Wisdom Teeth Removal
Nearly all of us develop wisdom teeth and wish we didn’t. Most of us have them on each side of our mouth, upper and lower. Strictly speaking, they are our third set of molars. They’re called “wisdom teeth” because they are so late in erupting out of the jaw – much later than all other teeth in the mouth, arriving in the late teens to early 20s.
But we need to take a step back here because that’s where the problem or problems begin. When teeth erupt – or try to erupt. We’ll get to that… but first, did you know that wisdom teeth are visitors from a previous life that have outlived their welcome and usefulness?
Our ancestors’ jaws were large enough to accommodate 32 teeth, including the big chompers that we call wisdom teeth. That was when human jaws were larger and broader than the average jaw in this day and age. Their jaws were also more U-shaped compared to ours that are more parabolic – a wider U.
Wisdom Teeth removal
Nearly all of us develop wisdom teeth and wish we didn’t. Most of us have them on each side of our mouth, upper and lower. Strictly speaking, they are our third set of molars. They’re called “wisdom teeth” because they are so late in erupting out of the jaw – much later than all other teeth in the mouth, arriving in the late teens to early 20s.
But we need to take a step back here because that’s where the problem or problems begin. When teeth erupt – or try to erupt. We’ll get to that… but first, did you know that wisdom teeth are visitors from a previous life that have outlived their welcome and usefulness?
Our ancestors’ jaws were large enough to accommodate 32 teeth, including the big chompers that we call wisdom teeth. That was when human jaws were larger and broader than the average jaw in this day and age. Their jaws were also more U-shaped compared to ours that are more parabolic – a wider U.
Beneath the hard enamel exterior of your tooth, there is a canal that contains what we call “pulp” – the soft interior of the tooth. Pulp is made up of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. Because the pulp does most of its work during tooth development, its job is pretty much done by the time you are an adult. That’s why, fortunately, adult teeth can survive just fine without pulp. They do this by drawing nutrients from surrounding tissues. And that’s why, when tooth pulp becomes inflamed or infected, often the choice of treatment includes removing the remaining pulp and along with it, the infection.
REASONS FOR INFECTION & INFLAMMATION INCLUDE:
Cleanings & Prevention
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-Rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
Cleanings & Prevention
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-Rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
As adults, our current dentition (the arrangement of teeth) in each jaw includes four incisors (for biting), two canines (for tearing), and four bicuspids or premolars, and six molars including wisdom teeth (all for grinding) – that’s 32 teeth. But most jaws today are much smaller and have the capacity for only 28 teeth.
There are many theories for why our jaws became smaller, including that the jaw accommodated its structure to enable speech. When it became smaller, the change resulted in less space at the back of the teeth known as the retromolar space. So, as you can see, something has to give! And most of the time, it’s the wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth begin to form at around age nine and completely maturing by 18-21 years. Usually, by our late teens, the jawbone has reached its adult size. This is where the problems begin as the jaw often isn’t big enough to hold the wall of our developed teeth. As a result, when wisdom teeth start to erupt, the space is too limited, and wisdom teeth can find themselves in several predicaments.
Simply put, when wisdom teeth try to erupt into the mouth when there is no room for them, they put pressure on existing already-erupted teeth. This can cause great discomfort or pain. Sometimes wisdom teeth are positioned sideways and push on the roots of your back molars. Sometimes they make other teeth shift – definitely what you don’t want to have happen, especially if you already had orthodontic treatment. Despite the reason these teeth don’t come in to place correctly, we call them “impacted.”
Complications Of Wisdom Teeth Emerge When They Become…
Trapped – Sometimes, wisdom teeth become trapped in the jawbone below the gumline. When it happens, aching and pain will occur. You cannot diagnose this yourself as the positioning of the wisdom teeth can only be seen with the aid of x-rays.
Sideways – This is when the wisdom tooth wants to erupt, but it’s positioned to grow sideways and push forward against the second molar. Again, great discomfort and pain. This can cause other teeth to give way and shift position, possibly disrupting the alignment of all your teeth, not just the ones at the back of your mouth.
Partially erupted – The tooth’s crown may only partially break through the gum, as it can be held back by the already-in-place second molars. Often, the molar may not put pressure on its neighbors.But it is very difficult to clean and impossible to floss, leaving it susceptible to serious decay and infection further down the road.
