See an Oral Surgeon for Wisdom Teeth Extractions
Oral Surgeon vs. Dentist
A DDS degree does not make a dentist an oral surgeon. The DDS degree (doctor of dental surgery) is the basic degree awarded upon graduation from dental school. In other words, a DDS is a general dentist.
The DDS degree is the same education as DMD (doctor of dental medicine). Different universities name the same degree differently.
That’s commendable ... what kind of residency?
There are nine types of dental specialist residencies and two types of general dentistry residencies.
Number of Years of Residency
Both General Practice Residency (GPR) and Advanced Education General Dentistry (AEGD) are typically one-year residencies that allow recently graduated dentists to further hone his or her skills in the traditionally defined disciplines of general dentistry, before entering private practice.
These programs are an excellent stepping stone to private practice dentistry but neither of these programs are equivalent to the focused residencies required of dental specialist.
It is not however, uncommon for dental specialists to complete a one year GPR or AEGD before they can be accepted to a specialty training program.
Like a family doctor who can handle a variety of health care issues, a general dentist can diagnose and treat most basic dental problems.
Many patients have a good relationship with their family dentists and trust them as a first point of contact for dental health care issues.
Most general dentists’ practice with a team approach and have formed relationships with a variety dental specialist to assure their patients receive the advantages of the expertise these specialists have gained in their years of additional study.
Besides getting a more focused expertise, your general dentist understands the specialist’s care is often more cost effective for you; by avoiding misdiagnosis, unnecessary X-rays, unnecessary procedures, and complications. Treatment times are also shorter.
Because of changes in technology, economic stressors, and the growth of the internet and aggressive marketing techniques, in October of 2016, a new resolution passed by the ADA House of Delegates permits dentists to announce as specialists, even if they are not trained in one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the Association.
Before the amendment, Section 5.H of the Code specified that there were only nine dental specialties recognized by the ADA that could announce their specialties and completion of an accredited residency was mandatory.
Residencies are now, no longer necessary to advertise as a dental specialist and claiming such “specialization” has no prerequisites.
"It's a fairly significant change," said Dr. Michael Halasz, Ohio-based general practitioner and chair of the Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs. "The bottom line is that it keeps dentists in line with the Code of Ethics."
- Dental public health - study of dental epidemiology and social health policies.
- Endodontics - root canal therapy and study of diseases of the dental pulp.
- Oral and Maxillofacial pathology - diagnosis, and treatment of oral -facial diseases.
- Oral and Maxillofacial radiology - radiologic interpretation of oral and maxillofacial diseases.
- Oral and Maxillofacial surgery - experts in face, mouth, and jaw surgery.
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics - align teeth and modification of dental-facial growth.
- Periodontics - treatment of diseases of the periodontium (non-surgical and surgical). They can also perform gum surgery and gum grafts as well as place dental implants.
- Pediatric dentistry - Dentistry limited to child patients
- Prosthodontics - Advanced training in restoring dental occlusion including dentures, bridges and the restoration of implants. Some prosthodontists further their training in "oral and maxillofacial prosthodontics", which is the discipline concerned with the replacement of missing facial structures, such as ears, eyes, noses, etc.
Oral Surgeon vs. Dentist
Most patients are not aware of the difference between a general dentist and an oral surgeon.
An Oral Surgeon, more accurately referred to as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS), has completed the basic four-year dental education as a general dentist. An OMS however, then completes anywhere from four to six more years of additional training necessary to learn proper surgical technique, effective pre and post-operative preparation and care, and management of medical and surgical complications.
OMSs are the only dental specialists who are trained in all aspects of anesthesia. OMS residents are trained by medical anesthesiologist and serve on the medical anesthesiology service, where they learn to evaluate patients for anesthesia, deliver the anesthetic, and monitor the recovery of post-anesthetic patients. After completing their anesthesia training, OMS residents continue to administer anesthesia to patients for the remainder of their 4 to 6-year residency, while under the mentorship of attending Oral surgeons.
This extended hands on, hospital-based residency training, is not a certificate-based training that most general dentists have.
Only an oral surgeon can be a member of The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) or Board Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. see AAOMS.org.
A DDS degree does not make a dentist an oral surgeon. The DDS degree (doctor of dental surgery) is the basic degree awarded upon graduation from dental school. In other words, a DDS is a general dentist.
