Cosmetic & General Dentistry located in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY
While your ancient ancestors needed them to survive on their diet of raw meat, nuts, and berries, today, most people don’t need that set of third molars, also known as wisdom teeth. If they come in and crowd your other teeth, Dmitriy Kuznetsov, DDS, and Semyon Tilis, DDS, the skilled dentists at DNTL in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, New York, can help. Drs. Kuznetsov and Tilis have the experience to extract your wisdom teeth and identify any potential issues. Call today to schedule a consultation or book online.
- 347-487-4888
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Wisdom Teeth Q & A
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars that usually erupt through your gums between 17 and 21 years old. From the time you’re a baby through adolescence, your teeth erupt in stages as follows:
- Incisors
- Canines
- Premolars
- Molars
Then, in early adulthood, your wisdom teeth appear. The problem is that wisdom teeth are no longer needed for chewing, and many people don’t have room in their mouths for a third set of molars.
In some cases, the wisdom teeth never actually erupt, but instead stay beneath your gum tissue and cause pain, infections, or gum disease. When your wisdom teeth don’t erupt, it means they are impacted, or stuck below your gums.
What are the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth?
You may not have any symptoms at all, but if an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, or puts pressure on adjacent teeth, you could experience:
- Tender, bleeding gums
- Jaw pain and tenderness
- Swelling at the back of your jaw
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Ear infection or ear pain
- Sinus infection
Fortunately, problems associated with wisdom teeth usually end when you have them removed.
What can I expect if I have my wisdom teeth removed?
First, your dentist at DNTL take X-rays of your mouth and monitors the progress of your wisdom teeth. He recommends when and if they need to be extracted. Both Drs. Kuznetsov and Tilis are skilled at oral surgery, and they make sure you understand the procedure. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you and your dentist may decide it’s best to remove the wisdom teeth as a preventive method, before they begin causing dental issues.
Surgical removal is usually fairly straightforward and performed on an outpatient basis. You may be sedated or receive a local anesthetic to numb your mouth. During the extraction, your dentist makes a tiny incision in your gums to remove each wisdom tooth one at a time (typically you have four of them — two uppers and two lowers).
After removing each tooth, your dentist closes the wounds with stitches and puts gauze in the empty spaces where your teeth were. You may have some pain and bleeding, but over-the-counter pain medications and cold compresses can help alleviate discomfort and reduce swelling.
If you’re concerned about your wisdom teeth or your child’s, call to schedule an exam with DNTL or book online today.
