Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars in the back of the mouth and usually the last 4 of the 32 teeth to erupt. Some people are born without wisdom teeth. Others have enough room in their mouths to accommodate them. For most people, however, the wisdom teeth cannot come in all the way and need to be removed as young adults.

Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. is an oral surgeon in Pasadena performing wisdom teeth extractions. This is a common procedure, performed under local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia in our office surgery suite. Dr. Molayem will release you the same day of the surgery with post-op instructions and medications to relieve pain and swelling, if needed.

Problems with Wisdom Teeth

When a wisdom tooth cannot erupt completely, part of the tooth may be covered with a flap of gum. Food and bacteria can become trapped under the flap, which can cause pain, swelling and a low-grade infection known as pericoronitis, typically in the lower wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth may be impacted – blocked from coming in by bone or other teeth, or tilted under the gum. Impacted wisdom teeth sometimes cause pain, but not always. Some people only become aware of them when they show up on dental x-rays.

Even when wisdom teeth are not causing any pain, swelling, or infection at present, they still may cause problems in the future. Potential problems include decay, infection, crowding, damage to other teeth, and gum problems in adjoining teeth. More serious complications include cysts (fluid filled growths) that can cause permanent damage to teeth, bone, and nerves.

Reasons to Have Wisdom Teeth Extracted

Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. If there is a chance they will cause problems in the future, it better to have them extracted when you are young, at a time when you heal faster, the roots of the teeth are not fully developed, and the bone around the teeth is not as dense.

Many people have their wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 17 and 25 for any of the following reasons:

Wisdom teeth are impacted, trapped in the jawbone or gums, and cannot come in normally.
Third molars are growing in at the wrong angle, pressing against the other teeth.
Mouth is not large enough and jaw does not have enough room for another set of 4 molars.
Bacteria and food trapped under gum flaps over the wisdom teeth is causing pain, swelling, and infection.
Cavities or gum disease have developed in hard-to-reach third molars.

Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. serves the Pasadena area, providing holistic, conservative, general and cosmetic dentistry services. Her approach is to use the least aggressive methods possible, while ensuring the well-being of the entire patient.

For many people, wisdom teeth can cause a range of oral health issues, from swelling and infection, to crowding of the surrounding teeth, to serious complications. If your wisdom teeth are causing problems, or you’re not sure if you need to have them extracted, schedule a consultation with Dr. Molayem.

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Practice Policy Update Regarding COVID-19

May 2020

Dear Valued Patient:

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

All patients must wear a mask when entering the office.

Anyone accompanying you will be asked to wait in their vehicle.

Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.

Upon arrival at your appointment your temperature will be taken for the safety of all staff and patients.

Prior to receiving treatment you will be asked to rinse with an antimicrobial for a minimum of 30 seconds

We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.

You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.

UV Air purifiers have been placed throughout the office.

Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.

We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time, so we ask that you do your best to be on time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (626)798-7834 or visit our website at pasadenasmilecenter@yahoo.com.

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely, Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. & Team

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Problems with Wisdom Teeth

Reasons to Have Wisdom Teeth Extracted

Practice Policy Update Regarding COVID-19