Wisdom Teeth Removal
Rockford & Loves Park, IL
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Rockford & Loves Park, IL
Wisdom teeth removal is a dental procedure to remove the third set of permanent molars located at the very back of your mouth, for both top and bottom arches.
Wisdom teeth removal is a dental procedure to remove the third set of permanent molars located at the very back of your mouth, for both top and bottom arches.
The average adult human mouth is designed to hold around 28 teeth comfortably, however, some adults end up with 32 teeth overall. These additional teeth are the third molars, or the wisdom teeth. These molars usually erupt between the ages of 17 to 25. Because human jaws have become smaller throughout evolutionary history, when wisdom teeth do form, they often become impacted, or blocked, by the other teeth around them. If the tooth partially erupts, food often gets trapped in the gum tissue surrounding it, which will lead to bacteria growth and a serious infection. Due to the crowding issues, if the wisdom tooth fully erupts it often comes in crooked and crowds the entire arch.
The team at Burch Dental has a simple goal. That is to ensure your trust through our commitment to quality treatment and your continued satisfaction. It is our daily agenda to maintain a caring environment that is respectful and comfortable for everyone. Our team members are united in our efforts to promote oral health by means of prevention, enhancement, wellness, and rejuvenation. Call or visit one of our convenient locations today to schedule your appointment for an evaluation to determine if you might benefit from a wisdom tooth extraction.
Burch Dental recommends that you remove wisdom teeth at a younger age, to prevent future problems and to ensure optimal healing. If you have your wisdom teeth removed after the age of 35 you might have a higher risk for complications, a more difficult surgery, and experience a longer healing time than if you had the wisdom teeth removed earlier. The best time to get your wisdom teeth removed is when the roots are not totally formed, which is usually between the ages of 15 to 18.
For our adult patients, we will pay extra attention to determine whether to recommend surgical removal or to just continue observation until an intervention is indeed necessary. When we treat our adult patients, we utilize special expertise and techniques and regenerative materials to promote your optimal healing.
The Reason to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
If there is not enough room in your mouth for your third molars to erupt properly, problems can easily develop. Your impacted wisdom teeth should be removed before their root structure is fully developed. Problems tend to increase in frequency after the age of 30. Some of the possible problems related to NOT having your wisdom teeth removed include:
- Crowding: Impacted wisdom teeth will contribute to the crowding of your teeth. This is most noticeable with your front teeth, primarily the lower front teeth and is most seen after you have had braces. There are several factors that cause teeth to crowd after wearing braces or in younger adulthood. Impacted wisdom teeth may be a contributing factor. Unless you have an active problem when you see the team at Burch Dental, the reason for your wisdom teeth removal is primarily to prevent any long-term damage to your teeth, gums, and jawbone.
- Damage to Adjacent Teeth: If there is literally insufficient room for you to thoroughly clean around the wisdom tooth, the tooth directly in front of it, the second molar, can be then adversely affected resulting in decay, gum disease, and bone loss around the tooth.
- Infection: The most frequent clinical problem is a localized gum infection. Without enough room for the total eruption, the gum tissue around the wisdom tooth will become irritated and infected, which results in swelling, pain, and problems with chewing and swallowing.
- Cyst Formation: Non-infectious diseases can also be the result of an impacted wisdom tooth. Cysts are fluid-filled pockets or balloons inside the jawbone that develop because of impacted teeth. They will slowly expand destroying the adjacent jawbone and even neighboring teeth. They can be difficult to treat if your wisdom teeth are not removed. Tumors can also be associated with the delayed removal of wisdom teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction Procedure
At Burch Dental, we promote a compassionate and calming atmosphere where you can receive the care you need while remaining relaxed. For your wisdom tooth extraction procedure, we understand that you may prefer to be at least somewhat unaware of the process, which is why soothing anesthesia and sedation options are available. Our state-of-the-art technology provides a precise experience that minimizes any discomfort.
Once the area is properly numb, if the tooth has erupted, we use a dental instrument call an elevator to simply loosen the tooth and extract it. If the tooth is impacted, we surgically open the gum to get access to the tooth. Depending on the root development the tooth may just be extracted or portioned and removed in sections. Then the site is sutured closed.