Diamons

wisdom teeth

Photography by Dr. Padval

Wisdom Teeth At-Home Care

After Wisdom Teeth Extraction... After you've had your wisdom teeth removed, it's crucial to maintain proper at-home care during the recovery period. Always follow your dentist's specific instructions, and remember the general guidelines below. Post Wisdom Teeth Instructions Pain, Sensitivity, Swelling It's normal to experience mild to moderate pain following extraction. If discomfort occurs, use the prescribed pain medication as directed. You can use an ice pack to reduce swelling, which should also bring some measure of pain relief. If you experience unusual or [...]

By |2023-03-14T08:00:11-07:00March 14, 2023|Patient Education|

Wisdom Teeth: Should They Stay Or Go?

Why Get Rid of Wisdom Teeth? Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars at the very back of the mouth. They appear in late adolescence, at about ages 17 to 25, depending on the individual. The problem is that most people simply don't have enough room to accommodate these extra teeth. When wisdom teeth are "impacted," it means they are causing problems for neighboring teeth, possibly disrupting their alignment. They are also notorious for emerging in irregular positions, partially emerging, or failing to [...]

By |2023-01-24T08:00:51-08:00January 24, 2023|Patient Education|

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Why Wisdom Teeth Need to Go Wisdom teeth are the largest teeth in your mouth, and the very last to come in. When they do, they can cause problems for the surrounding teeth, a condition we call impacted. Back in the day, before modern dentistry, people didn't take good care of their teeth. It was fairly common for people to lose one or more, even before early adulthood. When that was the case, it made sense that we had an extra set of molars. [...]

By |2022-06-21T08:00:46-07:00June 21, 2022|Patient Education|

Know Your Teeth, Inside and Out!

Learn Your Tooth Anatomy, Shape, and Function Teeth differ in shape depending on their function & position in the mouth. On the inside, however, they all share the same basic anatomy. Parts of a Tooth Crown: the visible, chewing portion of the tooth. Root: the portion of the tooth hidden by the gums, it anchors the tooth into the jawbone. (The root makes up about two-thirds of the total length of the tooth.) Enamel: the hard outer covering of the crown of the tooth, [...]

By |2021-01-19T08:00:04-08:00January 19, 2021|Patient Education|

Targeting Teenage Risks

Risk-taking is a normal part of teenage development—and often a growth opportunity for parents, too! Heads up to handling some common dental risks of adolescence so you both stay smiling. Wisdom Comes With Age The wisdom teeth, the third molars, are the last to emerge. They appear in the teen years sometimes two, sometimes three or four, or sometimes none at all. In a too-small jaw, the risk is they'll not be able to erupt, and cause pain and swelling from impaction. Or they'll [...]

By |2016-09-06T00:00:40-07:00September 6, 2016|Patient Education|

Wisdom Teeth Removal

And what exactly does 'impacted' mean? Any tooth has the potential to become impacted—that is, emerge in some oddball direction that crowds other teeth. But the most famous culprits are third molars, the last-to-emerge wisdom teeth. Not many mouths can accommodate these teeth. They often wind up pressing against their neighbors, ultimately pressuring the rest of the teeth to disrupt their alignment. That’s not a wise thing to let happen. Wisdom teeth get our attention when they cause pain and swelling. Routine X-rays, beginning around age [...]

By |2015-12-15T00:00:41-08:00December 15, 2015|Patient Education|