Is Your Teen Suffering From Wisdom Teeth Pain? Why Removal Is a Great Option For Teens

July 12th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

The arrival of wisdom teeth are a part of a teen’s life, that point when the final set of molars decides to erupt. This sign of maturity generally happens any time between the teen years and the early twenties. It begins with inflammation and discomfort in the affected area before the teeth finally break through the surface of the gums. However, in many cases, teens will find themselves dealing with more serious problems. If your teen is suffering from wisdom tooth pain and it isn’t getting any better, it’s time to do something about it. Read on for a few tips below and to book an appointment with our oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Patel, contact the Lorton Oral Surgery offices at (703) 436-4633.

While it is completely normal to experience tenderness and pain as wisdom teeth erupt, your teen may be dealing with further complications. For example, many individuals suffer from impacted wisdom teeth. Impaction refers to a tooth entering at an improper angle; infections are common, as well as the formation of cysts. If left untreated, there can be damage to the gums, surrounding teeth, and nerves. Another common problem is when wisdom teeth fail to erupt. This also can lead to infections and extreme discomfort. Your dentist will be able to identify the source of discomfort for your teen and advise treatment.

In many cases, your dentist will immediately refer your teen to an oral surgeon like Dr. Patel for wisdom tooth removal. Often, this is advised as the best step as a preventative measure to avoid any complications. If your teen is already experiencing pain, removal can cure the problem and head off many others. The sooner your teen has wisdom teeth removed, the better. This will keep the root developing further and make the whole surgery an easier process.

An oral surgeon will be recommended to perform wisdom tooth removal for your teen. The procedure may take place in the office or in the hospital, depending on your wishes and how complex the surgery will be. In some cases, a local anesthetic may be enough for the procedure. However, you can request a sedative and anesthesia that is administered intravenously. General anesthesia and surgery in the hospital is recommended in more complicated cases or when there are other health problems that need to be taken into consideration.

While your teen will experience pain, swelling, and possible bruising for a few days after extraction, it will be well worth the lifetime of future relief. Pain medication, ice packs, and warm compresses are helpful as well. Your teen should rinse with warm, salt water several times a day. Eating soft foods is also recommended until the mouth is no longer tender.

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Nutrition & Oral Surgery: Knowing Which Foods To Eat and Avoid While You Are Recovering

May 18th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

If you’re in need of a visit to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, you’ve most likely got some form of surgical procedure coming up in the near future. As with any surgery, there will be a recovery period and during this time you’ll most likely be asked to stay away from certain foods to avoid potential complications that can slow down the healing process. Let’s take a look at a few foods that you can eat and a few that you’ll need to avoid when recovering from oral surgery.

As you can likely imagine, having surgery that involves your teeth will limit your ability to chew. Soft and liquid foods are typically approved, and of these few are as nutritious as soup. If you want to try putting your chef’s hat on,consider downloading a few recipes for scratch-made soups and giving those a shot. For most soups all you’ll need are the ingredients and a blender; at most you’ll find an hour or so of prep work getting everything together before blending the ingredients and cooking up a delicious new soup.

While you’ve probably had mashed potatoes at least a few times in your life – okay, who are we kidding… a few hundred! – you may not have considered mashing up other vegetables such as carrots, peas or other fruits or vegetables. The internet is loaded with recipes for mashed turnips, mashed cauliflower and other mashed foods that can be grilled first for a bit of extra flavor. If you’re up for it you can even mash up pasta and eat it with a bit of sauce. Try ‘fideo’ noodles as opposed to spaghetti noodles as they’re much thinner.

Of course, you’ll need to avoid quite a few foods and some are likely very obvious to you. Popcorn and other foods that have kernels and shells are out, as pieces tend to get stuck between your teeth and in your gums. Nuts, seeds, granola and other crunchy items that break down into small, brittle pieces are also a no-go as you can’t have these getting stuck inside of your teeth. Finally you’ll want to avoid foods that are too chewy or sticky as they tend to clog up the inside of your mouth and you need to keep your teeth as clean and debris-free as possible during your recovery.

Whether you’ve had a relatively simple procedure like a wisdom teeth removal or a complex one such as having dental implants installed, the recovery process can seem like it takes forever. Once you’re through the first few days, time will start to fly by and before you know it you’ll be back to enjoying the same foods as you normally would. Be sure to stick to the instructions that we provide you and if you have any questions, contact the Lorton Oral Surgery offices at your convenience to speak with one of our professional staff or visit:  www.LortonOralSurgery.com

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The 5 minute guide to Pericoronitis, and how we can help with this excrutiating condition

May 16th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

Do you have pain emanating from around one of your wisdom teeth? Are you experiencing inflammation or bleeding from the area? You may be experiencing pericoronitis, a common condition that affects millions of Americans each year. Below we’ll share some insight into pericoronitis including what it is, why it may affect you (especially if you have your wisdom teeth) and what to do if it does.

