Alveolar osteitis, better known as dry socket, is an uncomfortable dental condition deriving from an oral surgery, called tooth extraction. After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot forms in the socket as a part of the body’s healing process. The clot develops as a protective layer for underlying bone and nerves, and it is the… Read more »
Category: Tooth Extractions
Quiz: What Are Third Molars?
Regular dental care is vital for patients of all ages. As a person reaches adulthood, they may have to deal with the eruption of their third molars. Addressing this issue early helps prevent a number of serious complications.
FAQs: Why Do We Need Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
For many people, reaching adulthood often means the extraction of wisdom teeth. While that may make someone nervous, wisdom tooth extraction is actually crucial for maintaining the health and appearance of your smile. What is wisdom teeth extraction? Why do so many people require this procedure?
Is a Root Canal Always Preferable to Extracting a Tooth?
Root canal therapy has been around in one form or another since the mid-18th century when dental surgeon Philip Pfaff placed lead and gold pulp caps to protect infected nerve tissue in decaying teeth. Of course, long before and long since the advent of endodontics (dental treatments concerned with the innermost layer of the tooth),… Read more »
How Much Does It Cost to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Extracted?
When facing the prospect of any dental procedure, from a simple cleaning to oral surgery, cost is always an important thing to consider. Knowing how much of an impact a procedure will make on your finances can relieve undue financial stress, but the exact out-of-pocket cost of your specific treatment plan can vary according to… Read more »
How to Recover Faster After a Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Making the choice to have your wisdom teeth (or your child’s wisdom teeth) removed is a proactive step toward preventing serious oral health problems, like severe gum infection, tooth decay, and gum disease. Before reaping the long term benefits of wisdom teeth extraction, you need to follow your dentist’s post-operative instructions to the letter to… Read more »
How Do Impacted Third Molars Cause Infection?
As we discussed in our last post, the threat of impacted third molars leading to overcrowding of the front teeth is low and therefore not a good reason – on its own – to justify an extraction. However, the possibility of infection of the area around the wisdom tooth, a condition known as pericoronitis, is… Read more »
Top Three Causes of Missing Teeth (and How You Can Fight Back)
True, missing teeth look bad and can make others perceive you as older or less attractive. Don’t forget, however, that missing permanent teeth also spell disaster for your remaining teeth. Ongoing or severe oral health issues like gum disease and tooth decay and accidental trauma are the leading causes of tooth loss in the United… Read more »
How Well Do You Know Your Wisdom Teeth?
When you think about it, wisdom teeth seem like an exercise in poor design. The average human jaw can comfortably accommodate 28 permanent teeth. Yet, sometime around the college years, four additional teeth try to squeeze in there. So, why develop wisdom teeth at all? Today, Cerritos, CA dentist and oral surgery expert, Dr. Shawn… Read more »
