When you are young, losing a tooth can be a magical experience. It is a rite of passage, signifying you are growing up, and in some cases a visit from the “Tooth Fairy” can lead to a reward under your pillow in place of the lost tooth. When you are older, however, losing a tooth is most certainly not a magical experience. After all, we expect our “permanent teeth” to stay … well, permanent.

Ancient Greeks and Disney channel stars may not have a lot in common but from Aristotle to Zendaya, they have all had to deal with “wisdom teeth”, our late arriving third molars which often need removal by surgery.

The DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event is taking place on Saturday, April 24, 2021.

When it comes to oral function and aesthetics most of the attention is focused on healthy, strong teeth. Behind the average smile, however, is the often-overlooked jawbone which plays a vitally critical role. Much like a well-poured concrete slab creates the right foundation to build a house, a healthy jawbone is the structure that supports oral health. And like an old foundation, the bones in the mouth can develop problems over time. When this happens, your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend dental bone regeneration and grafting.

Most humans have 32 teeth and every single one of them is precious, but there may come a time where a tooth needs to be extracted because of trauma, caries (tooth decay) or advanced periodontal disease. Since replacing an extracted tooth as soon as possible is recommended, most patients focus on their replacement options which range from partial denture to dental bridge to dental implant. While that is an important decision, there is a more immediate concern at extraction, and that is socket preservation (also called alveolar ridge preservation).

Wisdom teeth removal surgery is an outpatient procedure that removes the last molars, also called wisdom teeth. Outpatient surgery means you will arrive and leave the facility on the same day, with no overnight stay. While the procedure itself is routine to the professionals who perform it daily, it can be a scary prospect for those who are undergoing the surgery, which is understandable. Thankfully, there is little to worry about and patients recover quickly afterward in most cases. The following is more specifics on what you can expect during wisdom teeth recovery: 

As the United States population continues to age and dental implants increasingly become a popular alternative to dentures and bridges, more Americans will be faced with the prospects of a dental bone graft.

When you’re facing oral surgery for wisdom teeth removal, you want to choose the best time. Wisdom teeth removal will necessitate some recovery time, so you should consider times when you won’t have other obligations like work or school. Following are several reasons why spring break and summer break are the best times for wisdom teeth removal.

Have you ever considered that teeth serve as milestones in life? Much is made of the appearance of a child's first tooth, and then approximately five years later when that tooth loosens and comes out in preparation for the emergence of its permanent successor. Many families choose to celebrate that loss with the custom of the tooth fairy, which can be expensive if she returns each time another tooth comes out. Not as much attention is paid when the last four teeth of the thirty-two permanent teeth make their way through the gums — unless they cause problems, which unfortunately is the case for many people. And if you are one of these individuals, you may find yourself facing the decision of whether to have your wisdom teeth removed or to just let them stay and see what happens.