Michael Graffeo, DDS
Q: What are wisdom teeth?
ONE: Technically speaking, wisdom teeth are considered “third molars”. They are generally the last teeth to erupt, and usually do so during adolescence. In total, most people usually have four wisdom teeth. Under normal circumstances, this would bring the total number of teeth in your mouth to 32.
Q: Why do so many people need their wisdom teeth removed?
ONE: Unfortunately, many people’s mouths can only safely fit 28 teeth. Wisdom teeth get in the way. Just as adding skyscrapers to an already crowded cityscape would create chaos, adding extra teeth to an already crowded mouth can create problems for your mouth. They can grow sideways and can get trapped under adjacent teeth. This abnormal growth can also set the stage for bacterial growth and infection. In advanced cases, cysts may form near the affected wisdom teeth. These can damage the teeth, as well as the jawbone itself.
Q: Why should you consider having your wisdom teeth extracted preventively?
ONE: Having your wisdom teeth removed can sound like an intense, challenging medical procedure. Why should you not wait to have this surgery until it is absolutely necessary? Few people relish the prospect of elective medical procedures. But problematic wisdom teeth can create a surprisingly diverse array of health problems, including infection, bone loss, cyst formation and damage to the teeth in front of the wisdom teeth. In addition, as you get older, your risk for post-surgery complications increases. That’s why we recommend that people have the surgery before the age of 25, if possible. It’s also helpful to have all four extracted at the same time, because then you only have one surgery and one recovery.
Q: What to expect during a consultation?
ONE: Patients will undergo a thorough evaluation, which will include clinical examination and radiographic studies. In some cases, patients may need a cone beam CT scan to assess the proximity of the wisdom teeth to vital structures. We also offer animated presentations to better explain the pre-, intra- and post-operative wisdom tooth extraction procedures. We offer a variety of methods of anesthesia for wisdom tooth extraction, which will be reviewed prior to surgery.
Q: What happens during the wisdom tooth removal procedure?
ONE: Wisdom tooth extraction is an outpatient procedure usually performed under intravenous sedation by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. All of our patients are monitored with state-of-the-art equipment to ensure the safest and most comfortable experience.
Q: What happens after surgery?
ONE: You will be provided with a post-surgery kit, which includes instructions for home care as well as prescriptions. Some postoperative bleeding is normal, but can usually be controlled with gauze and pressure. A one-week post-op appointment will be scheduled on the day of your surgery.
Dr. Graffeo is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a member, fellow and Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He has lectured on a variety of topics including full range oral and maxillofacial surgery with a focus on restorative dentistry, dental implantology, bone grafting and non-invasive cosmetic surgery.
Westchester Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery & Implantology
2975 Westchester Avenue, Suite G02
Market, NY 10577
914-251-0313
www.oralsurgeryofwestchester.com
What is this?
This content is made possible by our partner. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, views or opinions of the editorial staff of Westchester Magazine.
