Why Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed? Ask Dr. Benjamin Kur
Given the opportunity, most people would probably choose not to have their wisdom teeth removed.
Sometimes that’s possible. If your wisdom teeth aren’t causing you any problems, they may be able to stay right where they are.
However, there are several different situations in which wisdom tooth extraction is the best option. When that’s the case, it’s time to act.
Making Room
Sometimes there simply isn’t enough room in your mouth for your third molars, which are commonly called wisdom teeth. When there’s not enough room for the new teeth to emerge the way they want to, they’ll crowd your other teeth. The constant pushing from these new molars can move the teeth in front of them out of alignment, undoing years of orthodontic work or misaligning your bite.
Sometimes, too, the wisdom teeth get in the way of orthodontic devices, and removing the teeth is the only way to ensure that your other teeth can be properly aligned.
Stopping Pain
All that tooth movement, as subtle and slow as it is, can cause pain in your jaw, sinuses, and other teeth. Wisdom teeth can be especially problematic when they sit in your jaw at angle. As the teeth try to emerge, they move sideways rather than upward and push against the roots of the adjacent teeth, a situation that is both painful and potentially damaging to the other teeth. If you don’t have them removed, the pain is likely to get worse, and you could be in for even bigger problems down the road.
Preventing Other Problems
Wisdom teeth that are impacted in your jaw or otherwise don’t emerge properly can cause all sorts of problems in your mouth. Teeth that emerge partially can create hard-to-clean pockets in your gum tissue or between teeth that provide great places for bacteria to grow, leading to tooth decay, gum disease and bone loss. In severe cases, an infection can result.
Many times a cyst will form in the jaw bone around an impacted wisdom tooth, and the cyst will cause a loss of bone in the area.
Sometimes the problems caused by wisdom teeth extend even beyond the mouth and the jaw itself. The upper wisdom teeth lie very close to the maxillary sinus, a cavity behind your nose and beneath your eye. Inflammation or infection of wisdom teeth can have an adverse effect on the sinus cavity, leading to sinus congestion, headaches, or infections.
When to Do It
Although it’s common to remove wisdom teeth when the patient is young, in their late teens or early twenties, it’s certainly possible to remove problematic teeth much later than that. The advantage to doing it earlier, though, is that younger patients tend to heal quicker, with less chance of complications, and evidence indicates that when the teeth are removed prior to the age of 25, the bone regenerates easily behind the adjacent teeth without complication.
When Not to Do It
At Westchester Oral and Maxillofacial Associates, we’re never going to suggest a procedure that you don’t need. Some surgeons will push wisdom teeth extraction with a “better safe than sorry” rationale, but we don’t think the procedure should be a given for everyone.
If your wisdom teeth are healthy and aren’t causing any other problems, it may be fine to let them stay put, as long as you have regular exams and x-rays to spot signs of trouble early. If you’ve made it into your 40s without any problems from your wisdom teeth, chances are good that you’ll be able to leave them alone.
How to Do It
If there’s good reason to remove your wisdom teeth, you can count on Dr. Kur to do it the most comfortable way possible. Usually that means performing the procedure under IV sedation/general anesthesia, but you can opt for local anesthetic if you prefer.
Typically, any swelling you experience will go away within three days, and the sutures that Dr. Kur places in your mouth will dissolve within five days.
You’ll return to our office for a follow-up visit in one to two weeks, and if everything looks good then, you’ll be able to say goodbye to problematic wisdom teeth forever.
Not Sure Whether Or Not
You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Don’t Suffer.
We Encourage You To Make An Appointment
Or, Feel Free to Call Us @ 914-592-0440
-
Brittany Spafford
Dr. Kur extracted my 4 wisdom teeth, and also gave me four implants. Not once did I have any pain after both procedures. He did an amazing job! He and his staff were extremely friendly and very informative the entire time. If you need oral surgery this is the place to go.
-
Michael Burke
Dr. Kur and his staff made my experience truly wonderful. I was in such excruciating pain until I couldn’t function. They performed an emergency extraction on my wisdom tooth. I felt much better after my surgery. The office is clean and very comfortable. Obviously no one wants to have a tooth removed, however, if you need to have this procedure done, then I would definitely recommend this practice.
-
Laurie Baron
Dr. Kur is an amazing oral surgeon. I had implant surgery performed & I did not experience any discomfort at all. The surgery and healing process was painless. He made sure I was totally comfortable throughout the surgery. His staff was equally compassionate. Dr. Kur followed up with a phone call in the evening to make sure I was doing well. He is an excellent doctor and I would highly recommend him to anyone who is in need of oral surgery.
-
Cheryl Niarhos
Dr. Kur and his staff are fantastic. Unfortunately, my son, age 6, had to have one of his molars removed. Not only did this procedure go extremely well, (and very quick) but there was no complaining of pain afterwards. I would highly recommend Dr. Kur to anyone looking for an Oral Surgeon. Great experience!
-
Matthew Riello
Dr. Kur was nice, comforting, and made my extractions & implants as painless as possible. The office staff was equally as pleasant, making the paperwork as effortless as possible and were very welcoming. There is also a good payment plan available if you need it.
-
Lucille Brady
I had a very complex oral surgery performed by Dr. Kur. I was very anxious about having the work done, but quickly relieved after speaking with Dr. Kur and his staff. I could not be more pleased with Dr. Kur. He took the time to explain everything to me in detail before performing the many steps of my treatment. Along the way, he and his staff assisted me with all my questions and concerns. I am very happy with the outcome. Dr. Kur is extremely proficient and professional and I strongly recommend him as he is “the best of the best!”
