Wisdom Teeth

A recent article suggests that ongoing study “links even pain-free wisdom teeth to early gum disease that worsens over time, sometimes causing havoc far beyond the mouth. Indeed, pregnant women with gum disease around their wisdom teeth appear to be much more likely to give birth prematurely than unaffected pregnant women. The latest data suggest that as many as 80 percent of people will develop problems with their wisdom teeth.” I don’t know who came up with this but I don’t think it’s accurate. Most experts no longer believe that crowding is a concern, but the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons typically wrongfully recommends pre-emptive pulling in young adulthood, before symptoms arise, when roots haven’t yet fully formed and surgical risks are lowest. “If you have to have them out when you’re 45, you will not enjoy that,” … Read more

I wanted to take a second to discuss my dislike towards a website, blog, and forum that is awfully similar in structure to this website however is sending the exact opposite message. I am not going to link to them because I don’t want to help out their sites rating but the link is hxxp://www.goodbyewisdomteeth.com/ just remove the xx and replace with tt. Anyway the message of the site is the following “Wonderful! As this site is completely dedicated to helping others, the most important thing you can do is post to the forums of the site–especially before AND after your dental surgery. Help other people understand your situation. In marketing, they say 80% of all first-person stories are because of negative experiences. I really want to capture the truth, not just the bad experiences–so when your procedure is over, … Read more

Between October 6,1986 and September 17,1987, 11 patients underwent insertion of mandibular dental prostheses by the same oral surgeon. Three patients suffered cardiac arrest during surgery and subsequently died. Two of the patients who died had received general anaesthetics and the other had intravenous sedation given by three different anaesthetists. All three patients arrested suddenly, developing profound cyanosis and electrical mechanical dissociation, underwent prolonged resuscitative efforts, and had marked hypoxaemia and hypercapnia, despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Two other patients had signs of injection of air but survived, one suffering cardiac collapse and the other sustaining massive subcutaneous emphysema. Air embolism was produced by inadvertent injection of a mixture of air and water, passing through the hollow dental drill, directly into the mandible to the facial and pterygoidplexus veins and thence to the superior vena cava and right atrium.  To find out … Read more

Subcutaneous emphysema, surgical emphysema, or tissue space emphysema are different names for a similar condition, namely, the abnormal presence of air in tissue spaces Subcutaneous emphysema occurs rarely during dental procedures. When it does occur, it can be a frightening experience that often will be confused with an anaphylactic reaction. Differentiating the two conditions is not difficult. Palpation of the swollen head and neck areas will elicit crepitus, or a ‘Velcro’ sensation, that is not present in anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis occurs after exposure to an allergen that elicits an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity that leads to an abrupt onset of symptoms that may include pruritis of lips, tongue and palate; oedema of the lips; nausea; vomiting; dysponea; wheezing; rhinorrhoea; syncope and hypotension. Anaphylaxis is a true medical emergency, whereas subcutaneous emphysema is generally not life-threatening. Therapy for subcutaneous emphysema involves the following: (i) … Read more

Pulling more teeth than medically necessary from patients mouths, just to make money. That’s the allegation against a local oral surgeon whom News 3 Investigators first exposed a year ago. The state started investigating after her story, and now she tells us what the state says needs to be done to protect patients. The State Board of Dental Examiners wanted to suspend Dr. Jay Selznick’s license, put him on three years probation, prevent him from treating medicaid patients for nine months and force him to reimburse some patients. All because they believe he’s operating below the standard of care and falsifying records to cover his tracks. “I’m glad the truth finally came out and justice will prevail. He will get what he’s got coming. He thinks that he’s above the law, and he’s not.” We first met Medicaid patient Karyn … Read more