Although humans’ early ancestors likely made use of their third molars, also known as the wisdom teeth, in chewing their rough diet, the teeth are no longer useful for gnawing on modern-day cuisine, which is full of softer foods. In fact, the human jaw has evolved in a way that no longer accommodates the third molars. As a result, the wisdom teeth must be removed surgically from the jaw before their impacted state can lead to severe problems. Most oral surgeons recommend having the wisdom teeth removed before age 25.
When the wisdom teeth are impacted, they can lead to a host of problems, ranging from infection to pain to cysts. A delay in having your wisdom teeth removed may exacerbate these problems.
Beyond the symptoms that can result from impacted wisdom teeth, the removal procedure is also easier for younger patients. As a person ages, the wisdom teeth’s roots grow longer and become more entrenched in the jaw bone, making it a more difficult endeavor to remove them. Longer roots can also come into contact with nerves in the mouth, placing those older patients at increased risk for the possibility of nerve damage when a patient waits to have the wisdom teeth removed. The surrounding bone is also softer in younger patients, making the surgery easier, and older patients tend to take more time to heal following surgery.
If you keep your wisdom teeth beyond your early 20s, they’ll be more likely to develop decay and promote gum disease, according to well documented research. Wisdom teeth that are left in place invariably also damage surrounding teeth.
Wisdom teeth extraction is typically a straightforward oral surgery, so schedule an appointment with this experienced, dual-degreed oral surgeon in the Chicago Loop to have your wisdom teeth removed before the procedure becomes a complex one.
Our mouths can be havens for infection-inducing bacteria. Even the most fastidious flossers can’t eliminate all of the plaque that accumulates near and under the gumline. That’s why regular dental exams and cleanings are so important—to periodically clear away plaque build-up and the bacteria that comes along with it.
Those oral bacteria also offer another motivation for wisdom teeth removal by this experienced dual-degreed Chicago oral surgeon. When wisdom teeth are partially impacted, they attract high levels of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and inflammation and disease in the gums.
It’s easy to think that asymptomatic wisdom teeth won’t be affected by infection and inflammation, but that’s a misconception. Unfortunately, thanks to the wisdom teeth’s location in the rear of the mouth, it’s almost impossible to keep them clean. It’s best to have a dual-degreed oral surgeon extract them before severe damage occurs and so that you don’t even have to try to clean them.
The inflammation isn’t confined to the mouth, either. It can travel readily throughout the bloodstream and affect other areas of the body. Some of the proteins associated with oral inflammation have been linked to other conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. Your mouth truly is the gateway to the rest of your body.
Keep in mind, too, that it’s always better to have the wisdom teeth removed before they lead to infection or cause pain or some other sort of symptom. Studies have shown that patients whose wisdom teeth appear to be problem-free based on their perspective, still face a significantly increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Working with an oral surgeon who offers sedation dentistry in Chicago can make the wisdom tooth extraction process go even more smoothly. Rather than putting a patient to sleep in the hospital and intubating them, which used to be the norm for wisdom tooth removal, a sedation dentist can use sedative intravenous drugs, such as a benzodiazepines, that will put the patient into a state of relaxation and/or sleep. The surgical procedure has now been streamlined and can be performed more safely, with a more minimally invasive technique, and with far less down-time for recovery than before.
If you spent your early teen years faithfully keeping your appointments with the orthodontist to achieve a picture-perfect smile, or if you’re one of the lucky folks whose teeth came in straight naturally, then you’ll want to make it a priority to schedule an appointment with this dual –degreed Chicago oral surgeon to have your wisdom teeth removed.
All of your orthodontist’s efforts can be wiped out when the wisdom teeth begin to come in. If there’s not enough room in the jaw to accommodate the wisdom teeth, which there almost never is, then the other teeth must shift to make room for the newcomers. As the teeth shift, they’ll become misaligned and crooked. One tooth may end up on top of another. Two teeth may push against each other, and they may both end up protruding from the smile as a result. In fact, if the wisdom teeth come in and prompt this kind of crowding, you may look like you never even bothered with braces to begin with!
Crowded teeth also can negatively affect the mouth’s function in addition to the smile’s appearance. As the wisdom teeth force their way into the jaw, the crowding can become so severe that the occlusion, or bite, can be thrown off course, as well. A malocclusion, or misaligned bite, can put pressure on the jaw joints and cause pain, such as headaches and earaches. A patient may even develop TMJ disorders as a result of a bad bite.
Ideally, you should consult with a dual-degreed Chicago oral surgeon to have your wisdom teeth removed before age 25. If you wait much longer than that, the procedure can become more complicated and it takes longer to recover from the surgery. However, even if you’re older than 25, you can still safely have your wisdom teeth extracted, and you should do so as soon as possible.
If you have a perfectly aligned smile and don’t want to reacquaint yourself with the orthodontist, be sure to visit Dr. Steven A Koos D.D.S., M.D., a dual-degreed Chicago oral surgeon to have your wisdom teeth removed.
I have have never been so pleased to come to a place. The staff is so wonderful. Dr Kralj is so cool and a perfect gentleman. Dr Koos is even more professional. The Dr. called me after I had work done. This was a great show of caring for the patient. I will never forget such kindness.
Sue is the Dabomb,so funny but professional makes your visits a experience. Everyone should take the excellent example of how to run business from Dr Koos. I feel as if i am the only patient when I am there . Wow it should not be this nice to go to the dentist. Please let the entire staff know how grateful I am. Ken.
Although humans’ early ancestors likely made use of their third molars, also known as the wisdom teeth, in chewing their rough diet, the teeth are no longer useful for gnawing on modern-day cuisine, which is full of softer foods. In fact, the human jaw has evolved in a way that no longer accommodates the third molars. As a result, the wisdom teeth must be removed surgically from the jaw before their impacted state can lead to severe problems. Most oral surgeons recommend having the wisdom teeth removed before age 25.
