The Connections Bernards Ridge Edition April/May 2021

theconnectionsnj.com HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 20 Did you know that since wisdom teeth usually come in during the teen years, they’re named for their arrival with a young person’s newly discovered wisdom and ap- proaching adulthood? Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars, appearing behind the rst two sets and the other 20 teeth that your mouth was designed to hold. That’s 28 teeth already in place which makes it dif - cult for an additional four wisdom teeth to grow in properly. And that’s the short answer for why wisdom teeth need to be removed: no room. But let us explain in more detail. When teeth try to push through the gums but cannot, they remain impacted which means they are fully or partially covered by gum or bone, and this has the potential to lead to oral health problems. Keep in mind, 90% of us have at least one impact- ed tooth. Impacted teeth can cause: • In amed, irritated, and bleeding gums • Jaw pain and swelling • Bad breath • Damage to adjacent teeth • Loss of bone and gum deterioration You may be thinking that your wisdom teeth seem ne. We get it. This is a com- mon assumption. What’s important to understand is the potential they have in creating complications in the future. Not everyone has wisdom teeth, but most of us do, and we need them removed for the following reasons. OVERCROWDING AND MISALIGNMENT When wisdom teeth start to push through, there’s little room left in your mouth, so as they erupt, they push ad- jacent teeth aside. This is why so many orthodontists recommend having your wisdom teeth removed as soon as you get your braces off. Wisdom teeth have the capacity to undo all those years of or- thodontic treatment as they squeeze their way in and overcrowd your straightened smile. DAMAGED TEETH While overcrowding may be reason enough to remove these bothersome third molars, the truth is they can do more than wreck a straightened smile. As they grow in and rub against neighboring teeth, they can spread tooth decay to the adjacent second molars. GUM DISEASE Your gums can get caught in the cross- re when wisdom teeth battle their way in. With limited room, the teeth can’t ful- ly erupt, which may cause your gums to become in amed, an issue that is hard to reverse. As a partially impacted tooth pulls away from the gums, space is creat- ed, inviting bacteria and infection to set up camp, leading to gum disease. The ideal time to have wisdom teeth evaluated for removal is in your middle to late teenage years. Your dentist and/ or orthodontist will typically advise you on when a wisdom tooth consultation with an oral surgeon is appropriate. Please feel free to contact Warren Oral Surgery to have a wisdom tooth consultation with one of our surgeons who will give you the appropriate insight so you can make a well-informed decision. Warren Oral Surgery 58 Mt. Bethel Rd Suite 202 Warren, NJ 07059 908-222-7922 www.warrenoralsurgery.com Wisdom teeth have the capacity to undo all those years of orthodontic treatment as they squeeze their way in and overcrowd your straightened smile. The ideal time to have wisdom teeth evaluated for removal is in your middle to late teenage years. Your dentist and/or orthodontist will typically advise you on when a wisdom tooth consultation with an oral surgeon is appropriate. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WISDOM TEETH DENTAL IMPLANTS Whether you have los o e tooth, sev ral teeth, or have been living without teeth for years, dental implants can help improve the quality of your life. Dental implants are used to replace tooth roots. Implants provide a str ng foundation f r fixed r removable replacement teeth. Dental im lants are small anchors made of biocompatible metal, called titanium, placed in the jawbone. The place- ment of the actual titanium implant in the j awbone can easily be performed by one of our highly trained oral surgeons at Warren Oral Surge y, as we have surgically placed well over 10,000 dental implants. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abut- ment posts are inserted into the titanium anchors by your general dentist to allow for the attachment of the replacement teeth. There re certain situations in whi h we may be able to surgically place implants and hav your general dentist attach abutment posts directly into the implants on the same day. However, patients should be aware that this technique is case selective, and the patient’s jawbone must be ideal for this option. What are D ntal Implants? De t l implants ar artificial tooth replace- ments that re used to counter tooth loss. It is generally made of titanium and covered with a porcelain crown or a bridge to give the appearance of real teeth. • They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth. • Dental implants restore the ability to eat vir- tually anything. • Teeth appear natural so that facial contours will be preserved. • Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence. Why Dental Implants? • Dental implants are the most predictable and conserv tive ways of replacing missing eeth wi h the best long-term success. • Implants do not decay. • Adjacent healthy teeth do not require crowns to support them. • Gum tissue and underlying bone are more likely to remain healthy. The Surgical Procedure • For many patients, the placement of dental implants involves only one surgical proce- dure. • First, implants are placed within y ur jaw- bone and allow d to bond with your jaw- bone for about 3 to 4 months. • You will be able to wear a temporary pros- thesis during this 3 to 4 month period so that you never have to be without teeth; we have a high regard for the esthetics and facial appearance of our patients • After the implant has bonded to the ja - bone, the second phase begins. • Your dentist will attach an abutment to the implant which will act as an anchor for the artificial teeth. • The crown will the be ceme ted or s rewed into the post achieving a highly esthetic result. • The entire combined procedure, by our oral surgeon and your dentist, usually t kes about 4 to 5 months, but could take longer if bone grafting is necessary. • Most patients experience minimal disrup- tion in their daily life. Please do not hesitate to make an appoint- ment at Warren Oral Surgery for a dental implant consultation with one of our highly trained oral surgeons. 58 Mt Bethel Rd., Suite 202, Warren, NJ 07059 908-222-7922 www.warrenoralsurgery.com H ealtH H ot line o