Misplaced – A wisdom tooth may remain in the bone with misshapen or misplaced roots that can grow dangerously close to a sinus cavity.
What may happen when wisdom teeth become impacted? While you likely won’t experience all these symptoms, you will definitely experience some…
tooth discomfort or pain
shifting teeth
sore gums
face pain
jaw pain
reduced ability to open mouth
infection
swelling
gum disease
bad breath
cavities
jawbone cysts
Predicting the future of your wisdom teeth? It’s difficult to predict when or if your wisdom teeth will give you problems, but regular x-rays can provide us with a good indication. Removal at a younger age before complications develop means easier extractions and a much faster recovery time.
How do we treat impacted wisdom teeth? No one can tell when an impacted molar will cause trouble, but trouble usually comes. The key to avoiding discomfort and complicated treatment is with x-rays so that the wisdom teeth can be removed before that happens. It’s one of the most common oral surgery treatments.
Even though they’re called “wisdom teeth,” they don’t seem to be very wise… At North Babcock Dental Care, we will develop a treatment plan to help you make smart choices. Call (210) 361-0246 today! New patients are always welcome!
Cleanings & Prevention
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-Rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
As adults, our current dentition (the arrangement of teeth) in each jaw includes four incisors (for biting), two canines (for tearing), and four bicuspids or premolars, and six molars including wisdom teeth (all for grinding) – that’s 32 teeth. But most jaws today are much smaller and have the capacity for only 28 teeth.
There are many theories for why our jaws became smaller, including that the jaw accommodated its structure to enable speech. When it became smaller, the change resulted in less space at the back of the teeth known as the retromolar space. So, as you can see, something has to give! And most of the time, it’s the wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth begin to form at around age nine and completely maturing by 18-21 years. Usually, by our late teens, the jawbone has reached its adult size. This is where the problems begin as the jaw often isn’t big enough to hold the wall of our developed teeth. As a result, when wisdom teeth start to erupt, the space is too limited, and wisdom teeth can find themselves in several predicaments.
Simply put, when wisdom teeth try to erupt into the mouth when there is no room for them, they put pressure on existing already-erupted teeth. This can cause great discomfort or pain. Sometimes wisdom teeth are positioned sideways and push on the roots of your back molars. Sometimes they make other teeth shift – definitely what you don’t want to have happen, especially if you already had orthodontic treatment. Despite the reason these teeth don’t come in to place correctly, we call them “impacted.”
Complications Of Wisdom Teeth Emerge When They Become…
Trapped – Sometimes, wisdom teeth become trapped in the jawbone below the gumline. When it happens, aching and pain will occur. You cannot diagnose this yourself as the positioning of the wisdom teeth can only be seen with the aid of x-rays.
Sideways – This is when the wisdom tooth wants to erupt, but it’s positioned to grow sideways and push forward against the second molar. Again, great discomfort and pain. This can cause other teeth to give way and shift position, possibly disrupting the alignment of all your teeth, not just the ones at the back of your mouth.
Partially erupted – The tooth’s crown may only partially break through the gum, as it can be held back by the already-in-place second molars. Often, the molar may not put pressure on its neighbors.But it is very difficult to clean and impossible to floss, leaving it susceptible to serious decay and infection further down the road.
Misplaced – A wisdom tooth may remain in the bone with misshapen or misplaced roots that can grow dangerously close to a sinus cavity.
What may happen when wisdom teeth become impacted? While you likely won’t experience all these symptoms, you will definitely experience some…
tooth discomfort or pain
shifting teeth
sore gums
face pain
jaw pain
reduced ability to open mouth
infection
swelling
gum disease
bad breath
cavities
jawbone cysts
Predicting the future of your wisdom teeth? It’s difficult to predict when or if your wisdom teeth will give you problems, but regular x-rays can provide us with a good indication. Removal at a younger age before complications develop means easier extractions and a much faster recovery time.
How do we treat impacted wisdom teeth? No one can tell when an impacted molar will cause trouble, but trouble usually comes. The key to avoiding discomfort and complicated treatment is with x-rays so that the wisdom teeth can be removed before that happens. It’s one of the most common oral surgery treatments.
Even though they’re called “wisdom teeth,” they don’t seem to be very wise… At North Babcock Dental Care, we will develop a treatment plan to help you make smart choices. Call (210) 361-0246 today! New patients are always welcome!
