Arizona Oral Surgery

Arizona Dental Care | Dr. Matthew DeFelice | Desert Ridge Implant & Oral Surgery | Serving the North Valley

Patient Information

First Visit

Procedures

Surgical Instructions

Educational Information

Please feel free to watch many of our videos on patient education. Here you will be
educated on what to expect from many of our procedures.

Wisdom Teeth/Third Molars

Third Molars

Click On The Icons Above For A Video Presentation

The average adult has thirty-two teeth by age eighteen and each has a specific name and
function. However, the average mouth is only large enough to hold 28 teeth. These four other
teeth are your third teeth are located in the back of the mouth and may have two or three roots.
They are the teeth farthest back in the mouth which means they may also be the most difficult
to clean, even if they erupt into the proper position! The crown develops first and as the root
develops,the teeth begin to move slowly through the bone towards the mouth.

Unfortunately for the majority of today's young adults, their jaws are not large enough to allow
the eruption of the third molar tooth in a normal, healthy and functional position. A third molar
tooth that is prevented from erupting is termed impacted. The impacted third molar because
of insufficient space can develop at an improper angle. These teeth may sometimes appear
partially through the gum, or they may remain completely encased by gum tissue and bone.

Although blocked from erupting, these teeth can exert significant amounts of pressure to the
adjacent teeth and jaw structures resulting in a variety of symptoms. An individual can experience
swelling of the affected area, sore throat, headaches, and ultimately infection. Adjacent teeth
may shift or develop caries (decay). Impacted teeth are also known to develop cysts that can
enlarge, hollowing out the jaw, causing permanent damage to the adjacent bone, teeth and
nerves. Tumors can arise from the walls of these cysts further complicating treatment.

Many of the problems created by impacted third molars can develop without symptoms.
When they do occur, significant and occasionally permanent damage may have already
occurred. When the presence of third molars has been determined, it is best to have them
evaluated. If their removal is indicated, it is frequently recommended that third molars be
treated before symptoms occur. As an individual ages, the bone becomes more dense
making the removal of third molars more difficult and more complications are encountered.

TREATMENT OF THIRD MOLARS

To determine if wisdom teeth are present and if removal is indicated a thorough examination
of your mouth is performed. A specialized panoramic x-ray is frequently necessary for a proper
evaluation, revealing characteristics of the third molars, jawbone and adjacent nerves that are
not observed by visual inspection of your mouth. The results of these procedures are discussed
with you and recommendations are made.

Under certain circumstances it may be recommended not to remove third molars. Many individuals have sufficient room in their mouths to accommodate third molars. Occasionally the removal of third molars can be delayed when further development of the third molars will make their removal less complicated.

The removal of third molars is frequently recommended. This requires
selective surgical procedures that are individualized according to patient
need. The uses of modern anesthetic techniques make the surgery
virtually pain-free.
The majority of procedures are performed in the office. Most surgery is
completed and the patient discharged from the office within an hour.
Analgesics are prescribed to minimize post-operative discomfort.
Hospitalization for the surgery on an outpatient or inpatient basis
is available when medically necessary.

Recovery is usually rapid with most patients resuming normal activities within a few days following
the procedure. Serious complications following the removal of third molars are infrequent; however,
a discussion of potential complications is made so that an informed consent for surgery is obtained.

Why get my wisdom teeth out?

Wisdom teeth, especially those that are stuck down in the bone or gums (impacted), can
cause some major complications. The typical symptoms are usually just soreness in the
area as the tooth comes in. But a majority of wisdom teeth don't come into the mouth
nice and straight. Most people have at least one wisdom tooth that is heading towards
problems such as:

Infection

A tooth that is stuck or impacted in the bone can leave a space under the gums andinto
the bone where bacteria, food, and other irritants can get lodged. When this happens,
an infection grows in the area. It can be very painful and in some cases can lead to
infections of the face and throat. In extreme cases this can result in major surgery or death.

Crowding and damage to other teeth

Wisdom teeth that are coming into the mouth at the wrong angle will tend to lean against
the tooth in front of it. This added pressure will push the other teeth forward in the mouth
and usually shows up as crowding of the bottom front teeth.

If the wisdom teeth get stuck up under the tooth in front, it will slowly damage the roots
of that tooth to the extent where we sometimes need to take both teeth out due to the
extent of the damage.

Cyst Formation

A cyst is similar to a tumor that forms in the bone around an impacted wisdom tooth.
The cyst destroys the bone around the tooth and can sometimes continue to grow and
destroy a large portion of the jaw. If left too long, these cysts may require major surgery
and removal of a portion of the lower jaw.

FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF IMPACTED TEETH

The removal of impacted wisdom teeth is quite different from the extraction of erupted teeth.
The following conditions may occur, all of which are considered normal:

1. There may be swelling around the surgical site.

2. Trismus (tightness) of the muscles may cause difficulty in opening mouth.

3. You may have a slight earache and a sore throat.

4. Your other teeth may ache temporarily.

5. If the corners of the mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips
should be kept moist with a cream or ointment.

6. There may be a visible socket where the tooth was removed. This area should be
rinsed withwarm salt water after meals. This cavity will gradually fill in with new tissue.

7. There may be a slight elevation of temperature.

8. Slight bleeding (oozing) may occur from area of surgery for 24 hours.