Wisdom Teeth Overview

By the age of eighteen, the average adult has 32 teeth; 16 teeth on the top and 16 teeth on the bottom. Each tooth in the mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine and bicuspid teeth) are ideal for grasping and biting food into smaller pieces. The back teeth or molar teeth are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable for swallowing. Questions about wisdom teeth in Rockford IL? Call our office for a consultation.

The average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your Third Molars, also known as “wisdom teeth.”

Call our Rockford office at Rockford OMS Phone Number 815-226-4700 for more about Wisdom Teeth or to schedule a consultation with Rockford Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.

Why Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom Teeth Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to erupt successfully.

These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the tooth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom tooth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure.

Oral Examination

With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, Drs. Rentschler and Bruksch can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there may be present or future problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in the mid- teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

All outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. Drs. Rentschler and Bruksch have the training, license and experience to provide various types of anesthesia for patients to select the best alternative.

Removal

In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under local anesthesia, laughing gas (nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia) or general anesthesia. These options as well as the surgical risks (i.e. sensory nerve damager, sinus complications) will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed. Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured. To help control bleeding, bite down on the gauze placed in your mouth. You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge, your post-operative kit will include postoperative instructions, a prescription for pain medication, antibiotics and a follow-up appointment in one week for suture removal. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 815-226-4700.

Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes modern monitoring equipment and staff that are experienced in anesthesia techniques.

See what our patients are saying

"Josh's experience with having his teeth out at ROMS was awesome. Your entire staff was friendly, smiling and professional. Our nurse was so kind and caring and checked on Josh frequently and helped me walk him to the vehicle afterwards. I felt as if Josh was in great hands and care the entire time we were there. The fact that you called the night of the extraction was very nice. Thank you for calling afterwards. Josh has had zero complications, the healing went just as you indicated it would, by Monday that he would be turning the corner. Also, including the medications in his bag of supplies was very helpful and appreciated. Thank you for taking care of my son in a most professional caring manner."Jackie W.

"My name is Jayme. I recently had two surgical procedures done by Dr. Matthew Bruksch. I am so grateful to have him as oral surgeon. His staff and team treat you like family when you walk into their office and will do whatever it takes to help you; Whether it be, with your insurance company or your procedure. I highly recommend Dr. Matthew Bruksch and staff to anyone! Thank you so much for what you have done for me."Jayme S.

"Thank you very much. Overall it was a pleasant experience. I was very nervous coming in to have the procedure done. The nurse and the doctor were very reassuring and did a good job of calming me down. The procedure itself went great. The Dr did an amazing job and I had no pain during it. Overall I rate my experience a 10. Thank you guys very much and I would definitely refer other people to OMS. Ladies at the front desk were also very good and helpful. Everyone was very knowledgeable about everything. Again thank you."Nathan D.