Pericoronitis is an inflammation of the tissues and gums around a tooth that has partially erupted through this area. With most individuals who have erupted wisdom teeth it is easy to see the gingival or ‘gums’ tissue wrapping around the tooth; in many people, this tissue does not adhere closely to the tooth but instead there is a small space or pocket where food particles and debris can collect. Once food or other material gets inside of this area, bacteria can start to accumulate and this leads to inflammation, swelling and pain ranging from minor to severe.

Below are a few of the common signs and symptoms of pericoronitis; if you experience this condition you may have some or all of these:

Pain – the pain associated with pericoronitis often begins as very minor but if left untreated can become incredibly severe, and may radiate away from the tooth area.

Redness and swelling – as pericoronitis is associated with a bacterial infection, it is generally accompanied by redness and local swelling, which can be very irritating as swollen gum tissue can make chewing difficult.

Bad breath and a bad taste – if the bacterial infection is serious, you may discover a foul taste or odor emanating from the infected area. This is due to the infection itself and is generally caused by bacteria releasing sulfur-based compounds.

Formation of pus – pus generally accompanies bacterial infections, although generally with ‘acute’ or short-lived pericoronitis that is treated promptly pus is kept to a minimum.

Most of the time, treatment of pericoronitis is very simple and involves removing whatever is causing the inflammation and infection in the area. For some individuals this means being more diligent about oral hygiene and cleaning the hard-to-reach areas at the back of the mouth; for others, they may need a quick surgical procedure to resect or remove some of the infected tissue. If the pericoronitis is chronically recurring or won’t seem to go away, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon may recommend a wisdom tooth extraction in order to deal with the problem once and for all.

If you’re dealing with swelling, redness, bleeding and/or pain around your wisdom teeth, you may have pericoronitis. The team here at Lorton Oral Surgery can offer you guidance and quickly explain how to get this resolved. Please contact our offices at your convenience and we will be happy to either book you in for an urgent appointment or recommend the next best course of action. Thanks for visiting!

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Having Wisdom teeth removed? 5 tips to be ready for the big day.

May 6th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

Whether your wisdom teeth are already starting to cause you discomfort or you’re being diligent in preparing for your extraction, proper planning ahead of time can prevent stress and discomfort after your procedure has taken place. Below are five excellent tips to help you prepare for having your wisdom teeth removed.

Whether it’s a quick procedure or a major surgery, the same holds true: it’s best to eliminate any source of stress that can add to your discomfort while you’re in the recovery phase. Arrange for time away from the workplace, for additional child care or just to have a good friend around while you’re recovering. You will feel much better if you’re dealing with as little stress as possible.

While some wisdom teeth removals can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications such asacetaminophen or ibuprofen, there is a chance that you will require a stronger medication to manage the pain that will arrive once the anesthetics wear off. Your oral surgeon will provide you with a prescription for a drug therapy suitable for the pain you will be in; be sure to have a plan to get this prescription filled before you arrive home from the procedure.

Prior to your wisdom tooth extraction you may be required to follow a specific diet to ensure that your procedure goes according to plan. You may be advised to avoid certain foods, beverages or solid foods altogether in the hours prior to having your wisdom teeth removed. If you have any doubts about whether or not you should be eating a certain food, be sure to check in with your oral surgery team.

It should go without saying that your oral surgeon and the rest of the team are here to answer your questions and ensure you’re adequately prepared for what’s next. Although having your wisdom teeth removed is a relatively minor procedure and not a major surgery, it’s still natural to have questions. Feel free to ask anything you’d like to know more about; knowing more about what’s happening may help to place you at ease.

After the procedure, plan to relax for the rest of the day. You can resume normal activity the day after your extraction, but do your best to avoid any sports or other strenuous activities that may cause unnecessary bleeding. You’re going to want to avoid smoking and alcohol, and be sure to follow the directions provided about which foods are okay to eat and which are not. With a bit of rest, some ice and your prescription medications, you’ll be feeling good as new in no time.

Don’t forget: this is a procedure that many thousands of individuals just like you have each and every day. Dr. Patel and the team at Lorton Oral Surgery are here to answer any other questions about your wisdom teeth that you might have. Contact us anytime and we’ll be happy to help!

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