Cleanings & Prevention
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-Rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
Cleanings & Prevention
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-Rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
As adults, our current dentition (the arrangement of teeth) in each jaw includes four incisors (for biting), two canines (for tearing), and four bicuspids or premolars, and six molars including wisdom teeth (all for grinding) – that’s 32 teeth. But most jaws today are much smaller and have the capacity for only 28 teeth.
There are many theories for why our jaws became smaller, including that the jaw accommodated its structure to enable speech. When it became smaller, the change resulted in less space at the back of the teeth known as the retromolar space. So, as you can see, something has to give! And most of the time, it’s the wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth begin to form at around age nine and completely maturing by 18-21 years. Usually, by our late teens, the jawbone has reached its adult size. This is where the problems begin as the jaw often isn’t big enough to hold the wall of our developed teeth. As a result, when wisdom teeth start to erupt, the space is too limited, and wisdom teeth can find themselves in several predicaments.
Simply put, when wisdom teeth try to erupt into the mouth when there is no room for them, they put pressure on existing already-erupted teeth. This can cause great discomfort or pain. Sometimes wisdom teeth are positioned sideways and push on the roots of your back molars. Sometimes they make other teeth shift – definitely what you don’t want to have happen, especially if you already had orthodontic treatment. Despite the reason these teeth don’t come in to place correctly, we call them “impacted.”
Complications Of Wisdom Teeth Emerge When They Become…
Trapped – Sometimes, wisdom teeth become trapped in the jawbone below the gumline. When it happens, aching and pain will occur. You cannot diagnose this yourself as the positioning of the wisdom teeth can only be seen with the aid of x-rays.
Sideways – This is when the wisdom tooth wants to erupt, but it’s positioned to grow sideways and push forward against the second molar. Again, great discomfort and pain. This can cause other teeth to give way and shift position, possibly disrupting the alignment of all your teeth, not just the ones at the back of your mouth.
Partially erupted – The tooth’s crown may only partially break through the gum, as it can be held back by the already-in-place second molars. Often, the molar may not put pressure on its neighbors.But it is very difficult to clean and impossible to floss, leaving it susceptible to serious decay and infection further down the road.
Misplaced – A wisdom tooth may remain in the bone with misshapen or misplaced roots that can grow dangerously close to a sinus cavity.
What may happen when wisdom teeth become impacted? While you likely won’t experience all these symptoms, you will definitely experience some…
tooth discomfort or pain
shifting teeth
sore gums
face pain
jaw pain
reduced ability to open mouth
infection
swelling
gum disease
bad breath
cavities
jawbone cysts
Predicting the future of your wisdom teeth? It’s difficult to predict when or if your wisdom teeth will give you problems, but regular x-rays can provide us with a good indication. Removal at a younger age before complications develop means easier extractions and a much faster recovery time.
How do we treat impacted wisdom teeth? No one can tell when an impacted molar will cause trouble, but trouble usually comes. The key to avoiding discomfort and complicated treatment is with x-rays so that the wisdom teeth can be removed before that happens. It’s one of the most common oral surgery treatments.
Even though they’re called “wisdom teeth,” they don’t seem to be very wise… At North Babcock Dental Care, we will develop a treatment plan to help you make smart choices.
Call (210) 361-0246 today! New patients are always welcome!
Cleanings & Prevention
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-Rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-Rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
Cleanings & Prevention
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-Rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
Deep Decay – When many people think of cavities, they think of them as only affecting the surface of a tooth or tooth root. But what can happen if the decay is not detected and removed and the resulting damage repaired, is that the decay will continue to spread, reaching the interior of the tooth. When it does, the infection begins to involve the nerve and surrounding tissues, causing inflammation, further infection, and pain.
Tooth Fractures – Many of us have fine vertical cracks on the surface of our teeth. They’re called craze lines. They are very superficial and are not serious – they don’t affect the health or function of teeth and require no treatment.But when the cracks are fractures – actual breaks in the hard enamel that protects the inner tooth pulp – that’s where root canal therapy comes in as the sensitive nerve is exposed to bacteria in the mouth, food, and varying extreme temperatures (when you drink hot coffee or eat cold ice cream, for example). The result is pain. When a tooth fracture originates in the tooth root, it may not be noticeable to you until infection in the bone or gums sets in.
