Wisdom Teeth

The average adult has thirty-two teeth by age eighteen: sixteen teeth on the top and sixteen teeth on the bottom. Each tooth in the mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine and bicuspid teeth) are ideal for grasping and biting food into smaller pieces while the back teeth, or molar teeth, are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable for swallowing.

However, the average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be problematic when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your Third Molars, also known as "wisdom teeth."

When and Why Do Wisdom Teeth Require Removal?

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to develop within the mouth. When they align properly, and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Many people do not have enough space within the jaws to allow the normal growth and eruption of wisdom teeth. This occurs frequently after orthodontic treatment when the teeth have been straightened to fill the tooth-bearing part of the jaw.

When the teeth remain trapped within the jawbone beneath the gum they are said to be bone impacted. The extraction of wisdom teeth is frequently necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway 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 to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom tooth may move or damage adjacent teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone 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, the surgeons at OMS Associates 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 the mid- teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

All outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. The surgeons at OMS Associates have the training, license and experience to provide various types of anesthesia to allow patients to select the best alternative. These services are provided in an environment of optimum safety, utilizing modern monitoring equipment and staff experienced in anesthesia techniques.

Other Impacted Teeth

Occasionally teeth other than wisdom teeth become bone impacted. The surgeons at OMS Associates are commonly called upon to evaluate children with impacted canines (eye teeth), premolars (bicuspids) and extra (supernumerary) teeth. These teeth will often require removal. However, in the case of most impacted canine teeth and many impacted premolar teeth it is best for Drs. Fredd, Spampata, Deasy and Roginsky to surgically expose (uncover) these teeth to allow the orthodontist to guide the teeth into their proper position with in the mouth. The doctors work closely with your orthodontist to manage these situations so that the removal of important teeth can be avoided if at all possible.

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