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What are Wisdom Teeth?
By the ages of 17 and 25, wisdom teeth usually begin to appear. Most adults have four wisdom teeth, but it is possible to have more, in which case they are called supernumerary teeth. Wisdom teeth commonly affect other teeth as they develop, becoming impacted or "coming in sideways". They are often extracted when this occurs.
 Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?
In cases where a wisdom tooth is impacted, growing sideways, or partially emerged from the gums, the answer is yes.
Impaction - In dental terminology, an "impacted" tooth refers to a tooth that has failed to emerge fully into its expected position. This failure to erupt properly might occur because there is not enough room in the person's jaw to accommodate the tooth, the tooth's eruption path is obstructed by other teeth or because the angulation of the impacted tooth is improper. A primary cause of wisdom tooth impaction is simply that there is inadequate jawbone space behind the person's second molar.
Partially Emerged Molars - In cases such as these, the wisdom tooth has not fully emerged making that portion of the mouth and gums difficult to clean. This can cause debris and bacteria to collect by the wisdom tooth eventually leading to infection, pain, and a bad odour in the mouth. The recommended treatment is always extraction of the wisdom tooth.
Extraction/Removal
An oral surgeon will determine if your wisdom teeth need to be removed with an oral examination, followed up with X-Rays. This way, the exact position can be determined and the wisdom teeth can be permanently removed in the simplest manner possible. Your well being and health are of utmost importance, and Dr. Vecchione will go over any type of medications you may need to take, including surgical procedures, prior to the actual surgery.
These procedures are performed under local or general anesthesia. At NJOMRS, we have private recovery rooms for you to relax in after your surgery, until you are well enough to leave the office.
Dr. Vecchione's office offers pre-surgical and post-surgical help guides to assist you with any questions you have regarding controlling bleeding and proper care of the operated area. We are always here to help and can be reach by phone or email if you have any questions or concerns.
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