We commonly have patients and/or parents question why we obtain a panorex as part of our comprehensive assessment for oral surgical procedures. A panorex is an x–ray that provides a full view of the upper and lower jaws, teeth, temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and sinuses. Without this critical piece of data, we can sometimes miss pathologic…
Wisdom Teeth
Will extracting my third molars help my other teeth?
This is a typical question from patients during our consultation. Patients are usually referred to my office by their general dentist for a consultation in regards to their impacted or symptomatic third molars. Understandably, most patient are scared and a bit skeptical when they first present to our office for surgery. Surgery is scary thing…
Extraction of wisdom teeth with just “infiltration”?
Categories: Pain, Wisdom Teeth
Recently at University of Pacific (UOP), one of my dental students brought up the topic of “infiltration” versus “nerve blocks” for the extraction of teeth – more specifically 3rd molars. Wondering why are we still providing IAN (Inferior Alveolar Nerve) nerve blocks in the lower jaw…
Wisdom Teeth: What’s the Big Deal?
Categories: Blog, Wisdom Teeth
Especially with the younger crowd, this is a question we get time and time again in our office! And understandably so! To some, removing the wisdom teeth seems like it should be an elective procedure, not a necessary one. You have probably heard the statistic that 85% of people have to have their wisdom teeth…
Will Wisdom Teeth Someday Become Obsolete?
Categories: OMS, Wisdom Teeth
Most people are familiar with third molars, more commonly known as “wisdom teeth”. It is usually suggested that a young adult entering the “age of wisdom” have any existing wisdom teeth removed prior to developing any problems. Because most people’s mouth do not have room for these third sets of molars, the remaining wisdom teeth…
“Nipping wisdom teeth in the bud?”
Categories: Blog, Wisdom Teeth
There was a recent article in the Tufts Dental Medicine Journal talking about a the possibility of preventing the formation of wisdom teeth with local anesthesia? Interesting stuff if this phenomenon is true. Here is the actual article:
Coronectomy, as treatment option for treating high-risk, symptomatic third molars (a.k.a Wisdom teeth)
Categories: Blog, Wisdom Teeth
In a recent article in the JADA ( Journal of the American Dental Assoc.) the topic of Coronectomy was discussed. Click on the following link: http://jada.ada.org/content/144/10/1172.full.html?etoc This was their conclusion based on the systemic review of five databases for the period from 1990 through 2011 : That coronectomy of an impacted mandibular third molar with a high…
The Right Time for Removing Wisdom Teeth
Categories: Blog, Wisdom Teeth
When it comes to your wisdom teeth, the old adage, “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it,” does not hold true. Many times your third molars or “wisdom teeth” can be negatively impacting your mouth even though they are not causing you any pain or discomfort. For example, having a tooth press on the roots…
