Impacted Wisdom Teeth
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Third molars are commonly referred to as wisdom teeth. They are usually the last teeth to develop and are located in the back of your mouth, behind your second molars. Their development is usually completed between the middle teenage years and early twenties, a time traditionally associated with the onset of maturity and the attainment of wisdom.
Wisdom Teeth Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.
What Is An Impacted Tooth?
Although most people develop and grow 32 permanent adult teeth, many times their jaws are too small to accommodate the four wisdom teeth. When inadequate space prevents the teeth from erupting they are called impacted. This indicates their inability to erupt into the proper position for chewing and cleaning.
Types Of Impactions
We will need to see you for a consultation to determine if you will benefit from wisdom tooth removal. A special x-ray of your mouth and jaws (panorex) will be taken to determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted, if there is room for them to erupt, and how difficult it will be to have them removed.
- Soft Tissue Impaction: There is not enough room to allow the gum tissue to retract for adequate cleaning of the tooth.
- Partial Bony Impaction: There is enough space to allow the wisdom tooth to partially erupt. However, the tooth cannot function properly in the chewing process, and creates cleaning problems, among others.
- Complete Bony Impaction: There is NO space for the tooth to erupt. It remains embedded in the jaw bone or if even partially visible requires complex surgical techniques for removal.The impacted wisdom tooth may also be in an unusual position and difficult to remove. This situation can also arise when the shape or size of the jaw bone and other facial structures make removal of this tooth significantly more complex.
Soft Tissue
Partial Bony
Complete BonyCortland Oral Surgery
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Very quick service, friendly helpful staff. The tooth extraction was painless and without complications.
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Had to have a molar removed. Sounds mighty scary and painful but it was neither. Dr. SanGiacomo had that sucker out of there in no time, and with a minimum of discomfort. That was yesterday. Had a bit of dull, aching pain last evening, as is to be expected, but no trouble sleeping last night and no pain at all today, even without the use of any meds.
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With covid procedures in place I felt comfortable and safe. Staff and Dr Tom couldn't have been more friendly and compassionate.
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Great, caring staff! Dr. SanGiacomo did an excellent job
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My son’s wisdom tooth extraction was as smooth as possible. We couldn’t be happier.
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Great experience. Very friendly staff. Excellent doctor.
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Would highly recommend
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Fast, painless extraction of two cracked molars. Staff was very friendly and answered all my questions.
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Though there was an unavoidable power outage, you were able to reschedule my appointment asap. I don’t remember the visit but that’s probably a positive being you had to take out my wisdom teeth!
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This was our first visit to the office and considering what is happening with the pandemic, we felt very comfortable. The staff and doctor were very nice. The ease of appointment, paperwork and care after was great!!
- Kerry M
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Excellent patient service, very friendly staff, quick execution of the procedure and no pain!
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I highly recommend Cortland Oral Care.
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Dr. SanGiacomo was very calming and explained things well. Has a great personality.
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Good visit, quick and painless.
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Such a great office! I was in so much pain and everyone that was there was really kind and helpful-from scheduling my appointment(that I was able to move ahead of time due to a cancellation), to making sure I was warm, comfy, and properly numbed before my procedure. Dr. SanGiacomo was very skilled and knowledgeable, and my procedure went by smoothly and quickly (the pain was to be expected). Overall everything from beginning to end was really easy, the pricing was very fair (especially for someone like me with no dental insurance) and I will absolutely continue to come here and recommend this place to everyone I know.
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