Everything You Need to Know About Your Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars that typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. While few people may have enough space in their jaw to accommodate these new teeth, most people don’t and need to have their wisdom teeth extracted.
If you’re one of the many people dealing with impacted wisdom teeth, discover how our oral surgeon in Lehigh Valley, PA, Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry, can help your smile. Our caring team has helped countless patients in Allentown, Fullerton, and Middletown reclaim their teeth through this pain-free procedure.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are a set of extra molars located at the back of the jaw and are the last teeth to develop in the mouth. Wisdom teeth often cause issues such as crowding and impaction since most people don’t have enough space in their jaw for them to emerge properly.
Impacted wisdom teeth can result in a host of complications, which is why oral surgeons typically recommend having them removed in your late teens or early twenties.
Why Are Wisdom Teeth a Problem?
Wisdom teeth are often problematic because they don’t have enough room to emerge properly. This is because the human jaw has become smaller over time, making it difficult for these extra molars to find space to grow.
When wisdom teeth are impacted or fail to fully emerge in the gum line, they can lead to a range of oral health issues if left untreated, including:
- Changes in your bite’s alignment
- Higher risk of oral infections
- Pain and discomfort
- Crowding of surrounding teeth
- Cysts or tumors that can damage surrounding teeth, bones, or nerves
Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include:
- Bad breath
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- Pain or tenderness in your gums and jawbone
- Headaches and jaw aches
- Swelling and bleeding of the gums
- Swelling of the lymph nodes in your neck
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, call our Bethlehem office at 484-821-1357 or our Stroudsburg office at 484-821-1357 as soon as possible to receive care from our oral surgeon, Dr. Chaudhry.
Options for Wisdom Teeth Treatment
While not every patient will need their wisdom teeth extracted, it’s usually the best course of action to alleviate any pain or potential issues caused by these impacted molars. Our Lehigh Valley oral surgeon will evaluate your teeth, gums, and jaw using CBCT scanning technology to determine if wisdom tooth extraction best suits your oral health needs. If Dr. Chaudhry determines you need an extraction, he’ll also go over your preference for sedation dentistry during your procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my wisdom teeth will grow correctly?
You can have an X-ray taken at your oral surgeon’s office to see how your wisdom teeth are positioned and whether or not they will be able to grow correctly. Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that usually emerge in your late teens or early twenties. If you have enough space in your jaw, these teeth can grow properly, but this isn’t the case for some people.
Does everyone need their wisdom teeth removed?
No, not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. If you have enough space in your jaw, your wisdom teeth may grow and not cause any issues. However, if you don’t have enough space, your wisdom teeth can become impacted, which can lead to a range of oral health problems that can be prevented if you get them removed by an oral surgeon.
What are the risks of keeping impacted wisdom teeth?
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to a range of oral health problems, including changes in bite alignment, oral infections, and the development of cysts or tumors. These problems can be serious and may require further treatment, so it’s important to have your wisdom teeth evaluated by your oral surgeon if you think they might be impacted.
Can wisdom teeth grow back after removal?
No, once wisdom teeth are removed, they cannot grow back. However, other teeth can shift into the gap left by the removed wisdom teeth, which can affect your bite and lead to further oral health problems. For this reason, it’s important to have a follow-up visit with your oral surgeon after wisdom teeth removal to ensure that your teeth are healing properly and that your bite is not affected.
Visit Our Skilled Oral Surgeon for Your Wisdom Teeth
If you haven’t had your wisdom teeth removed, it’s crucial to get them examined by Dr. Chaudhry to find out if they’re impacted. If he determines that your wisdom teeth may lead to oral health issues, he can gently remove them and eliminate the problem before it begins.
Schedule your consultation by calling our Bethlehem office at 484-821-1357 or our Stroudsburg office at 484-821-1357. You can also book your appointment online by filling out our convenient contact form.
EXCELLENT
289 reviews on
Gabriel Perez
November 12, 2021.
if i could give 10 stars i would . this place eased the pain i carried over 2-3 years at first i was skeptical because my past experiences, however they treated me good with respect.they really took care of me never have i seen a place so courteous. i think everyone in pain should go to this place it was the best for me . i had 7 extractions and they tookme in and i was seen in less than 2 weeks and the teeth were removed in about 20 minutes. they worked at god speed lol. great place. Thank you so much for taking care of me .
