Wisdom teeth often end up being harmful "extras." By 18 or before, most people have 32 teeth including the growing 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 only large enough 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 wisdom teeth. and frequently cause problems.
Why Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to grow. When they do line up properly, and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed.
Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly growing into the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially break through the gum, and even remain trapped completely 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. Wisdom teeth that stay in the jaw are said to be "impacted."
These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are only partially through the gum, the opening around the wisdom tooth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from the impacted (or trapped) wisdom tooth can move other teeth and disrupt a braces result or the natural alignment of teeth. Tumors or cysts can also form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the troublesome impacted tooth or teeth is usually necessary.
Early removal of impacted wisdom teeth is recommended by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical problems involved with the procedure, which increase with age.
Oral Examination
With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, Dr. Levy can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict the likelihood of present or future problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient.
Wisdom teeth are usually best evaluated by Dr. Levy when you or your child is in his or her late teens. Surgery and recovery are often more rapid. If your wisdom teeth become infected when you're an adult, Dr. Levy will evaluate and, counsel about needed treatment.
All outpatient surgery is performed under an appropriate anesthesia to maximize you or your child's comfort. Dr. Levy has the training gained at Massachusetts General Hospital (a Harvard hospital), and experience to provide various types of anesthesia to allow patients to select the best alternative. He is also a Fellow of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, a title gained by rigorous peer examination and experience.
These services are provided in an environment of attention and care, utilizing state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and staff heavily educated and trained to assist Dr. Levy in anesthesia techniques.
