Headaches and Wisdom Teeth

Do you suffer from frequent headaches? Have you ever had your wisdom teeth removed? If not, your wisdom teeth may be the reason your headaches won’t let up. Wisdom teeth are the third molars that erupt between 17 and 22. When they don’t erupt and stay impacted (under the gum) this can affect the nerve that causes headaches. When this happens, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania may suggest wisdom teeth extraction.

Wisdom teeth cause problems regardless of what stage they’re in. Aside from frequent headaches, common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include throbbing pain in the back of the mouth, swollen or tender gums, and/or swelling around the jaw. Impacted wisdom teeth can damage the teeth around them. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you will benefit from a tooth extraction. Extracting wisdom teeth means extracting the problems that come with them and our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania want you to have a healthy and pain-free smile.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral surgery, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141. 

Tooth Extractions

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we know finding out you need a tooth extracted is stressful. We want patients to feel comfortable and confident that an extraction is a standard procedure and they can expect the best care. Tooth extractions are performed for various reasons.  Some patients with advanced periodontal disease or serious decay to a tooth may need extractions. Teeth that are broken or impacted may also need to be removed.

During an extraction, the patient is numbed with anesthetic and should not feel pain.  The patient will only feel pressure around the tooth.  This pressure is from the tooth being rocked back and forth in its socket, in order to widen the socket and make removal easier. Some extractions may require sectioning the tooth. If a tooth has a curved root or a particularly tight socket, your doctor will cut the tooth into sections and remove each section rather than the entire tooth at once.

To learn more about extractions and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

How Smoking Affects Post Op Extractions

Following a tooth extraction, the mouth should be carefully protected to minimize any risk of complications or compromise in healing.  This is an especially important consideration for smokers. Smoking cigarettes within the first forty-eight hours of a tooth extraction could increase the risk of treatment site complications, including the development of a dry socket, or alveolar osteitis. The risk is greatly increased within the first few hours of the post op, so it’s best to avoid cigarettes for as long as possible.

 

While tobacco can be harmful to long term oral health, the immediate issue of smoking after an extraction is the inhaling and pressure in the mouth that occurs in the physical act of smoking.  This can worsen pain and complicate healing. If you cannot go for an extended time without a cigarette, it may be best to prepare for your extraction procedure and post op by using a nicotine patch several days prior to your appointment.

 

For complete information on how you can prepare for your extraction and ensure a speedy, healthy recovery, visit our website, www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

Oral Cancer

We understandably don’t like to think or talk about cancer, but confronting this serious issue is imperative to good health practices.  In the dental health community, we are especially concerned with our patients’ understanding oforal cancer and all necessary screening and preventative measures. Like other forms of cancer, oral cancer can be extremely costly and difficult to fight once it has progressed; but also like other cancers, when it’s diagnosed early, patients greatly improve their prospects for a full recovery.  

 

Since there are a number of behaviors and lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of oral cancer, patients should be aware of the following factors and get a screening if any apply to them:

• Patients over fifty who use any tobacco products, drink frequently or heavily, and/or have a history of oral cancer in their family.
• Patients who have been infected with HPV.
• Patients who regularly experience sores or pain in the oral cavity, especially if due to damaged teeth or past dental work.
• All patients over eighty.

Wisdom Teeth

Should you get your wisdom teeth removed, even if you’re not experiencing any pain or problems? In most cases, the answer is yes.  That’s because properly aligned wisdom teeth are a rarity.  More often than not, wisdom teeth create issues as they start to erupt--growing in crooked or only partially emerging—or they become impacted and compromise the gum, bone and surrounding teeth.  Cyst and tumors could even form around an impact wisdom tooth and require involved and costly surgery.

 

To prevent these and subsequent problems, wisdom tooth removal should be completed proactively. The procedure is often simple and straight forward.  Sedation and anesthesia eliminates any pain and discomfort.  After the wisdom tooth removal, you will need a day of rest and basic aftercare, which may include medication and compliance with a soft diet as not to compromise the healing process.  A follow up appointment may be needed to remove stitches and assess the health of the gum.

 

If you are in need of wisdom tooth removal, or if you’re not sure if you should undergo this procedure, please view out website for complete information:http://www.oralsurgerypa.com/oral-surgery/wisdom-teeth.html. We look forward to answering any questions you may have.