Why should I remove my Wisdom Teeth?
When should I have my wisdom teeth removed?
What will I feel like after I have my Wisdom teeth Removed?
Will my Insurance Cover the cost of removal of my wisdom teeth?
Wisdom Teeth, otherwise known as third molars, are the very last teeth in your mouth to develop. The third molars are located behind the second molar teeth, and complete development around the age of skeletal maturity, about 16 years for females, and around 18 for males.
Unfortunately, most people do not have room in their mouth for all 32 teeth. The wisdom teeth, the last to develop, often do not have enough room to erupt into the mouth. They remain either below the gum tissue or the bone and become "impacted."
There are at least three types of impactions.
Those located simply below the gum tissue are "Soft Tissue" impactions. The two other types are "Partial Bone" and "Full Bone" impactions respectively. Partial bone and Full Bone impactions are covered by a portion of the jawbone.
A number of problems can arise if impacted wisdom teeth are allowed to remain in your jaw for prolonged period.
Among these are:
- infection
- cyst formation
- tumor formation
- erosion of the adjacent second molars
- gum disease and bone loss around the second molar
- crowding of the teeth
Waiting until there is pain or swelling, is not often the best strategy. Many of the problems listed above can develop and progress silently until the problems become so severe that they cause severe damage to the underlying bone and the existing teeth. Infections can develop extremely rapidly, over the span of 4 hours, and the patient can be incapacitated by excruciating pain.
Numerous studies have confirmed that wisdom teeth are best removed at any early stage in their development, before problems arise.
When the wisdom teeth are not yet fully developed they are smaller, their roots are shorter and they are much easier to remove in a younger patient.
Following surgery, younger patients experience far less pain and swelling and have a much faster recovery than patients over the age of 35.
Patients who wait until there is infection, pain or swelling, have more difficult surgery, experience more pain and swelling and have a much higher rate of post-operative complications.
The overwhelming majority of wisdom teeth are removed in an office surgical procedure. We try to see all of our patients prior to surgery for a consultation. During this consultation, Dr. Order will explain all of the options available to you and review the benefits and risks of surgery. Since each case is different Dr. Orden will explain the procedure best suited to you.
Dr. Orden uses specially designed equipment and techniques that he has developed and used for the past 15 years. Usually, surgery will take about 1/2 hour and you will spend about an hour to two hours in our office on the day of surgery.
We try to make your surgery smooth and comfortable for you. Everything we do is designed to minimize swelling, postoperative discomfort and pain. Our patients are usually amazed at how little pain, swelling and discomfort they have following this surgery.
We use custom made surgical instruments that cause far less trauma to the tissue than other techniques. We use only "dissolving sutures" and you will receive medication designed to reduce the amount of usual swelling by 90 percent.
Several types of anesthesia are available
Most of our patients choose to have a I.V. Sedation ("twilight sleep") for this procedure. If you and Dr. Orden determine that you should have this type of anesthesia then you will have little or no recollection of any of the surgery. In most cases you will be able to walk out of the office thirty minutes following surgery. Dr. Orden will review all of your anesthesia options at the time of your consultation.
Patients who have sedation or general anesthesia will spend some time in our recovery room after surgery and can go home after a short period of time.
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When you leave our office you will experience no pain. Your mouth will feel "numb" for about 45 minutes following surgery. There is great variability among patients reaction to surgical procedures. In most cases, you will experience some minor bleeding during the day of surgery. Once you leave our office you can begin a soft diet, drink a milkshake, and begin your pain medication. You will need pain medication for the next three days. The third day is the most uncomfortable. By the seventh day you should have no swelling or pain.
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We try to maintain fees that are consistent with Dr. Orden's level of expertise and experience.
In general our fees are consistent with those submitted by experienced Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in the Boston metropolitan area.
At the time of your consultation you will be given an estimate of the fees based on the individual requirements of your surgical procedure.
We realize that cost is a concern. However cost should not be your primary concern. Your concern should be with the expertise of your surgeon, and your surgeon should be concerned only with the quality of your care. Our concern is delivering only the best care appropriate for you.
Some procedures or consultations will be covered by either, or both, your medical or dental insurance carrier.
Primary Care Referral: Some managed care plans require authorization or a referral from your primary care physician. It is extremely important to obtain a primary care referral or authorization number PRIOR to your consultation !
Dr. Orden is a provider for HMO Blue, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Delta Dental and other insurance carriers.
In many cases health insurance
plans and dental plans provide for some coverage for impacted third
molars. We encourage you to speak with your benefits administrator
prior
to coming in for your consultation. If you have a question
please call our billing administrator on Tuesday's or Thursdays or you can email
her at
.
With over 700 insurance plans in our computer database we cannot be expected to know what benefits your insurance plan provides. Therefore, you must take responsibility to read and understand your insurance contract.