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Dear Doctor: What Happens if I Ignore my Wisdom Teeth?

Dear Doctor: What Happens if I Ignore my Wisdom Teeth?

Well, the unfortunate news is that 9 out of 10 people will have at least one impacted wisdom tooth requiring removal. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at wisdom teeth – what are they exactly and what happens if you leave them untreated.

Wisdom Teeth 101

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the very last teeth in the jaw to develop, and are located in the back most part of your mouth. These teeth often appear during what has been called the “Age of Wisdom”; that time of life between the ages of 17 and 25 years old.

Looking back in our human history, wisdom teeth didn’t give us the hassles they do today. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors primarily ate a diet of raw vegetables and meat which required large, strong jaws to chew – their third row of molars were helpful! Then, with the emergence of agricultural farming practices, our diets changed significantly. Early farmers had a much softer diet of cooked foods that didn’t demand as much chewing strength. Our skull and jaw sizes responded to these dietary changes by getting smaller. But while our jaws got smaller, our teeth size and number did not similarly decrease. So now most of us are left with the unfortunate situation of having relatively small jaws that just don’t have the room needed to best accommodate our wisdom teeth.

When can I keep my Wisdom Teeth?

We’re not all built the same, and truthfully some jaws can still accommodate wisdom teeth just fine. In these relatively few cases, wisdom teeth can “erupt” (that is, come completely through the gum) without any pain, disease, or other dental problems. In these cases, your oral surgeons may not recommend immediate extraction, but rather will recommend strongly that you stick to regular check-ups and cleanings with your dentist, that you maintain excellent oral hygiene practices at home, and receive periodic x-rays to evaluate the ongoing health of your wisdom teeth.

When do my Wisdom Teeth need to be extracted?

When a wisdom tooth doesn’t fully erupt through the gums, it is called an ”impacted” tooth. An impacted tooth is one that is unable to fully enter into the mouth through the gums because there just isn’t enough room. An impacted tooth can cause a whole host of problems, including:

  • Difficulty maintaining adequate brushing, which can lead to tooth decay and infection.
  • Damage to neighboring teeth.
  • Pain from pressure of the tooth overcrowding.
  • Systematic infections and illnesses that can affect the heart, kidneys and other organs when oral bacteria travels from the mouth into the bloodstream.
  • Fluid-filled cysts or tumors can form that can lead to hollowing of the jaw and damage to surrounding nerves.

Wisdom tooth extractions are recommended if any of the problems listed above are present or likely to develop.

Okay, I need my Wisdom Teeth out – what happens during surgery?

If your dentist recommends that your wisdom teeth be removed, you will be given a referral to be evaluated by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. During your consultation visit, your oral surgeon will:

  • review any existing health conditions and medications that you are currently taking;
  • assess the placement and health of your wisdom teeth;
  • review steps of the extraction procedure;
  • discuss the best anesthesia options for your case;
  • go over post-operative care;
  • answer any questions or concerns that you have.

On the day of your procedure, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will work with the plan outlined during the consultation, including administering your preferred anesthesia option. Once you are comfortable, the oral surgeon will skillfully remove the wisdom teeth.

When is the best time to have my Wisdom Tooth extracted?

It is best to schedule your procedure when life stress is low, when health is good, and when you have the help of someone to take care of you. If you are a student, the optimal time for your procedure would be during a school holiday, either our upcoming Spring Break or at the start of Summer Break. If you are no longer in school, the best time would be when you can take a few days off work, and can arrange to have a friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment and assist in your recovery.

The Healing Process

Everyone’s healing process varies depending on the condition and position of your wisdom teeth, health prior to surgery, nutrition habits and dental hygiene, as well as how closely the surgeon’s post-operative instructions are followed. These instructions are so important you’re your recovery! When instructions are followed, patients typically heal within a week, often even less time is needed for cases that are straightforward and without complications. During a healthy healing process patients may see:

  • Sutures dissolving within one week of surgery.
  • Swelling and/or discomfort may peak 36-48 hours after surgery, subsiding more and more each day following.
  • New tissue developing gradually over the next month.

