Being Wise About Wisdom Teeth Removal

June 07, 2010
Category: Dental
Tags: Root Canal   Endodontist  

With the summer months ahead of us and another school year coming to a close, it's time to start thinking about your kid's summer plans. And while vacations, sports, jobs and long days at the pool are probably ranked high on your teen's list of things to do, you may want to start thinking about his or her wisdom teeth.

Root Canal Therapy at Grove Dental Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, are the last adult teeth to erupt in the mouth, typically making their appearance in young adults between the ages of 17 and 25 according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Certain people never develop wisdom teeth, while others may see up to four, one at each end of the upper and lower gums.

Do I really have to have them Removed?
Wisdom teeth typically cause problems because there is not adequate space in an individual's mouth for the third molars to grow into a normal position. As a result, the molars are impacted, or trapped, within the jaw. Wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and may even cause gum disease. When the wisdom teeth come in misaligned, they can shift or damage adjacent teeth, or worse, cysts can form that can destroy nerves, the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the molars is recommended to prevent serious damage, pain and other possible health problems.

Through the use of digital x-rays, the Grove doctors will monitor the wisdom teeth of all teenage and young adult patients. Not everyone's wisdom teeth need to be extracted, however. If the third molars are aligned, healthy and functional, dentists may let the teeth remain, but continue to monitor their movement. Patients experiencing jaw pain and/or inflammation should have their wisdom teeth evaluated.

Early Extraction for Short Recovery
In order to maintain proper alignment of the teeth, it's generally recommended that patients have their wisdom teeth removed before the third year molars have a chance to emerge. Removal of the wisdom teeth is easier for younger people because the tooth roots are not fully developed and the bone is less dense, making extraction easier. This allows for shorter recovery time.

At Grove Dental, we have Board Certified Oral Surgeons on-staff specially trained to take care of wisdom teeth and all oral surgery needs for patients of any age. Many Grove Dental patients have given testimonials regarding how gentle the oral surgeons are and how pleasantly surprised the patients were regarding the comfort of their treatment. You can be assured that the Grove general dentists and oral surgeons work very closely together to coordinate all of your care.

If you have not done so already, visit Grove to learn more about your teen's wisdom teeth. Regular dental visits are an important part of monitoring the development of the third molars and helping dentists make an appropriately timed recommendation for their removal, should it be necessary. Allow Grove to guide you on the best treatment options and if necessary, schedule your teen's wisdom teeth removal before school starts back in the fall!

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Dentist - Downers Grove, Grove Dental Associates, 6800 Main Street, Third Floor, Downers Grove IL, 60516 (630) 969-5350