Impacted Teeth and Pericoronitis

When a tooth is unable to fully erupt, it could become a problem for a patient’s oral health. The Bridge Smiles Dental Group of Somerset County frequently treats patients for gum infections, but further steps may need to be taken when an impacted tooth is causing pericoronitis.

A tooth is said to be impacted when its crown does not push fully through the gum line. This can happen to any tooth, but most often befalls the lower wisdom teeth. The word “pericoronitis” describes inflammation surrounding a crown and is specifically used to describe the infections that tend to develop around difficult-to-clean partly erupted teeth. An impacted tooth will be especially prone to infection if it is partly covered by a flap of gum tissue, called an operculum, which food debris and pus can get trapped under.

A patient can take extra precautions to keep an impacted tooth clean, such as swishing warm salt water in their mouths after each brushing. But infections may require the use of oral antibiotics to treat, and if they recur, we may need to consider oral surgery. An operculum can be cut away or removed with a laser. Removing the impacted tooth may also be necessary for orthodontic reasons.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars and the last teeth that will ever come in. Not everybody has their wisdom teeth removed as they fit naturally in some cases, but most of the time molars need to be removed in the patient’s late teens or early 20’s.

Molars that are coming in at the wrong angle and pressing against your teeth call for immediate removal. Often times the molars will simply not being able to fit in your mouth because there is not enough room. Wisdom teeth can become painful as they get trapped in your jaw or gums due to them being so far in the back of your mouth.

The surgery for removing wisdom teeth is relatively quick, taking no more than 45 minutes. Most patients sleep during the process from IV sedation or laughing gas and don’t remember a thing. Recovery time varies from a couple days to sometimes a week depending on the patient.

For more information on wisdom teeth visit our website at www.bridgesmilesdental.com.  To schedule an appointment with Samuel Meghadri of Bridge Smiles Dental at 15 North Bridge, St Somerville, NJ,   give us a call at 908-725-0400.

Tooth Sectioning

We take seriously our promise to do gentle, painless dentistry at the Bridge Smiles Dental Group. There are times, particularly in the course of orthodontic work, when it is necessary for teeth to be extracted. In those circumstances, we want patients to understand more about what we’re doing so they’ll feel at ease about tooth sectioning.

The wisdom teeth are large and are anchored by strong ligaments. Often, the reason they need to be removed is that there is not enough room for them to erupt, which means there is also not enough room for them to be removed without incisions. But sometimes, a dentist will want to cut the tooth itself apart. This is done so that it will require less force to pull or elevate out, decreasing the risk of accidental injury to the patient. It also could mean the dentist wouldn’t have to make as large an incision in the gum line. Sectioning is only done after a patient has been numbed and sedated. It is accomplished using a dental drill and a stream of water, which minimizes heat. Following the extraction, the surgical site will be sutured and patients will usually check back in a week to have the sutures removed.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

Why are Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

 

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal. At Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. our doctors can discuss the position and health of your wisdom teeth and provide extraction services if necessary. 

Impacted wisdom teeth that can potentially cause problems, like infections, need to be removed. When a wisdom tooth only emerges partially, a flap of skin called an operculum may form over the tooth. This can make the tooth hard to clean, and pieces of food may be caught under the skin. This makes it easy for an infection, called pericoronitis, to develop. Wisdom teeth may not need to be removed if they are healthy, fully erupted, positioned correctly and biting properly with their opposite teeth and able to be cleaned as part of daily hygiene practices. 

If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal. At Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. our doctors can discuss the position and health of your wisdom teeth and provide extraction services if necessary.

Impacted wisdom teeth that can potentially cause problems, like infections, need to be removed. When a wisdom tooth only emerges partially, a flap of skin called an operculum may form over the tooth. This can make the tooth hard to clean, and pieces of food may be caught under the skin. This makes it easy for an infection, called pericoronitis, to develop. Wisdom teeth may not need to be removed if they are healthy, fully erupted, positioned correctly and biting properly with their opposite teeth and able to be cleaned as part of daily hygiene practices.

If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.