Wisdom Teeth Articles | Park Ridge, IL | Loukas Dentistry

Test your Wisdom with this Third Molar Quiz

Dr. Thanasi Loukas, DMD — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:13:37 +0000

Wisdom teeth usually erupt in the late teens or early twenties. Often times they come in at the wrong angle, and can cause dental issues. Sometimes they remain impacted, which can lead to potential infection. Park Ridge dentists, Dr. Thanasi and Dr. Maria Loukas want to know just how wise you are about wisdom teeth.

Questions

Q1. True or False – Partially erupted wisdom teeth should be left alone.

Q2. True or False – Wisdom teeth are unnecessary in modern times.

Q3. True or false – Third molar teeth are called “wisdom” teeth because you are considered to be of a wise age when they erupt.

Answers

A1. False – When a wisdom tooth fails to erupt through the gum bed completely, a soft tissue flap develops. This is called an operculum, and can make it very difficult to clean teeth properly. Bacteria and food debris are likely to accumulate under the operculum, leading to infection. Extraction will generally be recommended in the case of a partial wisdom tooth eruption.

A2. True – Cro-Magnon man couldn’t go to the closest department store and register for a nice set of sharp steak knives when he got married. There was a time in evolution when cooking meat wasn’t even a thought, let alone a reality. The ancestral diet consisted of raw meat, nuts, leaves, and roots. A third set of molars was a necessity in ancient history. These days, since we cook, bake, and cut everything into bite-sized pieces, wisdom teeth aren’t as important. That’s why removing wisdom teeth can be an easy decision when they cause trouble in your mouth.

A3. TRUE – The association between the third molars and wisdom dates back to Hippocrates. The ancient Greek physician noted that the age that the teeth erupted was a time when people began to have wisdom. Hippocrates called the third molar teeth sophronisteres, which meant “prudent teeth.” Later, in Rome, they were called dentes sapientiae, which translates to “teeth of wisdom.”

About Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas:

Whether you wish to protect your smile from dental disease and damage, or restore your smile after suffering tooth loss, we can help you regain your oral health and confidence through a new and improved smile. Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas are highly-skilled restorative and cosmetic dentists serving the Park Ridge and surrounding Chicago communities. To schedule an appointment, call Loukas General Dentistry today at (847) 696-1919.

The post Test your Wisdom with this Third Molar Quiz first appeared on Loukas Dentistry of Park Ridge.

Tooth Extraction

Dr. Thanasi Loukas, DMD — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 01:04:03 +0000

Do you ever wonder why, with all the dental technology today, you may still need to have a tooth extracted? Sometimes to maintain good dental and overall health, extraction is the treatment of choice. If tooth decay reaches into the pulp of the tooth, the bacteria causing the decay may also cause infection. The pulp of the tooth is like your heart; it supervises nutrient and blood flow and is composed of nerves and arteries. If the pulp becomes infected the infection can spread throughout your body. If you are already ill, undergoing chemotherapy, or have some other chronic ailment, this can exacerbate your condition. If you are experiencing symptoms associated with tooth infection contact your Park Ridge dentists, Dr. Thanasi Loukas and Dr. Maria Loukas. Dedicated to offering the best care for your entire family, they will schedule an evaluation and discuss your treatment options.

Why Extraction?

The most common reason for tooth extraction is tooth decay. If the pulp of the tooth becomes infected the tooth may die, or the infection may spread throughout the mouth, putting other teeth and your oral health in danger. Other reasons for extraction include:

Malocclusion: Malocclusion is when the upper and lower jaws are misaligned causing tooth crowding or abnormal eruptions of the teeth. In this case a tooth might need to be removed to make room for the other teeth.

Wisdom Teeth: Impacted wisdom teeth or wisdom teeth that are erupting in an abnormal manner are one of the most common reasons for tooth extraction.

Trauma: A car, sporting, or other type of accident may require tooth removal.

Root Canal: Root canal therapy is common treatment to save a tooth, but when infection develops and antibiotic treatment fails, extraction may be necessary.

Periodontal Disease: Periodontal disease is infection of the gum tissue around the teeth which spreads into the jaw bone. The bacterial infection eats away at the jaw bone resulting in tooth loss and/or extraction.

Symptoms Of Infection

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of dental infection, contact your dentist immediately. Some of the most common symptoms include:

· Toothache

· Gingival swelling around the tooth

· Pain when chewing or biting down

· Sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages

· Offensive tasting discharge

· Bad breath

About Loukas General Dentistry

Dr. Thanasi Loukas and Dr. Maria Loukas provide stellar general, cosmetic, and restorative dental care with the latest technologies. Loukas General Dentistry serves Park Ridge and the surrounding Chicago communities. To schedule a consultation, call Loukas Family Dentistry at (847) 696-1919.

The post Tooth Extraction first appeared on Loukas Dentistry of Park Ridge.

Wise Up to Wisdom Teeth

Dr. Thanasi Loukas, DMD — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 05:08:13 +0000

Wisdom teeth gained their moniker long ago because they begin to show between the ages of 17-25, once referred to as “the age of wisdom.” These days, wisdom teeth are more famous for the discomfort they cause than for their time of arrival. Your last four molars are exceptions to many of the rules that govern your other 28 teeth, including how extracting them affects your oral health.

A Little Room, Please?

Park Ridge oral surgeons, Drs. Maria and Thanasi Loukas, typically remove patients’ wisdom teeth because they’ve become impacted. Often, an adult’s mouth can only accommodate a total of 28 teeth—14 on each of the upper and lower ridges. When the last four molars try to erupt, they’re often impeded by the molars already at the end of the dental ridge. Nevertheless, the obstruction doesn’t stop them from growing, and impacted wisdom teeth can push other teeth out of their current positions, which can lead to;

Damage to other teeth
Increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease
Imbalanced bite
Various levels of discomfort

Stay or Go…Your Choice

Sometimes, impacted wisdom teeth might not cause any symptoms other than an increased risk of dental disease. Other times, wisdom teeth can grow in just fine, with plenty of room and no complications. Patients with perfectly-erupted wisdom teeth often still opt to remove them to avoid complications in the future. Unlike other teeth, third molars don’t need replacement if they’re extracted, so preemptively removing them shouldn’t negatively affect your oral health. After a thorough and comprehensive examination, Dr. Maria or Dr. Thanasi Loukas can help you decide if wisdom tooth extraction is the right choice.

Wisdom Teeth Store Stem Cells!

Not everything related to wisdom teeth is negative. According to research published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, wisdom teeth contain a valuable reservoir of tissues needed to create stem cells. The discovery is an exciting development, especially for scientists studying the benefits of stem cells use. In other news, scientists using mice as models have biologically created a tooth using programmable stem cells. In the future, extracting your wisdom teeth may do more than just relieve pain; it might also create your own reservoir of biologically-compatible stem cells that can aid in some medical and dental treatments.

About Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas:

Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas are highly-skilled restorative, cosmetic, and implant dentists serving the Park Ridge and surrounding Chicago communities. To schedule an appointment, call Loukas General Dentistry today at (847) 696-1919.

The post Wise Up to Wisdom Teeth first appeared on Loukas Dentistry of Park Ridge.