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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 painful 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."
Why Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. If there is adequate room for them to fully erupt so that they can be cleaned all of the way to the bottom of their crowns, they do not need to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. Teeth form in a soft tissue sack called a follicle. The follicle makes the enamel of the crown, and makes a sheath for the tooth to erupt through. If a tooth stays under the gum, bacteria get into the follicle and grow there undetected. Eventually the bacterial growth overcomes your defenses, and infection occurs. This infection can be slow growing and cause loss of adjacent bone and teeth, or fast growing, possibly causing a severe life-threatening emergency. Sometimes the follicle itself can grow, causing a cyst or tumor that can invade and destroy adjacent teeth and bone. Impacted teeth as a rule should all be removed at a young age. This significantly reduces the risk of damage to adjacent teeth, nerves, and sinus cavities. Occasionally impacted teeth are left in after an examination and risk evaluation is preformed. These impacted teeth will require regular follow up and periodic X-rays. If infection or pathology occurs with these teeth later in life, they will then need to be removed. Oral ExaminationWith an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, Drs. Van Heukelom Westlund and Sarasin 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 early to mid- teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Impacted canine teethCanine teeth are the cornerstones of the dental arch. They have the largest single roots, and are very strong. Due to crowding, these teeth often stay impacted on the roof of the mouth or under the corner of the nose. Untreated, they often cause resorption of adjacent tooth roots, and premature loss of additional teeth. They are best treated before their root formation is complete. Orthodontic appliances are placed by your orthodontist and space is made for the canines to come into the mouth. Frequently, surgery may be needed to expose an impacted canine to aid its eruption. An orthodontic attachment can be placed at the time of surgery and elastic traction applied to the impacted tooth to gently pull it into the desired location. AnesthesiaAll outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. Drs. Van Heukelom, Westlund, and Sarasin 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 and recovery techniques. |
