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and posterior maxilla and mandible where lesions in the bone tend to develop in relationship to wisdom teeth. If the patient develops symptoms or the wisdom tooth becomes diseased then a decision to extract the wisdom tooth needs to be made. The second option concerning asymptomatic disease-free wisdom teeth is planned surgical extraction. Multiple prospective and retrospective studies have been performed revealing that 80 percent of patients with asymptomatic disease-free wisdom teeth will need their teeth extracted before the age of 65. Many practi-
tioners are advocating the extraction of asymptomatic disease-free teeth in early adolescent between the ages of 13-20 years of age. This is based on the premise that the vast majority of wisdom teeth will be extracted in the patients lifetime. Early intervention results in decreased recovery time, which translates into less school and work days missed. Advocates for early extraction of asymptomatic disease-free wisdom teeth state a decrease in dry socket, infection, nerve injury, damage to adjacent teeth, sinus violation, and minimizing unwanted tooth movement such as crowding of the anterior teeth due to lack of space. Whether the wisdom teeth are asymptomatic, disease-free, impacted (figure 2), or erupted (figure 3), the patient and dental care provider should discuss potential advantages and disadvantages in the treatment of wisdom teeth during routine dental examinations. For more information on wisdom teeth extractions, contact the Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Peoria, located at 2807 N. Knoxville Avenue, Peoria, IL. Call 309-682-1213 or visit www.aos.peoria.com.
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