Category Archives: Wisdom Teeth

72 Hours After Your Wisdom Tooth Surgery | Palm Harbor Dentist

Even though wisdom teeth are a common occurrence in most adults, having your wisdom teeth removed is never a fun thing to do. Because it will likely be a necessary surgery, a recovery period is going to need to take place before you feel back to normal, especially the first 72 hours. That said, here are some great tips to help make those hours as easy as possible:

After your procedure, you will have gauze in your mouth to stop the bleeding. Make sure to have some extra handy so you can swap it out and keep the area clean. But after a couple of hours of gauze action, trade it for a moist tea bag to prevent clotting. To keep the swelling and bleeding to a minimum, keep your head elevated. And for the next 48 hours, swap out an ice compress every 20 minutes. After that, change your ice compress into a warm one. All of this will help heal the procedure while keeping you as pain-free as possible.

Once you pass the first day with flying colors, things will proceed to get easier. A good idea is to rinse with salt water 8-10 times a day. ½ tsp of salt to 1 cup of water is the ideal ratio, just be gentle while doing so. You don’t want to disturb your stitches.

Things to avoid completely:

Straws. The suction can induce bleeding.
Tobacco. Tobacco products are awful in general, but after surgery, it makes it tougher for your gums to heal.
Strenuous activity. An increased heart rate will increase blood flow. This may increase the chances of bleeding.

If you’re interested in learning more about wisdom tooth aftercare, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

What You Need to Know About Wisdom Teeth | Palm Harbor Dentist

Wisdom teeth – the third and final set of molars in the rear of your mouth – are one of the least predictable teeth. For some of us, it is a situation that works itself out and they come in without issue. But for most of us, it can become a very painful issue. Unlike other teeth, it’s not uncommon for wisdom teeth to be absent. Even more unusual, while some people have all four wisdom teeth, other people have only one, two, or three – there’s no reliable predictor to determine how many wisdom teeth any given patient has prior to an x-ray.

In many cases, wisdom teeth crowd other molars, grow in misaligned, or only partially erupt from the gum, causing pain, tenderness, and further alignment issues. They can remain impacted – partially erupted through the gum, leaving the gum tissue broken and allowing bacteria to enter the gum tissue, leading to significant decay of the tooth itself.

For these reasons, it’s common for many patients to first learn about their wisdom teeth when their dentist recommends that they be removed. If the wisdom teeth are fully erupted and visible, extraction may be simple; if the wisdom teeth are underneath the gums, the dentist or oral surgeon will need to cut into the gum to get to the teeth, which tends to be more invasive.

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort near the back of your mouth, or if you’ve been told you have wisdom teeth that may be problematic, find out about the various options available to you. Extraction may not be necessary, but it’s also possible that extraction could be a simple way to relieve pain and pressure caused by wisdom teeth.

If you’re interested in learning more about wisdom teeth, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

The ABCs of Wisdom Teeth | Palm Harbor Dentist

Wisdom teeth – it becomes a rite of passage as we mature into adults. For some it’s an easy journey; for others, not so much. Some people have all four wisdom teeth, others may only have a couple. Unfortunately, there seems to be no reliable predictor to determine how many wisdom teeth any given patient has prior to getting x-rays done. And you can certainly live a full life with or without wisdom teeth – until they’ve become problematic.

In many cases, wisdom teeth crowd other molars, grow in misaligned, or partially erupt from the gum. This is what causes pain, tenderness, and further alignment issues with other teeth. If they become impacted, bacteria can enter the gum tissue where it cannot be brushed or flossed, leading to significant decay of the tooth itself, as well as periodontal disease as the infection spreads to the surrounding gum tissue.

While not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, their potential for problems makes them likely candidates for extraction in many patients. The difficulty of extraction depends on many factors, such as number of wisdom teeth, their general alignment, and whether or not they’re compacting other teeth. If the wisdom teeth are fully erupted and visible, extraction may be simple; if the wisdom teeth are underneath the gums, the dentist or oral surgeon will need to cut into the gum to get to the teeth, which tends to be more invasive.

If you’re interested in learning more about wisdom teeth, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

The History of the Wisdom Tooth | Palm Harbor Dentist

When we hit our adolescent years, we seem to regress to a time in our life we passed a long time ago – the teething stage, because it looks like you are getting your wisdom teeth. Officially called as the third molars, nobody really knows why wisdom teeth develop so late or why we have them, in the first place. The name “wisdom” is taken from how these teeth often come in between the ages of 17 and 25, which is called by many as the “age of wisdom”.

There have been theories thrown around as to why exactly we have these teeth. Though, one theory that sticks out for most people is that the early humans needed the extra row of teeth to chew properly. And, when you look at their diet that consisted mostly of roots, nuts and raw meat, it doesn’t take an expert to make a somewhat valid conclusion that chewing on raw meat would definitely warrant the need for an extra set of teeth.

Then again, we no longer live lives similar to our ancestors. In fact, our lives could not be any farther from them, especially when it comes to our diet. We don’t feed off on roots at all and we don’t exclusively munch on nuts for our daily nutritional needs anymore. Our meat is also cooked, much more tender, softer and easier to chew. To put it simply, modern humans just don’t have any need for a third set of molars anymore.

