Do I Need to Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

June 27, 2016

Filed under: Dental Care,Oral Health Topics — Tags: — islandcoast @ 2:06 pm

Not everybody has them removed

A lot of people have heard of horror stories of having their wisdom teeth taken out. A lot of people have them removed, but is it really necessary?
The truth is that not everyone has their wisdom teeth out. In fact, unless you are having trouble, you may not need to have them taken out.
Below are some signs that you may need yours taken out and what to expect.

What are your wisdom teeth?

These are the lower and upper third molars found at the back of your mouth. They’re called this because they generally will come in between the ages of 17 and 21 – the time when someone is the age that they have “wisdom”.

What causes the problems people have with their wisdom teeth?

If wisdom teeth are healthy and positioned correctly, they generally won’t cause problems. Some of the problems that might happen are the following:

  • They break through the gums just partway because there isn’t enough space. If this happens, gum tissue may grow over top of the tooth. It can sometimes trap food and cause to gum infections.
  • They’re coming in facing the incorrect direction or crooked.
  • Your jaw’s not big enough to give them the room they need. The teeth may become impacted so that they aren’t able to come through the gums.
  • They are really far back inside your mouth or they are crowded so it’s hard for you to clean them.
  • A cyst has formed. This can cause damage to the roots or bone.

What symptoms should I look for?

If you are having trouble with your wisdom teeth, there are a few symptoms you might have:

  • Stiffness or pain in your jaw near a tooth that’s impacted.
  • Irritation or pain from one that is coming through your gums at a bad angle so that it’s rubbing up against your tongue, bottom or top of the mouth, or cheek.
  • The gum tissue that’s formed a flap on top of one of the impacted teeth.
  • Your other teeth are crowded.
  • Gum disease or tooth decay because you are having trouble with cleaning wisdom teeth properly.

Why it is done

A wisdom tooth is extracted to correct an actual problem or to prevent problems that may come up in the future. Some of the problems that can occur when wisdom teeth come in are:

  • Your jaw may not be large enough for them, and they may become impacted and unable to break through your gums.
  • Your wisdom teeth may break partway through your gums, causing a flap of gum tissue to grow over them. Food and germs can get trapped under the flap and cause your gums to become red, swollen, and painful. These are signs of infection.
  • More serious problems can develop from impacted teeth, such as infection, damage to other teeth and bone, or a cyst.
  • One or more of your wisdom teeth may come in at an awkward angle, with the top of the tooth facing forward, backward, or to either side.

When do problems occur?

Most of the wisdom teeth problems affect people ages 15-25. People who’re older than age 30 usually don’t have problems that mean that they have to have the wisdom teeth taken out.

How do they treat wisdom teeth?

If they are causing problems, they should be removed. This is done by a professional oral surgeon or dentist.
Your gum will be opened up over the tooth if it’s needed and then the tooth will be removed. Sometimes they will cut the tooth into pieces so that it’s easier for it to be removed. Sometimes you’ll need stitches.
If there’s an infection, sometimes you’ll have to wait for that to be gone before the teeth or removed. Antibiotics are often prescribed to help with this.
While waiting for your teeth to be removed, you can do the following things to help with swelling and pain:

  • Place ice upon your cheek just for about 15-20 minutes. Don’t use heat.
  • Gently rinse your mouth using warm water will salt in it every 2-4 hours. To make this, you mix 1 teaspoon of salt in one cup warm water.
  • You can use naproxen or ibuprofen for pain relief. Read the directions carefully and follow them. Aspirin shouldn’t be used by anyone below the age of 20 due to Reye syndrome risk, which is a rare but very serious disease.

Recovery time after wisdom teeth removal

The recovery period can take several days and in some cases there may still be swelling and discomfort for a week or more.
Use ice packs, enjoy soft foods and keep your mouth clean with simple salt water. If you notice any unusual symptoms like pus discharge, severe pain or a fever, call your oral surgeon right away.
While complications such as an infection are rare, they are possible.

Conclusion – Visit Your Dentist!

The only way to know if you need to have your wisdom teeth out is to go to your dentist. Consult with your dental professional and you’ll know whether or not your problems are caused by your wisdom teeth or some other problem.

Questions about your Wisdom Teeth?

If wisdom teeth issues are affecting your smile, the team at Island Coast Dentistry can help. Through a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Skupny can tailor a oral treatment plan that is most effective for you. A beautiful, healthy smile can be yours!
Contact us today to learn more, or schedule a consultation online.

How to Fix Gaps in Your Teeth

June 6, 2016

Filed under: Moving Teeth,Oral Health Topics — Tags: — islandcoast @ 8:22 pm

Common Methods for Fixing Gapped Teeth

If your teeth are not aligned or they are shifting, it can create gaps.
Having a gap in your teeth can be a problem and it can be embarrassing. But the good news is that there are things that you can do to help close that gap.
Below are two options for closing gaps in your teeth. One option quickly fixes the gap and the other takes a longer approach.