-
Kathleen McCarthy
When you’re not feeling well, (your tooth is throbbing in pain) and unexpectedly need surgery, this is the place to go to. From the caring office team, and staff, Dr.Kur’s expertise and care for his patients in insurmountable. Dr. Kur did everything possible and succeeded in saving my tooth from being extracted.
-
Diandra Angiello
Dr. Kur removed all four of my daughters wisdom teeth. The entire process was stress free. Dr. Kur and his staff were wonderful.
-
Jennifer Polidoro
Dr. Kur is an amazing oral surgeon. He pulled one tooth and put in 2 implants. Mindful of my pain and my comfort, he reminded me of an artist enjoying his craft. As for his staff, nothing short of top notch. Professional and courteous. This is my oral surgeon forever!! As a matter of fact I am scheduled for more work in the near future. I would refer anyone who needs work done.
-
Hailey
I had all four of my teeth extracted by doctor G. He was amazing!! It was very easy and I am a very anxious patient; he and his staff made me feel at ease and comfortable. He called me to check up on me and was very kind. 10/10!!!! Thank you!!!
-
Brian Johnson
I had an excellent experience with Dr. Kur, and all of his staff. Very friendly, very professional, and very clean facility! I was recommended by my dentist to have some of my wisdom teeth removed, and they made it a priority to make sure I felt welcomed and was comfortable with every step of the procedure. I had some back and forth issues with my insurance company regarding my initial appointment, and they went the extra mile to work around those issues and explore alternative solutions. The go-to place for dental surgery, especially for first timers!
-
Irina Burns
I recommend Dr. Kur without reservation. Everyone on his team is highly professional and responsive. Every time I had a question or needed to make an appointment, my concerns were addressed immediately. Dr. Kur was very forthcoming about the procedure, leaving no questions or concerns unanswered. I never thought I would be describing dental surgery as a great experience.
-
Maurice Delorenzo
I got two extractions and a post put in a couple months ago and it was so painless and the recovery was super fast and I didn’t need the pain meds at all! Even my regular dentist couldn’t believe I just got it done a week ago. Dr. Kur is fast friendly and to the point. I like that. He put me at ease on my concerns and even better he was right. Some say he’s a little pricey but he’s worth every penny. I believe in you get what you pay for and when I went to a cheaper place I ended up in a horror show and my recovery took forever. The place is clean. All the staff from the front desk to the back are friendly and professional and don’t make you feel like a number. Whoever you deal with there is great. Dr. Kur is awesome. If he runs for president I’m voting for him. If I wasn’t broke I’d mess up more of my teeth so he could fix them. Honestly, can’t say enough good things about him or his staff. Just go there, you won’t be sorry!!!!
-
Eftihia Bennett
My husband had minor oral surgery about 2 months ago. There are no adequate words to describe our experience that was very positive. This office is the best Dr.s office we have been in our 63 years of life. The doctor was absolutely outstanding throughout the process. His office runs like a clock…just perfect. Every single person we dealt there was very professional and very efficient. We are very grateful for the outstanding service that we were provided with!
-
Vivian Counts
Awesome practice, Dr. Kur, and the support staff are true professionals. It is so refreshing to be cared for in such a manner. Dr. Kur is extremely knowledgeable. He identified my problem and provided relief to an ongoing problem that I had been dealing with for almost two years. He is truly expert in his field. For the first time, I felt I got my money’s worth. Relief at last. I would recommend and will do so to anyone who needs an oral surgeon. FIVE STARS ARE NOT ENOUGH. Thank you, Dr. Kur and Staff.
-
A. Greene
I had a tooth that imploded under the gum line. I had been told to just leave it alone by another dentist. I knew something was wrong, and my primary care physician referred me to Dr. Kur for a second opinion. Dr. Kur advised removal of the tooth and an implant. Everything was done in three appointments. I have had no problems. I completely trust Dr. Kur and would not hesitate to contact him in the future.
-
Lorri Reynard
Dr. Kur is a gentle, kind and thoughtful oral surgeon. I had 2 implants put in and he went the extra mile to prepare my mouth well for them, with a really good bone graft. And when he pulls a tooth, there is no pain in taking it out. I would highly recommend him to anyone.
-
Sarah Hecht
Great doctor. By far the best oral surgery experience I’ve had. I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed and didn’t even need painkillers.
-
Milind Trilokekar
Would highly recommend Dr. Kur for any kind of dental surgery. I had a tooth implant done and the process was seamless. Very modern equipment and efficient staff, which I also feel is very important. Dr. Kur is very confident of what he is doing and now I can confidently say that I would go by his recommendation for any procedure.
-
Gabriela McDonough
Dr. Kur and his staff are beyond amazing. I am so grateful for all of the time and top-notch services he’s provided thus far. As this is an ongoing, emotional and complex treatment plan, I couldn’t have asked to be in better hands and am so excited for the final outcome. 100% recommend to anyone in need of surgical dental procedures.
-
Sofy Abraham
“Dear Dr Kur and all the staff,
I just wanted to say thank you for giving for my daughter the upmost care and made it an easy procedure for her. I greatly appreciate the kindness and gentleness that you and staff showed 🙂
-
Andy Paoletti
One of the finest practices. The office staff is dedicated to customer service and the doctor is of the highest caliber skill. Dr. Kur utilizes state of the art equipment. The doctor has great communication skills as well as superior surgical skills. The recommendation to Dr. Kur came from an ENT physician who was also a dentist. He told me that “Dr. Kur was the oral surgeon of choice for him and his family.”