FAQ
Wisdom Teeth
1. Why do we have wisdom teeth?
Five hundred or more years ago, teeth played a useful function in chewing foods. In those days much more chewing was required, and in an effort to accommodate, the jaws grew somewhat longer. Studies have confirmed that jaws were somewhat longer during that period of time and thus provided additional room for the wisdom teeth. In addition as the teeth wore down, as a result of the coarse nature of the food which was available, the biting surfaces became smaller and allowed more room for the wisdom teeth to drift forward into useful position. Today, because of a shorter jaw and other consequences, 95% of the wisdom teeth today are impacted or imbedded.
2. If I have impacted teeth, why should they be removed?
Teeth that are embedded in the tissue of the jawbone are termed impacted. They are in an abnormal position. The body intended for the wisdom teeth to erupt into the oral cavity and be used for chewing. When there is insufficient room for this to occur, certain problems are often encountered. These problems include infections, damage to the adjacent teeth, and development of cysts. The attempt of the wisdom teeth to move into a useful position may be at least a small factor in the crowding of the front teeth.
3. If my wisdom teeth are not bothering me, when should I have them removed?
First of all, not all problems in our bodies cause symptoms. For example, it is unusual for high blood pressure to cause symptoms, especially in the early phases, however, it can be very destructive to the blood vessels. In the same manner, just because wisdom teeth are not causing pain, does not mean that they are not causing problems. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the roots of the wisdom teeth can grow around a nerve in the lower jaw or into the sinuses. The risk of after-effects increases significantly with age. If the wisdom teeth are impacted when a patient is 14-20 years of age depending on development and other factors, and if it is anticipated that they will require removal in the future, we usually recommend the removal of the teeth as soon thereafter as possible. This will minimize the risk of after affects and most people heal much faster when they are younger.
4. Is the process of removing wisdom teeth painful?
Because of safety of modern techniques and medications, most people elect to have "twilight" anesthesia so they can sleep through the procedure to remove the wisdom teeth. In this case, the removal of wisdom teeth is absolutely painless.
5. What about the after-affects?
Naturally, there is some discomfort during the healing phase, however, patients who follow instructions carefully often have fewer problems. Of course, each individual's case may differ, however, we usually relate the recovery process to an inconvenience that is similar to recovering from a bad cold or the flu.
6. What should I do if I think I have impacted wisdom teeth?
We usually recommend that you first ask the dentist for his/her opinion. If the dentist feels there is a problem or if he/she would like to obtain a second opinion, he/she will frequently suggest that you visit an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. If you do not have a dentist or if you wish to contact our office directly for an appointment, we would be happy to see you on a consultation basis and discuss your situation with you.
Oral Pathology
1. What mouth problems cause oral surgeons a lot of concern?
Oral surgeons are seeing more and more patients with the development of white areas in the mouth which can become pre-cancerous or on some occasions even cancerous. There are many other types of pathology that oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat on a regular basis. Perhaps the most common and the frustrating problem occurs secondary to tobacco use, either smoking, dipping snuff, or chewing. The reason that this is frustrating is because it is entirely preventable. The use of tobacco products can cause very serious problems to the tissues in the mouth.
Too much sun on the face and/or lips can also cause changes in the skin and can result in serious problems.
If you have any suspicious areas in your mouth, on your lips, or lower face, please call it to the attention of your dentist or call our office for an evaluation.
Temporomandibular Dysfunction
1. What are TMD (or TMJ) problems?
We refer to TMD or TMJ problems as being like "arthritis in the jaw." We use this since most people associate arthritis with joint and muscle stiffness and soreness. These symptoms are usually the main symptoms of TMD disorders. The symptoms of TMD are usually easy to spot, but finding the cause of the symptoms can sometimes be quite complex. In many patients with TMD problems, several different things may contribute to the problem. The confusing aspects of TMD is that it can cause symptoms in so many different locations (see enclosed chart.) Patients with TMD problems sometimes have acute and very severe pain and require the most careful attention that we can provide.
Dental Implants
1. What are dental implants?
Dental implants are metal posts that are placed in the jawbone to replace teeth which have been removed. This process can be very simple or quite complicated depending upon your individual case. As a first step in obtaining information as to whether or not you are an implant candidate, we suggest that you see your general dentist. If your dentist evaluates your mouth and thinks that you may be an implant candidate, he may suggest that you see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to obtain a second opinion.
2. What are some of the more common ways that implants can be used?
Some people with lower dentures find that the dentures cause pain, and it moves around too much when they chew. Perhaps the simplest and one of the more common ways of using implants is to hold a lower denture firmly in place. Another common use for implants is to replace a front tooth which was lost due to an injury or severe decay. Implants are also commonly used to create a dental bridge, especially in the back of the mouth to improve the patient's chewing ability. In some cases, implants can be used to restore all of the missing teeth, but as you can imagine, this is quite complex.
Jaw Surgery
1. What types of jaw surgery do oral and maxillofacial surgeons do?
Occasionally, mother nature plays "tricks" on a person's jaws. One jaw may grow too large or too small for the opposing jaw. If the jaws are not the same size or do not relate well to the size of the face, significant problems with chewing, swallowing, and digesting food can occur. In addition, TMD problems can occur, and not infrequently, the abnormality can be noticed in the facial appearance.
2. What can be done if this occurs?
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to rebuild the jaws. If the jaw is too short it can be lengthened and if the jaw is too long, it can be shortened. While these procedures are usually accomplished in the hospital, this is a recognized medical problem, and many medical insurance agencies pay for the treatment.
3. Is other treatment necessary other than surgery?
Frequently, when a jaw grows to an inappropriate size, the teeth are also crowding or spaced too far apart. For this reason, it is frequently necessary for a patient to require orthodontics prior to the surgery. This ensures that the teeth line appropriately after surgery and enhances the benefit of the treatment.
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