Trauma/Injury – If a tooth sustains trauma (for example, impact during sports or severe decay), the tooth nerve may die. When this happens, the pulp inside the tooth needs to be removed and replaced with a filler to save it and prevent tooth loss.
Severe pain when chewing – you may find yourself chewing on only one side of your mouth, or worse yet, modifying your diet to soft foods only
Pain that becomes worse when you bite – you may find yourself avoiding food as much as possible
Sensitivity to cold and hot foods and drinks – again, you may modify your diet to the exclusion of nutrients and development of dehydration
Sore gums which may be a constant irritant and bring continual discomfort
Discolored gums
Small pimple-like bumps on your gums due to infection.
FINDING YOUR IDEAL RESTORATION
Once your dental implant has successfully fused to your jawbone, we'll place one of our restorative options to complete your smile. We'll discuss which of our restorations is right for you during the initial planning phase. Our dentist will thoroughly explain each option and its benefits.
CEREC® Crown: If you're missing a single tooth, a CEREC crown may be the perfect option for you. Using CEREC technology, we're able to provide you with a new crown in a single visit. This makes it easy to get the dental care you deserve if you have a hectic schedule. Each crown is made of a sturdy and lifelike ceramic and is color-matched to look natural within your smile. Our dentist can make any necessary adjustments for a snug fit and natural feel during your fitting.
Bridges: Bridges are an effective way to replace multiple teeth in a row. We match our implant-supported bridges to the color of your neighboring teeth for a seamless appearance. We'll take detailed impressions of your teeth and send them to a trusted lab for crafting. Typically, a bridge requires two implant posts to support it at each end.
Dentures: Implant-supported dentures pair the benefits of implants with the comfort of dentures. This restorative option replaces up to an entire arch of missing teeth.
OUR EXCELLENT PRETREATMENT OPTIONS
Our dentist may deem it necessary for you to undergo pretreatment before receiving your dental implants. We're proud to offer various pretreatment options in our office so that you don't have to be referred out. We can discuss including one or multiple pretreatment options in your dental implant treatment plan during our initial visit.
Bone Grafts: A weak or brittle jawbone can create an unstable foundation for your dental implant. That's why we offer skilled bone grafts to improve your jawbone density. As a result, your dental implant can fit securely in your mouth. Our dentist can strengthen areas that lack volume by transplanting a small amount of bone to your upper or lower jaws.
Extractions: If your tooth is severely decayed or damaged, extraction may be necessary for dental implant placement. Our team provides gentle extractions, including wisdom teeth removal. Once your tooth has been removed, you can move forward with the dental implant process.
At North Babcock Dental Care, when we consider endodontic therapy for you, we have two main goals: (1) to get you out of pain quickly and permanently, and (2) to save your tooth.
Why we want to relieve your pain immediately is easily understood! But why are we so focused on saving your tooth? It’s because when you’re missing a tooth, the neighboring teeth mustwork harder to help you chew and bite, and the extra stress may cause them to fracture. Remaining teeth will also drift into the gap left behind by the missing tooth, negatively affecting the way your teeth and jaws fit together, which can cause jaw and face pain, difficulty eating and speaking, and more!
We know that for some people, endodontics or root canal therapy has a bad reputation, but we can guarantee that’s a hangover from days long gone. At North Babcock Dental Care, we ensure your comfort. Before your treatment, we’ll always discuss sedation options with you and help you to choose the one that works best for you.
When endodontic treatment is complete, you’ll be out of pain and your beautiful smile will return. Homecare doesn’t change – brush twice a day and floss once a day like you already do.
If you have questions about endodontic care, be sure to call us, your dentist in San Antonio, at (210) 361-0246.Because at North Babcock Dental Care, we want to help you enjoy every day with a pain-free, healthy, beautiful smile! Call now!
EXCELLENT CASTROVILLE DENTAL
IMPLANT SERVICES
EXCELLENT CASTROVILLE DENTAL
IMPLANT SERVICES
Cleanings & Prevention
A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental X-rays
Home Care
How to Properly Brush & Floss
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Address:
5970 Babcock Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78240
Email:
info@northbabcockdentalcare.com
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Thursday 7am to 3pm
Closed Friday - Sunday
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