If you find that you are getting your wisdom teeth, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible.

If you’re interested in learning more about wisdom teeth, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

The Benefits in 3D ConeBeam Imaging in Dentistry | Palm Harbor Dentist

186932212 Modern dentistry is slowly seeing an influx of the application of new techniques, procedures and technology, with the use of 3D digital imaging being just one of the many.

The use of 3D digital imaging marks an important achievement, as the technology offers dentists a wide variety of perspectives of the face, neck and teeth of their patients, making a more complete treatment plan.

3D ConeBeam Imaging, in particular, is considered as such a technology that can help dentists do a lot more than ever before. The technology is fast, simple and completely non-invasive. All the patient has to do is sit in the chair for a scan and that’s it. The dentist has a computer-generated view of the patient’s face, teeth and other important details from various perspectives.

For dental practitioners, access to accurate and complete information is important in planning treatment. The use of 3D ConeBeam Imaging helps in providing that information, making it beneficial for both dental practitioners and patients alike.

How Does 3D ConeBeam Imaging Work?

To put simply, the imaging system is basically an X-ray scanner, only it’s mounted on a rotating arm. The name “ConeBeam” stems from the system’s use of the scanner to project x-rays in a cone-shaped beam.

Patients simply have to sit in the chair will the scanner moves around their head to gather all the data necessary. There’s no preparation of any kind involved.

After the imaging system goes through the patient’s head, the dentist can then call up any necessary view on a computer monitor.

The imaging system allows dentists to view images of their patient’s entire mouth from just about any angle imaginable, with different magnifications. This accessibility makes it easier to see bones, teeth, airways, nerves, as well as tissues and see the relationship between them in order to create a more effective treatment plan.

3D ConeBeam Imaging produces high-quality images similar to that of a CT (CAT) scan, but only with much less radiation, making it a much safer approach.

What Makes It Different?

Traditionally, dentists relied on x-rays focused on their patient’s teeth to create treatment plans. While effective, the process is not exactly foolproof and there have been many cases of unintentional lapses because of the limited information given out by x-rays.

With the 3D ConeBeam Imaging system, dentists have a more complete visual guide to study their patient’s case from just about any angle they can think of. Even better is that the scan data is easy to duplicate for storage purposes and to make it easier to send out to different specialists later on.

The 3D ConeBeam Imaging System can benefit just about any patient, from those who’re just beginning treatment to those with recurring problems or those who are having their results evaluated.

Thanks to the more accurate, high-quality, detailed visual information produced by the imaging system, dentists have all the information they could possibly need to diagnose and plan out the proper course of action.

As the patient, you should be happy that your dentist has access to such technology, as the improved information allows you to be more confident and more satisfied with the treatment you’re receiving.

To find out more about the 3D ConeBeam Imaging system, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman and make an appointment 727-785-8017 or visit our website at www.dentist-lieberman.com.

Accepting patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and all surrounding areas.

Wisdom Teeth | Palm Harbor Dentist

Wisdom teeth – the third and final set of molars in the rear of your mouth – are one of the least predictable teeth. Unlike other teeth, it’s not uncommon for wisdom teeth to be absent. Even more unusual, while some people have all four wisdom teeth, other people have only one, two, or three – and there seems to be no reliable predictor to determine how many wisdom teeth any given patient has prior to being X-rayed by a dentist.

For many people, the presence or absence of wisdom teeth is irrelevant – you can certainly live a full life with or without wisdom teeth – unless they’re present and problematic.

In many cases, wisdom teeth crowd other molars, grown in misaligned, or only partially erupt from the gum. Crowding can cause pain, tenderness, and further alignment issues with other teeth. In extreme cases, the wisdom teeth can grow in horizontally. In other cases, they can remain impacted – partially erupted through the gum, leaving the gum tissue broken. This condition allows bacteria to enter the gum tissue, surrounding the tooth where it can not be brushed or flossed, and can lead to significant decay of the tooth itself, as well as periodontal disease as the infection spreads to the surrounding gum tissue.

For these reasons, it’s common for many patients to first learn about their wisdom teeth when their dentist recommends they be removed. While not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, their potential for problems makes them likely candidates for extraction in many patients. The difficulty of extraction depends on many factors, such as number of wisdom teeth, their general alignment, and whether or not they’re compacting other teeth. If the wisdom teeth are fully erupted and visible, extraction may be simple; if the wisdom teeth are underneath the gums, the dentist or oral surgeon will need to cut into the gum to get to the teeth, which tends to be more invasive. In many cases, dentists will recommend removal of multiple wisdom teeth in one procedure, allowing for a single sedation and a single recovery period, so the patient does not need to repeat the healing process multiple times.

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort near the back of your mouth, or if you’ve been told you have wisdom teeth that may be problematic, speak to your dentist about the various options available to you. Extraction may not be necessary, but it’s also possible that extraction could be a simple way to relieve pain and pressure caused by wisdom teeth.

To find out more about your wisdom teeth contact Dr. Larry Lieberman and make an appointment 727-785-8017 or visit our website at www.dentist-lieberman.com.

Accepting patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and all surrounding areas.