The DDS degree is the same education as DMD (doctor of dental medicine). Different universities name the same degree differently.
That’s commendable ... what kind of residency?
There are nine types of dental specialist residencies and two types of general dentistry residencies.
Number of Years of Residency
Both General Practice Residency (GPR) and Advanced Education General Dentistry (AEGD) are typically one-year residencies that allow recently graduated dentists to further hone his or her skills in the traditionally defined disciplines of general dentistry, before entering private practice.
These programs are an excellent stepping stone to private practice dentistry but neither of these programs are equivalent to the focused residencies required of dental specialist.
It is not however, uncommon for dental specialists to complete a one year GPR or AEGD before they can be accepted to a specialty training program.
Like a family doctor who can handle a variety of health care issues, a general dentist can diagnose and treat most basic dental problems.
Many patients have a good relationship with their family dentists and trust them as a first point of contact for dental health care issues.
Most general dentists’ practice with a team approach and have formed relationships with a variety dental specialist to assure their patients receive the advantages of the expertise these specialists have gained in their years of additional study.
Besides getting a more focused expertise, your general dentist understands the specialist’s care is often more cost effective for you; by avoiding misdiagnosis, unnecessary X-rays, unnecessary procedures, and complications. Treatment times are also shorter.
Because of changes in technology, economic stressors, and the growth of the internet and aggressive marketing techniques, in October of 2016, a new resolution passed by the ADA House of Delegates permits dentists to announce as specialists, even if they are not trained in one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the Association.
Before the amendment, Section 5.H of the Code specified that there were only nine dental specialties recognized by the ADA that could announce their specialties and completion of an accredited residency was mandatory.
Residencies are now, no longer necessary to advertise as a dental specialist and claiming such “specialization” has no prerequisites.
"It's a fairly significant change," said Dr. Michael Halasz, Ohio-based general practitioner and chair of the Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs. "The bottom line is that it keeps dentists in line with the Code of Ethics."
- Dental public health - study of dental epidemiology and social health policies.
- Endodontics - root canal therapy and study of diseases of the dental pulp.
- Oral and Maxillofacial pathology - diagnosis, and treatment of oral -facial diseases.
- Oral and Maxillofacial radiology - radiologic interpretation of oral and maxillofacial diseases.
- Oral and Maxillofacial surgery - experts in face, mouth, and jaw surgery.
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics - align teeth and modification of dental-facial growth.
- Periodontics - treatment of diseases of the periodontium (non-surgical and surgical). They can also perform gum surgery and gum grafts as well as place dental implants.
- Pediatric dentistry - Dentistry limited to child patients
- Prosthodontics - Advanced training in restoring dental occlusion including dentures, bridges and the restoration of implants. Some prosthodontists further their training in "oral and maxillofacial prosthodontics", which is the discipline concerned with the replacement of missing facial structures, such as ears, eyes, noses, etc.
Human jaws are not constructed to accommodate wisdom teeth. As a result, wisdom teeth often remain enveloped in gum or bone tissue. As a result, they are also referred to as impacted teeth, but they continuously attempt to erupt. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause tooth pain, pressure, jaw pain and tooth infection. However, in most cases, patients experience no outward symptoms with their wisdom teeth – so patients are often unaware of the damage and major issues that wisdom teeth cause if they are not removed and falsely think that nothing is wrong. Unknowingly to patients, un-erupted or partially erupted wisdom teeth cause decay, resorption, and injury to adjacent teeth. Additionally, aggressive cysts may also form around an impacted wisdom tooth and put the jawbone, nerves, and adjacent teeth at risk for severe damage. When wisdom teeth do erupt, they often crowd existing teeth, increasing your likelihood of developing tooth decay and gum disease with the rest of your teeth.
Before the root is fully formed
If the roots develop fully, it becomes more difficult to do an extraction than when only the crowns have developed. Teeth grow from the crown down to the root, so if you get it done before the root develops, then surgery is easier with less recovery time.
To imagine what this is like, think of a skateboard or a tennis ball buried in the sand—which is easiest to remove? The skateboard has to be dug out, but the tennis ball can be rolled out — this should give you some sense of why it’s better to do the surgery before the roots come in.
