Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Summer Wisdom

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, June 14, 2004

STORY:  SUMMER WISDOM

When is the wisest time to schedule wisdom teeth surgery? If the patient is a student, right now may be the best time. Dr. Linda Niessen explains why in this segment of Dental Health Check.

If you have a student at home this summer, make time for a dental check-up to evaluate a common problem: not enough room for the third molars or wisdom teeth.

"Most people are not going to have and adequate amount of space to accommodate those teeth and they are going to become symptomatic somewhere down the road."

Symptoms are recurring sensitivity and pain, swelling and partial eruption.

"Generally, it's a pretty good indication that there should at least be a professional evaluation and probably removal."

Wisdom teeth may unwisely erupt early. Cameron Mote is just 14 years old but already suffering from 3rd molar pain.

"Because they are blocking my 2nd molars and going over them. They are not coming in properly so they need to cut them out."
      
Cameron will have four extractions at the beginning of the summer.

"Anytime you can do a procedure like that under controlled circumstances where there is a familiar environment, people can take care of you, people who can just help you along, it's always a lot better."

Summer vacation may be the wisest time for wisdom teeth surgery. Recovery can take up to a week or maybe even longer. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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