If recovery recommendations are not followed, pain, swelling, infection, dry socket, and other problems can arise. If symptoms of any of these complications arise, it’s important to consult your oral surgeon right away. With that being said, oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform tooth extractions every single day, generally with very few complications.

The truth of life is that most of us will need to have our wisdom teeth extracted. We encourage you to be proactive in the health of your teeth and mouth – if you can, schedule an evaluation of your wisdom teeth earlier in life (ie 16-20 years old.), when recovery from wisdom teeth is easier and quicker, complications from extractions are less likely, and when life schedules are more flexible. But that doesn’t mean you should postpone treatment if you’re older! It is important to take your dental health seriously, especially the health of your wisdom teeth. Be wise about your wisdom teeth! Visit your dentist for regular check-ups, follow dental recommendations, and adopt a healthy oral care routine.

March 22, 2018 TOSAdmin16
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Oral Surgery Client Testimonials

Dr. Martin and his staff are awesome and super nice! I definitely recommend Dr. Martin to anyone looking for an oral surgeon!
Lyndsay F.
I went to Dr.Martin a couple years ago to get my wisdom teeth taken out, since then I have referred three of my friends and they were also very happy with his work. The staff and himself were so nice and friendly, made each of us feel comfortable and relaxed.
R.D.
Dr. Martin and his staff are so professional that I’m compelled to write my first review of anyone. He was considerate and calming, answered any questions I had, reviewed procedures and relieved any anxiety I had for my implant.
David C. , Zephyr Cove NV
Dr. Martin is great, after having a wisdom tooth removed I had no problem or pain. I would highly recommend Tahoe Oral Surgery.
Sandy Wingate
Dr. Martin and his office staff were extremely professional, their compassion and caring was awesome! I would recommend Dr. Martin to anyone in need of an oral surgeon.
Pam M., Truckee, CA
Dr. Martin and his staff have been and were during my procedure absolutely amazing and kind and professional. For … oral surgery, he and his staff are the best place to be taken care of.
Alison B., Truckee, CA
My daughter had her wisdom teeth out and everything about the experience was easy. The staff was efficient and responsive, and the procedure went just as expected. Highly recommend this practice!
Alaina R., Truckee, CA
I highly recommend [Dr. Martin] and would not hesitate to drive back to Tahoe to have my son seen again (in fact, I already did!).
Erin E.
I would highly recommend Dr. Martin if you need an Oral Surgeon. ESPECIALLY if you are dental phobic like me. If I felt comfortable and cared for, as petrified as I am about dentists, that says A LOT! You can trust them, they are seriously AWSOME!
Sharyl S., Minden, Nevada
Dr. Martin and his staff did a great job explaining the procedure… It was quick and painless… Highly recommend his services.
Rob W., Homewood, CA

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Truckee (& mailing)

Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center
40165 Truckee Airport Road
#303 (2nd floor)
Truckee, CA 96161
530-587-5440

South Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center
591 Tahoe Keys Blvd.
Suite D4
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
530-541-4042
Daniel C. Martin, DDS your Truckee and Lake Tahoe Oral Surgeon

Proudly Offers the Following Oral Surgery Services:

Dental Implants, All-on-4™, Teeth-in-an-Hour™, Bone Grafting, Jaw Bone Health, Jaw Surgery, Jaw Bone Deterioration, Ridge Augmentations, Sinus Lift, Nerve Repositioning, Socket Preservation, Pre-prosthetic Surgery and treatment of Facial Trauma, and Oral Pathology.

Serving the following California and Nevada communities: Truckee, South Lake Tahoe, Reno, Gardnerville, Minden, Carson City, Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Incline Village, Zephyr Cove, Stateline NV, Sierraville.

Copyright © 2016 Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center • Daniel C. Martin, DDS Dental Corp.