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331 North Maitland Avenue, Suite A3, Maitland, Florida 32751
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WISDOM TEETH
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Wisdom Teeth / Third Molars
Maitland Family Dentistry has been serving Orlando, Maitland and surrounding towns since 1974. The subject of wisdom teeth comes up almost daily. There is a lot of confusion about wisdom teeth. I can't say all the confusion is not warranted, because over the years in dentistry philosophies on wisdom teeth treatment recommendations have changed. At Maitland Family Dentistry we take a balanced approach by letting our patients know the benefits and risk of treatment and then asking them to make treatment decisions. Here are some frequently asked questions about wisdom teeth.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are also known as third molars. They are the last set of teeth to grow into your mouth. They typically erupt around the age of 17-25. They are called wisdom teeth because that is when people usually get their 'wisdom' in life.
Why do we have Wisdom Teeth?
Anthropologists theorize that wisdom teeth are remnants of our pre-historic ancestors. Early humans ate a much harsher diet that today's humans. This caused a lot more wear on teeth, and more aggressive chewing required large teeth (molars) capable of exerting strong chewing forces. Also, Paleolithic humans also did not have the benefits of braces to straighten out teeth, so teeth tended to shift and wear much more, creating more room for the wisdom teeth. Today we eat a much softer diet, so the need for third molars is not there. Also, with modern day orthodontics teeth are aligned better and don't wear as quickly. Therefore, we don't need wisdom teeth any more, we often don't have the space for them, but we still have wisdom teeth. For these reasons, wisdom teeth often become impacted and must be removed.
Do I have Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom Teeth start to calcify around the age of 9, and may start to be visible on x-rays. At Maitland Family Dentistry we screen all of our patients by the age of 16 for wisdom teeth by taking the appropriate screening x-rays. X-rays are usually the most consistent way to determine if you have wisdom teeth and their location which will help us determine the appropriate course of treatment for each patient.
How do I know if I have to take out my Wisdom Teeth?
Some of our patients come to us with symptoms of wisdom tooth pain. That can be a range of symptoms. You could have dull aches in the back corners of your mouth, pain on opening your mouth, sharp pains into your ears, chronic headaches, or tender or painful gums in the back corners of your mouth. Tooth tenderness on back molars, sensitivity to back molars, or even shifting of teeth are also symptoms. As you can see symptoms can be very broad, which is why we recommend our patients to be evaluated at a young age with the proper x-rays to avoid these possible problems. Adults can be examined, and the best course of action determined individually based on each patients specific needs and circumstances.
What if my wisdom teeth don't hurt, do I still have to take them out?
Of course this is one of the most common questions we get about wisdom teeth. Statistically speaking wisdom teeth tend to be the teeth with the most potential for complications and associated risk factors. 85% of wisdom teeth eventually require removal according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Not all complications are painful right away; some such as cysts, decay, and shifting of teeth may not be painful until a very advanced stage. So the truth is that no one can predict exactly who will and will not need to have wisdom teeth removed. But, what we do know is that younger patients are generally much healthier, and heal much faster and better than older patients. So in our 36 years of serving Orlando we have found it easier and safer to remove wisdom teeth for younger patients as a preventative measure to avoid these complications. It is usually safer not to play the odds and remove wisdom teeth when patients are young and healthy.
I am already an adult (over the age of 24) my wisdom teeth have never hurt. Do I still need to remove them?
As an adult the rules do change slightly. This is because complications in adulthood do increase with wisdom tooth removal. The roots of wisdom teeth are usually longer once fully developed making the surgery more complicated. Healing also tends to be more complicated in adults, but if wisdom teeth have erupted straight then the risk of tooth shifting is lowered. The main concern with adults and wisdom teeth becomes keeping them clean. Being very far back in your mouth wisdom teeth become every difficult to clean and become very susceptible to gum disease and decay. If they are stable and kept clean some patients can indeed keep wisdom teeth their entire lives.
Who takes out my wisdom teeth?
Sometimes, depending on the complexity of treatment wisdom teeth are removed here in our office in Maitland. Other times, we will refer our patients to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, also known as an Oral Surgeon. We work very hard to be sure our patients are being treated by the best Oral Surgeons in Orlando, Maitland, Winter Park, and Central Florida as a whole. After over 30 years experience in Orlando you can be sure you'll be in the right hands.
How do I make sure I go to a skilled oral surgeon?
First, it is important that a surgeon has been trained in an American Dental Association accredited Oral and Maxillofacial Training Program, and has all the rights to practice as an Oral Surgeon in Florida. Another criterion that we like to see is if the Surgeon has his/her Board Certification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. To become certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, a surgeon must sit for extensive written testing, as well as several thorough oral examinations in front of board examiners. Some oral surgeons even go as far as getting an MD (medical doctorate) degree. This takes an additional 2 years of training. At the end of the day surgeons come with varied skill levels. The way we determine a surgeon's skill is what our patients tell us when they come back and the results we see over time. That is the best measure of any practitioner's skill set.
Will I be asleep for my surgery?
Sedation is a very nice option. That is a discussion left between you and your oral surgeon at your consultation appointment. But many people do have that as an option based on their individual health and needs.
I heard I can become numb after surgery?
As with any surgery there are risks. Many times based on the x-ray we can help determine relative amount of risk of having temporary or permanent numbness that will be discussed in detail between you and the surgeon treating you.
What is a Dry Socket? I heard that really hurts.
Dry Socket is a rare complication associated with wisdom tooth removal. Usually occurring between 5-10% of the time, it occurs when the blood clot after surgery is disrupted and/or lost. It typically occurs 3-4 days after surgery and can vary from slight pain to severe pain. As with any surgery, there are specific post care instructions that you will have been given. We have found that those that follow them closely usually have the fastest and best recovery. Feel free to visit our Post Care Instructions section of this website to see written and video post surgery instructions for free.
So if you live on Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, or anywhere in Central Florida and would like to have your wisdom teeth evaluated please feel free to give us a call at 407-67-SMILE. Or contact us via the contact us page.
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Maitland Family Dentistry, 331 North Maitland Avenue, Suite A3, Maitland, Florida 32751
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