At the start of summer break
Schedule your wisdom teeth to be removed when life is simple, your health is good, stress is low, you have someone to take care of you, and have time to find a great surgeon (and not settle for a last minute choice). For most people, this time is during one of the summer breaks in high school. If you’re not lucky enough to have already had it done in high school, that’s okay—try to stick to the same guidelines when finding the ideal time. In our experience, wisdom teeth complications always happen right before a major life event, like a big exam, date, or wedding—so don’t delay!
During spring break or over the holidays
There is no time like the present. Having your wisdom teeth removed is a procedure you do not want to put off. If you are in college, the holidays or a week-long break is an ideal time to schedule your procedure. Plan ahead as many others follow the same schedule. Contact us to schedule an exam or, if you have a referral from your general dentist, schedule now.
Read more on whether to see a dentist or choose an oral surgeon for wisdom teeth extraction. Ask these questions of your oral health care provider:
- Do all of my wisdom teeth need to be removed?
- What are my options for anesthesia?
- What complications do you expect to see during the procedure?
- What is the absolute worst case scenario? And, are you prepared for that?
- What are the risks of doing this surgery?
- Compared to all of the other cases you have done, how does my case rank in terms of difficulty?
- Will my face get puffy? How long will it be until my appearance is normal and I can return to school or work?
- What will happen if I leave my wisdom teeth in?
- What Happens If I Don’t Have Them Removed?
Expert Advice
With extensive experience and expertise, an oral surgeon can better inform you about the condition of your wisdom teeth, what problems they may be causing, and the best course of treatment for long-term health. You want someone with in-depth knowledge about wisdom teeth to help you make informed decisions.
Faster and Smoother Recovery
Qualified oral surgeons use conservative surgical techniques and perform the procedure in less time than a general dentist. In fact, all four wisdom teeth can be extracted in 20-30 minutes. This translates into a faster and a smoother recovery with fewer complications. Most patients can get back to work or school within a couple of days.
Sleep Anesthesia (IV sedation)
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) are the only dental specialists who are trained in all aspects of anesthesia administration. Following dental school, they complete at least four years of training in a hospital-based surgical residency program alongside medical residents in general surgery, anesthesia and other specialties. During this time, OMS residents serve on the medical anesthesiology service, where they evaluate patients for anesthesia, deliver the anesthetic and monitor post-anesthetic patients.
Done Right
Why would anyone want to go through the surgery with a general dentist who can potentially get stuck in the middle of the procedure? Unlike someone who performs the procedure once in a while, OMS’s have completed tens of thousands third molar extractions. They have the experience to know a difficult extraction from an easy procedure. In fact, dentists can get stuck trying to remove wisdom teeth for more than 2 hours with no success. They end up having to send the patient to us to complete the procedure. The longer the procedure takes the more post op pain and complications. Studies have shown that pain and complications are directly related to the length of a procedure. Oral surgeons, with their extensive experience and knowledge in principles of surgery, can remove wisdom teeth with fewer complications and smoother recovery. Go to an expert and get it done right the first time.
Dr. Jelic will perform your oral surgery with adherence to evidence-based stringent standards that result in clinical excellence and reliable outcomes.
- Infection
- Damage to neighboring teeth and tissues
- Tooth decay
- Periodontal disease
- Receding gums
- Loosened teeth
- Bone loss
- Tooth loss
- Jaw weakening
- Development of associated cysts and tumors
- Interference with needed dental treatments
- "Asymptomatic" does not mean "Disease-Free"
- Even third molars that have erupted into the mouth in a normal, upright position may not be problem-free.
- Their location in the back of the mouth makes them extremely difficult to keep clean.
- Bacteria that cause periodontal disease may exist in and around asymptomatic third molars, leading to damage before symptoms appear
- Pathology is always present before symptoms appear.
- Once damage has occurred, it is not always treatable
- Bacteria may contribute to systemic health problems including:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- kidney disease
- and other health problems
- Studies have found that periodontal disease in expectant mothers may be associated with a greater likelihood of preterm and low birthweight babies.
- Research has also shown a relationship between the presence of wisdom teeth and the progression of periodontal disease.
Wisdom teeth removal
Wisdom teeth removal