The Connections Warren Watchung Edition Feb-March 2021

theconnectionsnj.com HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 43 Add us on Instagram Warren Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates cumple con la legislación vigente de derechos civiles de alcance federal y no discrimina en basea raza, color, país de origen, edad, discapacidad o sexo. 沃 口腔和 面外科 会（ Warren Oral ＆ Maxillofacial Surgery Associates ）遵守可适用的 邦民权法律，不因种族、肤色、国籍、年 、残疾或性别而歧 。 Wisdom Teeth Removal Dental Implants • IV Sedation 58 Mt. Bethel Road, Suite 202, Warren, NJ 07059 www.warrenoralsurgery.com 908-223-8733 Daniel Sullivan, DDS Specialty Permit #5442 Dr. Prakhar Mehrotra Specialty Permit #6763 Dr. Taneenop Aramphongphan "Dr. Gift" Specialty Permit #6760 Did you know that since wis- dom teeth usually come in during the teen years, they’re named for their arrival with a young person’s newly discovered wisdom and approaching adulthood? Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars, appearing behind the first two sets and the other 20 teeth that your mouth was designed to hold. That’s 28 teeth already in place which makes it difficult 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 ex- plain in more detail. When teeth try to push through the gums but cannot, they remain impact- ed 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 impacted tooth. Impacted teeth can cause: • Inflamed, irritated, and bleeding gums • Jaw pain and swelling • Bad breath • Damage to adjacent teeth • Loss of bone and gum de- terioration You may be thinking that your wisdom teeth seem fine. We get it. This is a common assumption. What’s important to understand is the potential they have in cre- ating 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 adjacent teeth aside. This is why so many or- thodontists 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 ortho- dontic 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 adja- cent second molars. Gum Disease Your gums can get caught in the crossfire when wisdom teeth battle their way in. With limited room, the teeth can’t fully erupt, which may cause your gums to become inflamed, an issue that is hard to reverse. As a partially im- pacted tooth pulls away from the gums, space is created, inviting bacteria and infection to set up camp, leading to gum disease. The ideal time to have wis- dom teeth evaluated for removal is in your middle to late teenage years. Your dentist and/or ortho- dontist will typically advise you on when a wisdom tooth consul- tation with an oral surgeon is ap- propriate. You can certainly call Warren Oral Surgery to have a wisdom tooth consultation with one of our surgeons if you feel it is appropriate. One of our sur- geons at Warren Oral Surgery will gladly perform a consulta- tion giving you the appropriate insight so that you can make an informed decision to ensure op- timal oral health care is achieved. The ideal time to have wisdom teeth evaluated for removal is in your middle to late teenage years. 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. WARREN ORAL SURGERY 58 Mt. Bethel Rd Suite 202 Warren, NJ 07059 908-223-8733 www.warrenoralsurgery.com WISDOM TEETH