Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Crete, NE
Dr. Andre Rossini and the Crete Family Dental team work hard to help patients maintain their natural smile for a lifetime, but there are certain situations where extraction is the best way to ensure patients maintain their overall oral health. Our team has the training and experience to safely and effectively complete tooth extractions, when necessary. The most commonly extracted teeth are also the last to erupt into the smile. This third set of molars, commonly referred to as wisdom teeth, may cause any number of concerns for overall oral health. Contact our team to find out more about wisdom teeth or schedule an appointment for wisdom tooth extractions at our Crete, NE dental office today.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Adults typically have 32 teeth: eight incisors, four cuspids, eight bicuspids, and twelve molars. Incisors, and cuspids are the smaller, sharper teeth in the front of the mouth. Bicuspids and molars are the larger teeth in the back used for chewing and grinding food. The last set of molars to erupt into the gum line have been given the name, wisdom teeth because they typically emerge when people are between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. In the past, entering the late teens and early twenties was known as reaching the age of wisdom. Ancient humans consumed diets of course grains and uncooked meats that were difficult to chew, and apart from some rudimentary cleaning implements like chewing twigs, oral hygiene was essentially non-existent. Thus, most people lost at least one tooth by their early twenties, and more than likely, they had lost many teeth by this time. For this evolutionary reason, the third set of molars were once essential. Today’s modern dental offices and processed foods make wisdom teeth an unnecessary addition, and often, there simply is not room within the jawline to accommodate this final set of teeth.
Do Wisdom Teeth Have to Be Extracted?
Wisdom teeth do not always need to be extracted. Around the age of eleven or twelve, we’ll be able to view the developing teeth on an x-ray, and begin to help patients determine whether extraction may be necessary. Some of the reasons we recommend wisdom tooth extraction include:
- Crowding – most often, there simply is not adequate space in the jawline to accommodate this final set of teeth
- Impaction – sometimes the crowding causes impaction, making it impossible for teeth to erupt from the gum line at all, which may cause the wisdom teeth to rot or damage surrounding teeth
- Misalignment – whether they are able to erupt or remain impacted, wisdom teeth can cause the rest of the patients’ bite to become misaligned
What Should I Expect from Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
The wisdom tooth extraction process varies based on the number and position of teeth to be extracted. If all four teeth are fully erupted from the jawline, the procedure may be as simple as numbing the area, and gently shifting teeth back and forth using clamps. Then, simply pulling them from the socket. In most cases, we need to surgically expose and extract wisdom teeth. This process is a little more invasive, and may require the use of more advanced methods. Larger teeth may need to be broken into two or more sections prior to extraction. Whatever method is necessary, we ensure patients remain completely relaxed and comfortable during treatment.