Tooth Bonding

For tooth gaps that are large or when someone wants a fix that is quick, a good option is tooth bonding. A special resin that is tooth-colored is applied to your tooth and then hardened with a light.
This will bond the resin right to your tooth either to improve the tooth’s appearance or restore the tooth.
Quickly, just three or four hours, your teeth are normal again. This is a procedure that’s used when the tooth’s broken or chipped, although it’s becoming more common for closing gaps.
It’s one of the cheapest options, although you will probably have to pay for it yourself unless its due to medical repair.
Even though the material that dental bonding uses is fairly stain resistant, it’s not as good at resisting stains as the crown option. This material also doesn’t last long compared to other types of dental procedures and it can break and chip off of your tooth.

Orthodontia and Retainers

Retainers are used often after braces are taken off to keep your teeth aligned while your mouth is adjusting to not wearing braces. But they are also becoming more commonplace being used for aligning teeth right away. There are three retainer types.

1. Hawley Retainer

This is the one that a lot of people think about when it comes to a retainer. It’s tongue shaped, thin and removable that’s molded for your mouth. It also has a wire which holds teeth in place. This kind of retainer’s meant more for keeping teeth aligned instead of adjusting them.

2. Clear Aligner

These retainers are trays and made from transparent, thin plastic which goes over your teeth so that they’re slowly moved into the right position. These are favored by kids since they can’t be seen.
Since they’re made of plastic, they’re easily damaged and they’re not good for people who have trouble with grinding their teeth. These also needs replacement as the teeth are fixed.
When you eat, they simply can be removed and you can naturally chew without crushing it.

3. Fixed Retainers

These retainers are good especially for front teeth on the bottom. A wire’s bonded to the teeth’s tongue side so they’re kept in alignment. This can stay there for a few months or longer.
Fixed retainers may lead to tartar build-up or gingivitis due to the difficulty of flossing while wearing these retainers.
It is used for keeping the teeth in place instead of moving them. This retainer type is recommended sometimes when there’s a big risk that the teeth could go back to the way they were.
If you have a gap in your teeth, using one of the above methods can help you with looking and feeling better. They can fix it quickly or they can take longer, depending on which one you choose. Either way, both will help you close the gaps and give you a better smile.

Questions about your Gaps?

If cosmetic issues are affecting your smile, the team at Island Coast Dentistry can help. Through a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Skupny can tailor a oral treatment plan that is most effective for you. A beautiful, healthy smile can be yours!
Contact us today to learn more, or schedule a consultation online.

Why are My Teeth Moving?

June 2, 2016

Filed under: Dental Problems,Moving Teeth,Oral Health Topics — islandcoast @ 3:05 pm

Common Reasons Why Teeth Move

Are your teeth are shifting?
When your teeth are no longer aligned and they are shifting, it can happen for a few reasons. It can happen because you are sleeping on one side, or it could be because you grind your teeth.
You may also discover that your teeth are shifting because your dental habits aren’t good. No matter what the cause is, teeth that are shifting can cause a lot of dental problems if you don’t treat it, since teeth that aren’t aligned properly can be harder to clean.

Five Reasons Why Teeth Will Shift

Having dental issues because of shifting teeth is not the only problem you may face. You may also find that you’re having problems with your self-esteem. You have to discover why your teeth aren’t aligned correctly so that you can get the right treatment.
Here is a list of the more common causes:

1. Age Causes Teeth to Drift

When someone grows older, the area between their teeth will naturally wear away. Since teeth on the bottom are thinner, meaning they’ll wear out quicker than the upper teeth, the shifting will slowly happen when the person is biting down.

2. Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching

These are two really bad habits that people have when it comes to their teeth. Either habit can force your bottom or top teeth to go out of alignment because of additional pressure that is placed on them. Many people do it while they’re sleeping, speeding up the process without being aware of it.

3. Tooth Loss Impacts Your Smile

When you lose one of your teeth, it’s smart to fill in the area. Leaving your area like it is will likely cause your teeth around your gap to shift and try to fill the gap. What could happen is that if you have a missing bottom tooth, your teeth next to it will start shifting sideways. Your tooth that’s directly above the gap could also start growing downward.

4. Genetics Plays a Part

This is true even if you were born with teeth that were straight. If you have genes that dictate that your teeth are going to shift when you get older, you may find you have the same problem. Ask relatives to find out whether they have had problems with their teeth shifting. If it’s a problem on one or the other side in the family, you may want to bring it up when you see your dentist.

5. Cavities and Tooth Decay Are Not Good

Having cavities that were filled because of tooth decay may cause shifting in your teeth, particularly if the dentist used plastic filling. Of course, if you don’t get the cavity filled and your decay goes to your gums, you’ll still find that your teeth aren’t aligned since it’s going to eat at that bone which keeps teeth aligned correctly.

Conclusion

No matter the reason why teeth are shifting, having teeth that are misaligned isn’t a big concern. If you get a good dentist to take care of the problem, your teeth ought to remain straight. There are a lot of solutions that you can use for this problem as well. Retainers, cosmetic dentistry, and braces are just a few of the measures that a lot of people take for correcting their shifting teeth. Regularly visit your dentist so that the issues can be dealt with soon.

Questions about Shifting Teeth?

If cosmetic issues are affecting your smile, the team at Island Coast Dentistry can help. Through a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Skupny can tailor a oral treatment plan that is most effective for you. A beautiful, healthy smile can be yours!
Contact us today to learn more, or schedule a consultation online.