Baton Rouge Dentist

Do you really have to remove wisdom teeth?

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My teenage son has been in braces since the first of last year and is almost ready to get them off.  At his recent dentist appointment, the dentist noticed on his x-rays that his wisdom teeth are back there and recommended having them taken out before too long. I didn’t see any problem with the wisdom teeth. Why does my son have to have them taken out?

Joe from Cleveland

Dear Joe,

Many teens get their wisdom teeth out and most parents don’t think twice about why. There are many positive reasons why it is recommended to have them removed in your youth.

Why wisdom teeth are often removed in your youth

Your son’ dentist may have been concerned about seeing his wisdom teeth because of his braces. Sometimes wisdom teeth, as they grow, can come in sideways. If this happens, they can push on the teeth nearby, causing them to move. The dentist probably doesn’t want to risk any movement of your son’s teeth after all the money and effort of braces.

The simplest reason to have wisdom teeth removed when you are young is that it’s easier than when you are older. As you age, your jawbone becomes firmer and less pliable. When the jawbone is firmer, it is harder to remove the wisdom teeth and it takes a longer time. If those teeth are removed in the teenage years, because the bone isn’t as stiff, it is a quick process to remove them.

Because it is more difficult to remove wisdom teeth when you are older, it also leads to more complications. The risks involved in removing wisdom teeth rise exponentially as you get older. Especially if wisdom teeth become impacted, it can cause pain or infection. Impacted means blocked by other teeth so they can’t break the surface.

It may not seem like a big deal to wait to get your son’s wisdom teeth removed, but you may find it will save a lot of trouble by having them taken care of when he is younger.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, LA.

Should I see an emergency dentist for my wisdom teeth?

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I have never had my wisdom teeth out and am in my early twenties, but my dentist never said I needed to. They have hurt before, but I think that’s because they are still coming in. Unfortunately they have been hurting me all weekend, to the point where it is hard to eat. If I look back there, I can see that it’s kind of swollen. I don’t know if I should just keeping taking ibuprofen and wait it out, or if I should go see an emergency dentist?

Mason, WV

Dear Mason,

Everyone is different when it comes to wisdom teeth. Some people can keep their wisdom teeth their whole life without any problems, and some people’s wisdom teeth cause trouble even before they break the surface. This is mostly due to space. If there isn’t sufficient room for the wisdom teeth, they can push other teeth, causing shifting, crowding and other problems. This can lead to pain.

Wisdom teeth troubles

If wisdom teeth do break the surface, other problems can arise. When they are still covered with gums, it can be difficult to keep them clean. Food and bacteria can collect in that area, leading to infection or tooth decay. This also can lead to pain.

Should you see an emergency dentist?

Trying to determine if the pain is worthy of a trip to the emergency dentist can be difficult. You mentioned that you have felt pain from your wisdom teeth before. Hopefully you have discussed this pain with your regular dentist. Either way, if the pain is bad enough that you can’t eat now, something is wrong. You may have an infection. You either need to see your regular dentist very soon or get into an emergency dentist. If you continue to have struggles with your wisdom teeth, it may be time to get them taken out.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, LA.

 

Which anesthesia is best for wisdom teeth removal?

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My daughter just turned 17 and has an appointment with a surgeon to discuss getting her wisdom teeth out.  Everyone I talk to about this surgery has an opinion. She could be fully put under with anesthesia or just given local anesthesia. I don’t know which is better. What should we choose?

Thanks,

Connie, Las Vegas

Dear Connie,

Quite likely your doctor, a maxillofacial surgeon, will have a recommendation for you about which kind of anesthesia he recommends for wisdom teeth surgery. If you are given a choice, here are the differences between the two.

