Wisdom Teeth Specialist
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Rothman and Kim Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon located in Philadelphia, PA & Cinnaminson, NJ
If you’re like most people, you might not have room in your mouth for your third set of molars, which can cause several oral health problems. If you need to extract your wisdom teeth, schedule an appointment with Marc Rothman, DMD, and M. David Kim, DMD, at Rothman and Kim Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. At the offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cinnaminson, New Jersey, the team can safely and effectively remove your wisdom teeth and restore your oral health. Schedule a visit online or call either office to book an appointment.
Wisdom Teeth Q&A
What are wisdom teeth?
Your wisdom teeth are your third set of molars, which typically emerge by the time you’re 18. They were useful for our early human ancestors, who needed the extra chewing surface to grind uncooked foods for proper digestion.
Due to the evolution of cooking and technology, however, our wisdom teeth have become largely unnecessary.
Why might I need to remove my wisdom teeth?
The human jaw has become smaller over time, leaving less space for these unnecessary third molars. While some people still have enough room for their wisdom teeth, most people do not, which can cause their wisdom teeth to emerge sideways or become partially or fully trapped beneath the gum and bone.
When wisdom teeth erupt into a mouth that can’t accommodate their presence, it can create an uncomfortable amount of pressure and even throw off the alignment of your bite.
Partially erupted wisdom teeth can collect bacteria around the opening in the gums, which can lead to infection and discomfort. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth can form tumors and cysts around them, degrading the surrounding teeth and jawbone.
Even if you do have enough room for your wisdom teeth, your oral surgeon might advise removing them, since they’re more difficult to keep clean and frequently develop decay and periodontal pocketing.
How do you determine if I need to remove my wisdom teeth?
Your oral surgeon performs an oral exam and takes X-rays to thoroughly assess the likelihood that your wisdom teeth will be problematic to your oral health.
It’s best to have this initial assessment in the mid-teenage years, since removing your wisdom teeth as early as possible makes the procedure easier and produces better results.
What is the process of removing wisdom teeth?
Your oral surgeon usually performs a wisdom tooth extraction under local anesthesia, light conscious sedation, or moderate/deep sedation.
The team at Rothman and Kim Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery can perform the procedure in their sterile, in-office operating suite, or they can use a hospital or surgery center if you prefer to use general anesthesia.
If your wisdom teeth are impacted, your oral surgeon makes an incision in your gums to expose the wisdom tooth before removing it. After your teeth have been extracted, they close the site with sutures and let you rest in the office until you’re ready to go home.
When you leave, they provide you with postoperative instructions, antibiotics, and a prescription for pain medication. You come back to the office a week later for a follow-up appointment to remove your sutures, at which point you’ll be well on your way to full recovery.
Schedule an appointment by calling the office or booking online, and learn more about wisdom teeth today.
