Wisdom Teeth

It seems that everyone has their favorite horror story about wisdom teeth. And like fish stories, wisdom tooth stories become more distorted every time that they are told. So before you start to freak out because someone told you that you had to have your wisdom teeth removed, it is important to remember a few important facts. First and foremost is the fact that every tooth is created differently. Most are quite simple to remove, and some are more difficult. And some do not require removal at all.

Before any wisdom tooth is removed, Dr. Konys will review your specific situation with you. He will discuss the options, indications, and potential complications associated with your teeth. And he will give you his honest recommendation based on years of experience treating patients just like you. Remember that he lives in your community. His kids go to the same schools as most of you. The last thing that he wants is to walk through Wegman’s or the Carrier Dome and be faced with an angry mob of patients who had their wisdom teeth removed. So relax, and know that you are in great hands.

Why Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The removal of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. When these teeth are trapped, we refer to them as “impacted”. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to successfully erupt.

These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the wisdom teeth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted teeth usually resolves these problems. As in many things, timing is everything. Dr. Konys will help you determine the best time to remove your wisdom teeth.

A lot of controversy revolves around developing wisdom teeth and the crowding of teeth, particularly after orthodontic therapy. Although many people believe that wisdom teeth can cause crowding, this is actually not entirely accurate. Many significant studies have shown that developing wisdom teeth have little or no effect at all on the adjacent teeth, and that crowding (particularly after orthodontics) is usually due to non-compliant retainer use or orthodontic relapse.

Why do I need to have a consult?

We believe that a well informed patient is a happy patient. Since every tooth is different, a consultation allows Dr. Konys to assess your specific needs. It also allows you to check us out and ask questions before scheduling your surgery.

With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, Dr. Konys can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth, identify any conditions that require immediate attention, and predict if there may be future problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in the mid-teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

The standard of care when evaluating wisdom teeth is a recent Panorex radiograph. This type of radiograph spins around the head and captures all of the important anatomic features associated with the teeth. These include the sinuses, the upper and lower jawbones, important nerves, and the jaw joints. This film should be less than a year old. Routine dental radiographs are useless when properly evaluating wisdom teeth. If you do not have a recent Panorex radiograph, or yours is of poor quality, a new one will be taken in our office.

In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under local anesthesia, laughing gas (nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia) or intravenous deep sedation. These options, as well as the surgical risks of wisdom tooth removal, will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed. Feel free to ask any questions that you might have regarding your teeth. Dr. Konys likes to “call it like it is”, and will give you honest answers to all of your concerns.