Wisdom Teeth Archives | Williams Family Dentistry

Wisdom Tooth Coming in Brown?

Posted on June 17, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have a wisdom tooth that is erupting brown. I don’t know what is going on. Surely it can’t be decay. It’s just coming in. Do you know what this means? I’ve been told that dental enamel cannot be restored once it is lost. The bottom of my back teeth are brown too, but only the bottom and they have always been that way. I am scheduling an appointment with my dentist but am trying to gather as much information as possible. Any ideas?

Thomas

Dear Thomas,

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

It’s hard to tell from just what you’ve described and not having examined your teeth. However, based on what you have said it sounds like you have defective enamel. While enamel can turn brown if decay has started and then is terminated but, as you said, if it was brown while erupting, it is not likely to be decay.

Because you have discoloration on the bottom of your other teeth as well, it makes me think that you had some health issues while the enamel on your teeth were forming. This would impact your wisdom tooth as well. The bottom is brown on the other teeth which tells me the problem occurred when they were at the end of their formation. That same time would be eactly when the wisdom tooth began forming so it would have more discoloration.

Defective enamel is very susceptible to decay.I recommend being extra attentive with those teeth that have the discoloration. With a wisdom tooth, an extraction is not as serious because it will not require a replacement the way your other back teeth would. Impacted wisdom teeth are extracted all the time.

I am not saying you have to remove it. In fact, you may go your entire life with it not giving you any problems. Just be aware it is more at risk than your other teeth. If decay starts, deal with it immediately so it does not turn into an infection and then you’d need an emergency dental appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Worried About Having My Wisdom Tooth Extracted

Posted on March 14, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have a wisdom tooth in my jaw that has a pretty good cavity and is partially impacted. My other wisdom teeth are fully impacted but don’t have any problems. My dentist said I need to see an oral surgeon to have it extracted because of my age (I’m 37), which he says puts me at risk. He also mentioned that there is a risk of nerve damage. I’m not a comfortable patient under the best of circumstances, but now I’m terrified of this procedure. Help me understand how serious this is and is there a possibility I can not have the tooth removed at all?

Sienna

Dear Sienna,

I wish these impacted wisdom teeth of yours had been extracted when you were in your late teens to early twenties. At that age, everything is quite pliable and super easy to remove. As you age, the bone gets thicker as the roots fully form. The older you get the more difficult the extraction. I would not wait for the other ones to bother you before having them extracted. It will only get more complicated the longer you wait. As for the one with decay, it does need to come out. You don’t want to wait for an infection to develop, which can turn into a dental emergency.

As for the potential for nerve damage, that is only a real risk if the tooth is impinging on the nerve. Surgeons always tend to overstate the risk because they want to avoid any possibility of a lawsuit if things happen with a nerve beyond their control. Just make sure whomever you see gets some good 3-dimensional x-rays. This way he can work around any nerves.

I did want to address a different type of nerve issue, however. You mentioned you were not the most comfortable of patients. I want to suggest that you see a sedation dentist for any further dental care you need. Having something like oral conscious sedation when you need any work done will greatly improve your feelings toward the dentist. You will finally be able to have anxiety-free/pain-free appointments.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Anesthesia for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Posted on June 23, 2021 by writeradmin.

My 19-year-old son needs one of his wisdom teeth extracted. Apparently, it is under the bone and my dentist asked if we wanted general anesthesia. That surprised me and I wasn’t sure how to answer. I worry about general anesthesia and the complications that can come with that, but I don’t want him in any unnecessary pain either. What is the right course of action? My dentist just says it is up to me.

Franny

Dear Franny,

Based on what you have said, I don’t think your son will need anything more than oral conscious sedation. If your dentist is saying it is up to you, then there does not seem to be any complicating factors to worry about. He is in the ideal age for wisdom tooth removal. At his age, the bone is quite pliable. As we age, cementum accumulates on the roots of the teeth. However, he is far too young for that to be a concern.

I will tell you what does concern me — your dentist. I am worried that he is not comfortable with this extraction and that may be why he is hinting for a stronger means of dealing with this extraction. I don’t think it is fair of him to not give you a real recommendation. That is part of his job as he is the one with the training.

A word about oral conscious sedation. This is still a strong medication. He will likely sleep through the procedure, but when he awakens he will be groggy and not quite lucid. Plan on spending the day with him just to be there in case he needs the restroom. He won’t be too steady on his feet. My advice is to set him up on the couch with his favorite streaming service.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.