Houston Wisdom Teeth Extractions Information
By the age of eighteen, the average adult has 32 teeth; 16 teeth on the top and 16 teeth on the bottom. Each tooth in the mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine and bicuspid teeth) are ideal for grasping and biting food into smaller pieces. The back teeth or molar teeth are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable for swallowing.
The average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your Third Molars, also known as "wisdom teeth."
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when the teeth are prevented from erupting within the mouth. Wisdom teeth can grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum and can even stay trapped beneath the gum and bone. Poorly positioned, impacted teeth can cause many problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure.
Oral Examination
With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, the oral surgeon can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and can make a determination as to whether there maybe present or future problems. Early evaluation and treatment usually results in a good outcome for the patient. Early evaluation is recommended beginning in the mid- teenage years.
All outpatient surgery for wisdom tooth extraction is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort.
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