area where the wisdom teeth are erupting by administering an anesthetic. The dentist uses a local anesthetic to numb a specific spot to remove one or two teeth. They use a general anesthetic, which typically causes a patient to go to sleep, when removing several teeth. The extraction of each tooth usually takes only a few minutes and when the dentist removes multiple teeth, they may stitch up the gum afterward. If the dentist has to cut a tooth into smaller pieces to remove it, the process can take up to 20 minutes per tooth.
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2020 SJ HEALTH AND MEDICAL GUIDE
HOW REMOVING WISDOM TEETH HELPS Removing wisdom teeth leaves room for the back teeth to grow and develop normally. Removal also gives a patient more room to clean the back teeth, which are more prone to gum disease and cavities. Removal of the upper wisdom teeth lessens the risk of sinus pain. This is because these wisdom teeth are located close to certain sinuses. When the upper wisdom teeth grow, they can put pressure on the sinuses.
KEEPING WISDOM TEETH When wisdom teeth come in properly, they do not need to be removed. A patient should not attempt to determine whether they need removal on their own. It is hard to see far back in the mouth to determine whether there is a problem. In addition, if the patient has an issue with gum disease already, they may not be able to feel or see it. A patient can learn more about which wisdom teeth they should get removed by getting dental x-rays. Before commiting to a procedure, always ask the dentist about different options regarding anesthetics, payment plans, and follow-up prescription painkillers.
CALL AN EXPERT: DR. TODD FRANKLIN 1208 W. Tokay St., Lodi (209) 334-4370 ToddFranklinDDS.com DR. CARESSA W. LOUIE 2389 W. March Ln., Ste. 1, Stockton (209) 952-6721 DrLouieStocktonDentist.com