General anesthesia

General anesthesia will allow your daughter to be asleep during the procedure. She will not know what is happening or remember much after. The anesthesia is given through an IV and your daughter would be monitored throughout the procedure. This is a very comfortable choice for patients who may be anxious about the surgery. Your daughter will be sleepy for the more part of the day after the surgery. While this is usually a safe option, general anesthesia is not for every patient. Those who have reactions to anesthesia, who smoke or drink excessively, are obese, or have other medical conditions may have complications with general anesthesia.

Local anesthesia

If your daughter prefers to be awake for the procedure, local anesthesia is her other choice. This anesthesia is given by injection at the places of extraction in the mouth, similar to that done for cavities or root canals. Your daughter would be aware of her surroundings and what is happening. She may feel pressure from the extractions. It may not hurt, but it may be uncomfortable, depending on the position of her wisdom teeth. The numbness will last 3-4 hours afterward, depending on how many injections are necessary to make your daughter comfortable. She wouldn’t be as sleepy after, as with general anesthesia.

The best thing to do would be to take your questions to your initial appointment with the surgeon. This would allow you to hear which method of anesthesia he is most comfortable working with and the pros and cons.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry at Baton Rouge Family Dentist.

Concerned about Swelling after Wisdom Teeth Removal

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A couple of days ago, my son had four wisdom teeth removed. Since then, I’ve noticed extreme swelling in his face, especially around his left side near his eye. I’m worried he could end up having nerve damage to his jaw and his eyesight could be affected. Is it possible he might need additional surgery? Or, will time, penicillin, anti-inflammatory medication and washing with salt water help decrease the swelling? What should I do?
– Anne in Louisiana

Anne,
You mentioned your son’s surgery was two days ago and when a person has this type of surgery, this is the worst day for the swelling and then it dissipates after this. It does not appear your son has nerve damage from the information you provided.

The swelling occurs from the surgery and always happens when impacted wisdom teeth are removed. If it was a challenge to remove the upper left wisdom tooth and bone had to be removed, this will cause swelling as it’s near the eye area.
Since I’m not able to examine him, I am determining my diagnosis by what you are telling me. This means that swelling may occur under normal circumstances from this type of surgery.

I recommend you follow the instructions given by the dentist who removed the wisdom teeth. There should be steady improvement over the next few days. If at any time, your son’s situation gets worse – the pain and swelling increases instead of decreasing, you should inform your dentist and seek additional help right away.

If you are still concerned, be sure to mention your son’s situation to the dentist who did the surgery. Dentists always try to brace patients for the best and worst case scenarios and focus on a realistic outcome which may be a bit negative to hear. If the post-surgery situation was not at all what you were told, you may need to inform your dentist so they can be more realistic with future patients.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Ryan P. Perry, Baton Rouge Family Dentist.

Oxycodone and wisdom teeth extractions

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I had my four wisdom teeth taken out two days ago and I’ve been taking oxycodone every 5 hours because my dentist told me to. It really helps with the pain but when I take it I feel really happy and relaxed and weird….like I’ve never felt like this before. Should I stop taking it because I don’t want to get addicted? Should I take Advil or Tylenol instead?

Thanks, Wendy

Dear Wendy,

Oxycodone like many other prescription pain medications can be addicting and habit forming. We suggest you to not take more than your doctor recommended. Everyone has a different experience in the way pain medications make them feel. Some people feel happy and relaxed like you do while others experience headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Usually pain medications are only needed for about 3 or 4 days after wisdom teeth removal. If you’re concerned about getting addicted to this medication start cutting down on your dosage and only take half a pill when you start to experience pain. Your other option is to take 800 mg of Advil every 6 hours for pain and inflammation or 500mg of Tylenol if Advil upsets your stomach too much. After several days any soreness you have been experiencing should subside. In the meantime take a teaspoon of salt and mix it with 8 oz of warm water and swish with the solution until the glass is empty. Salt water rinses soothes the gums and decreases inflammation. If you are still experiencing pain after a week we recommend you have a follow-up appointment with your oral surgeon.

Post courtesy of Dr. Perry, Baton Rouge Dentist.