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Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody and our team at Cardinale Dentistry get this question a lot. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come in, once young people get their adult teeth. Because they are the last teeth to break through the gums, they are often called the third molars. There are four wisdom teeth: two on each side of the top and bottom of the mouth.

There is no hard-and-fast rule that says everyone must have the wisdom teeth removed. There are certain situations in which they either cause problems directly, or create a situation where there is a greater likelihood problems will arise eventually.

Impacted wisdom teeth

If Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody and our team say you have a soft tissue impaction, it means your wisdom tooth is covered by gum tissue that is preventing it from erupting — most likely because your mouth is too small to provide the tooth with the room it needs to emerge.

The term “partial bony impaction” means that gum tissue is covering the wisdom tooth, but part of the jaw bone is also covering it, in which case there is no room in your mouth for the tooth to erupt. The opposite end of this spectrum is a complete bony impaction, where the wisdom tooth is completely covered by gum tissue and the jawbone, which prevent it from ever erupting.

The importance of removing impacted wisdom teeth

Dentists often want to remove impacted wisdom teeth because of the likelihood that they will cause problems, or because a problem already exists. One such problem is pericoronitis, an acute abscess that affects partially impacted wisdom teeth. Food, bacteria, and other mouth debris can become lodged under the gum flap that covers the wisdom tooth, which prevents it from erupting. Pericoronitis symptoms include pain, swelling, and the presence of an abscess.

Regular dental checkups will enable your dentist to keep an eye on your wisdom teeth, especially if they have some type of impaction. Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody and our team at Cardinale Dentistry typically recommend removal of impacted wisdom teeth because of the likelihood that severe infections such as pericoronitis will develop.

If you have any questions about wisdom teeth, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody, please give us a call at our convenient Naples, FL office!

The American Dental Association and dentists everywhere, including our own Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody recommend that you schedule an appointment every six months for a cleaning and checkup. Despite this universal recommendation from the experts, some people believe regular cleanings and checkups are unnecessary unless there is something wrong with your teeth—for example, a cavity or a toothache. In fact, coming in for a six-month checkup and cleaning is one of the most important things you can do for your oral health, as well as your overall health.

Why It’s Important to Visit Regularly

Numerous studies have shown that oral health is closely tied to the overall health of your whole body. In fact, having a healthy mouth can help the rest of your body stay in balance. On the other hand, an unhealthy mouth can cause all kinds of problems for you down the road.

One of the most important things we do at Cardinale Dentistry when you come in for cleanings is remove plaque that has collected on your teeth and around your gums. If left untreated, plaque build-up can cause inflammation and irritation around your gums, and lead to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontal disease.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, periodontal disease has been linked to increased risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, inflammation, osteoporosis, and pregnancy complications.

Most oral health issues will begin with subtle changes before progressing into more serious conditions. If you visit us for regular checkups, we may be able to identify common indicators that could lead to larger issues down the road. If we only see you at our office every few years, it becomes more difficult to catch these conditions before they grow into bigger and more painful problems.

What happens at a dental checkup?

When you come in for your regular checkup, there are several things our dentists and hygienists may do, including:

• Take X-rays to determine the overall health of your teeth, jaw, bones, and the tissue surrounding your teeth, including a check for early signs of tooth decay, abnormal growths, cavities, and other damage that is not immediately visible
• Perform a thorough cleaning of your mouth and teeth to remove any excess plaque and tartar, then polish and floss your teeth
• Check for signs of gum disease or evidence of tooth decay
• Examine your bite, and look for broken or damaged teeth
• Identify any changes to your gums or teeth since your last visit
• Examine your head and neck for signs of oral health problems

Waiting to visit Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody until you already have a problem, like a cavity, is like waiting to put gasoline in your car until after you run out and your vehicle is stalled on the side of the road. Once you have a problem, the ripple effect can cause you a lot of pain, take considerably more time, and cost a lot more money to fix than if you had come in for preventive care and cleanings every six months.

References: American Academy of Periodontology (2012). Gum Disease Links to Heart Disease and Stroke. Retrieved from http://www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm

At Cardinale Dentistry, we are well-aware of the 25 million Americans who fear having to visit the dentist. Dental phobias are known to range anywhere from feeling mildly nervous to experiencing sweaty palms and even a racing heartbeat upon entering a dentist’s office. This anxiety can sometimes be so severe that it prevents people from visiting a dentist for years, postponing dental procedures that often result in costly problems down the road.

For those of our patients who have dental anxiety or dental phobia, it may be time to look into sedation dentistry, a safe and effective option for patients who are anxious or afraid, have a bad gag reflex, limited jaw opening, or for those who have a difficult time getting numb.

Sedation dentistry, a term that we use to refer to the use of anesthesia during treatment to put patients into a relaxed state, comes in many forms of sedation, from simply easing anxiety, to “conscious sedation,” which places patients in what we call a “twilight sleep.” Sedation dentistry at our Naples, FL office allows our patients to drift through their appointments—including complex dental work—as well as feel completely relaxed throughout their visits, without any discomfort or pain. Sedation dentistry can turn a nerve-wracking visit into a comfortable and enjoyable one.

Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody and our team will be more than happy to discuss any concerns, issues, or fears you may have before or during your visit, and will be able to tell you if you are a candidate for sedation dentistry.

By talking with Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody about sedation dentistry, you can feel more comfortable and relaxed during your next visit to Cardinale Dentistry. Give us a call today!

We know our Cardinale Dentistry patients have busy lives and we always appreciate when they take the time and effort to write something kind about us online!

Here's some of our most recent feedback... we have the most amazing patients!

*All good

*Best office visit yet!

*Very good experience

*What can I say - great care all around

*I just love Dr. Cardinale.  He is kind, patient and a wonderful dentist - trust me I should know as I had a lot of work done over the last 2 years which could have been a very stressful experience but it wasn't because of Dr. Cardinale and his staff!

*We love it at Dr. Cardinale's!!!

*Appreciate the quality of service and the customer friendly environment.

*Only saw hygienist.  Very thorough and personable.  Explains everything when necessary.  Always feel great after a cleaning.

*Thanks to the dentist and the staff for a very enjoyable experience.  My requests were answered in an emergency session in Florida 2 hours after my arrival from New York.  The dentist and his assistant, Martha, were excellent and very professional.

*Going to the dentist is actually tolerable, it hasn't been that way in the past.

*Friendly doctors and staff and LOVE the office decor.

*As much as I do not like going to the dentist, I am a terrible dental patient, I like seeing everyone at Cardinale Dentistry, and have full trust in Dr. Cardinale!

*I always enjoy my visits especially never any pressure.

*Great service...Already have sent others!!!

*Terrific Experience