Nicole Perez
November 12, 2021.
This place is amazing. The staff are wonderful and very polite. My husband was in pain for years. We went to 2 different oral surgeons and for months they wasted our time. When I called Lehigh valley oral surgery, they listened and made appointments very fast. They even do (out of Network) referrals for insurance. Please if you are in pain and need to be seen this is the place for you. Thank you guys so much for everything you did for my husband.
Lauren O'Brian
November 11, 2021.
Very grateful that I was able to have my dental implant done with Dr. Chaudhry. He and his staff were professional and kind. They were sensitive to my concerns, and answered all of my questions thoroughly. Nicole, the implant coordinator, was especially supportive throughout the process. Thank you for making this experience as pleasant as possible.
Mateopuzzler
October 13, 2021.
Had an issue with my insurance didn't realize they type that I had so the information didn't go through, still saw me they day of my extraction and helped me square away my insurance. They are super friendly nice, and seem to be on top of their game. This place is highly recommended for a reason, this is the place to go.
Dori
October 12, 2021.
My son had 4 wisdom teeth removed. Initially the appointment was for March of 2020. Then the pandemic hit. They refunded my partial payment quickly. Fast forward to September of 2021. Rescheduling was no problem. From the front desk to the doctor and assistants, the staff was friendly and professional. They took new x-rays and found that the procedure was going to be less money! Everything went well. His recovery has been good. He still has some tenderness 3 weeks out. The only complaint I would mention is that we never received a call to check on his recovery. That would have been very nice.
Tami Giglio
September 30, 2021.
This place is great if you need oral surgery. Everyone is so nice and professional. And the facility is very clean. I highly recommend!!
Kristen VanFleet
September 24, 2021.
Had to have an emergency extraction. I was in so much pain and they were able to see me the very next day. The office staff starting with the receptionist was very pleasant courteous and professional. The hygienist was very kind and made sure I was comfortable. Dr Kim was excellent. I was given IV sedation and I’m not sure how I will be able to go back to having dental work without it because it made everything much better. They even sent me home with an ice pack which may seem like a small detail but it was a big help once anesthesia wore off. Choose this practice. You won’t regret it.
April S
September 11, 2021.
I went here a few days ago to get a molar pulled that was chipped and infected. I was completely terrified, so Dr. Farag brought someone in to hold my hand during the numbing shots, and her assistant offered to hold my other hand. She applied plenty of numbing gel, and only two out of all of the injections were painful because she had to inject the gum near the tooth of course, whereas the other shots were just more uncomfortable than anything. The nurses and assistants that held my hand were very sweet, encouraging, and made me chuckle a few times. Dr. Farag talked me through the whole procedure and gave me a break when I needed one. I'll be honest and say it wasn't completely painless, but I don't blame Dr. Farag whatsoever. She tried her best to numb me up, but the tooth was infected and probably couldn't be numbed entirely. Regardless, any pain I felt was probably on a scale of about 3-4, and only happened at certain times during the procedure; it wasn't constant. The pain from the infection felt way worse than anything I felt that day in that chair.
It was over pretty quickly. Her assistant stayed with me afterwards and talked with me until I was calm, since I found myself in a fit of tears after the tooth was pulled. I wasn't in pain afterwards, just really relieved, I think. Dr. Farag seemed to feel genuinely bad at how upset I was, and suggested that I be sedated next time or given anti-anxiety medication if and when I come back to get anything done. She's right, as I would say my own fear was probably the worst part of the experience.
I'm 3 days post-extraction and I feel fine. The bleeding stopped within a few hours when I got home, and the wound seems to be healing well. There is some soreness, a very minimal amount of swelling, and occasional twinges of pain in the area, but that's it.
I would recommended coming here if you need work done. Everyone here is very kind, caring and compassionate. They also honored the fact that I had panoramic x-rays prior, whereas some places will charge you for an x-ray even if you've already had one done.
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