The Myth about Dental Surgeons | Dr. James Schlesinger

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Welcome back to the dentistry for kids Podcast. Today we have a special guest with us Dr. Aslan Drew, who graduated from undergrad at the University of Reno, the University of Connecticut dental school and went to Baylor University with MD degree in the oral surgery program. How do you feel to be on here today? I'm doing well. Pretty good. So I guess for our first question, what is an oral surgeon?

So an oral maxillofacial surgeon is a surgical subspecialty that deals with things from the mouth and face region basically, anything from wisdom teeth, dental extractions and implants to reconstructive surgery for people that were in like car accidents, or cancer or any of this kind of thing. It's just basically anything in the mouth and face.

Oh, that's interesting. So I guess why do you think people would need to see an oral surgeon.

Most commonly for younger people, it's the first surgery they have in their life to have their wisdom teeth out. So that's a very common reason. See an oral surgeon. Sometimes younger in life, you'll have different congenital problems like cleft lip and palate, things like that or older in life commonly, when your teeth break or you had bad teeth, they might have to be removed, and oftentimes, the more complicated ones will get sent to an oral surgeon. oral surgeons can also sedate the patients in our office. So a lot of these procedures for more anxious people are more difficult procedures are preferable to be asleep for. So regular dentists can't do that.

Oh, that's interesting. Thank you,

ma'am. If you're aware, like and then say for instance, more complex things, like if you had big cysts or tumors in your jaw, or again, like I give the example of a car accident and you broke bones in your face, you might need reconstructive surgery.

Oh, okay. So it's not only just for the T there's also for other a

whole face. Yeah, so broken eyes, nose, forehead. Anything. Anything basically from here up, that's broken.

That's cool. I know you mentioned earlier something about wisdom teeth, can you tell the audience a little bit about what are wisdom teeth and at what age they should be removed.

So wisdom teeth are also known as your third molars, it's the teeth behind the farthest teeth back of your mouth. In general, most people don't have enough room for them. And so they can kind of come in at an awkward angle, oftentimes causing problems and including like pain or infection. And General they start appearing in people's mouths somewhere after age, that team sometimes a little bit earlier and very mature people. Some people never get them. But in general, younger people, it's much easier to take the teeth out, they recover much quicker with less complications. So in general, people that are on the ball, usually take them out somewhere between around 15 and 19 years old. Before they cause more problems.

Would you need a checkup to make sure that it could be ready to be taken out?

Yeah, so oftentimes, we'll be referred by your general dentist or orthodontist to the oral surgeon. And we can evaluate that time, everyone's a little bit different. Someone might be ideal at 15. Other people might be 17 or 18. But on an individual basis, whenever it's best for them, we take them out.

Oh, okay. That's cool. Thank you so much for sharing. So I know there's a myth around the street that those kids are fearful of an oral surgeon, could you clarify that myth?

I mean, I don't blame a kid for being scared of surgery, especially if it's the first surgery they've ever had. I would say in general, if you go to someone that's good, it's a very simple, easy process. And I think most people find it to be much more pleasant than they expected. But I don't blame anyone for being nervous about surgery. I was at that age as well.

Okay, yes, thank you for clarifying. So kids, don't be scared to go. Do you need to sedate a patient when you're removing their wisdom teeth?

In general, almost everyone was sedated for wisdom teeth removal. That way you can avoid the pain of the shots and discomfort of the procedure. Also, things like retractors in the back of your mouth can cause a lot of gagging and unpleasant trees during that process. So, in general, for healthy young people, we sedate them and make it a more pleasant experience. So the only thing that they'll feel is the one small shop or getting the IV.

Oh, okay, how long do these procedures normally take?

So that's totally up to the person that's doing the surgery. Straightforward. Wisdom teeth can be done in just a few minutes, three or four minutes. And people that are very experienced, unfortunately, if you go to someone less experienced, it could easily be a half hour to two or three hours.

Oh, okay. Thank you. So I guess like in terms of the recovery time, what is like the general recovery time? Again,

it depends on individuals to some are very easy to come out. And some are more difficult. In general, younger patients recover much quicker, sometimes you can take out fully impacted wisdom teeth, and the kid will be back in school the next day. Other people need a few days to recover. If you're doing it in your 30s and 40s. And they're difficult. It could be a week before you're really ready to go back.

Okay, thank you. That's interesting. So I guess like in terms of the younger kids who get their wisdom teeth removed? How long do you suggest for them? To go back to school after they get it removed? Do you suggest them just go right away? Or is there like a standard?

I usually give them a heads up, they may need two or three days off? But often times a day is fine. It just depends on the patient.

Oh, okay. Thank you. Do you most of your patients normally get it removed during summer break? Or is it varies?

Um, you know, I'll tell you, I think things have been really skewed since the pandemic. Before you are right, though, traditionally, over the winter break, summer break, things like that more common, but I say now I see a little bit more just all throughout the year. Oftentimes, you know, we'll try to do it on a Thursday or Friday, so they have the weekend to recover. It really is up to them. But with the pandemic again, a lot of people have a lot of time off. So we were doing it all throughout the year. Also, you have a higher prevalence of people being homeschooled, so it's not quite as critical on the timing. Oh, okay.

Thank you for that insight. So we also heard that wisdom teeth will make the teeth crooked again after brace it. Is this fact true or is it false?

No, no, a lot of people think that but that's been thoroughly disproven. Wisdom teeth have nothing to do with crowding or shifting.

Okay, thank you for clarifying that. And what are the top things that parents should note make sure their kids have good oral health.

Good oral health. I mean, I think a lot of that comes from much earlier than wisdom teeth age, you know, it's from early on, brushing your teeth, flossing, not eating candy without doing those. In regards to Oral Surgery, I'd say having regular dental exams, checkups and X ray just to make sure you're not missing anything. Specifically, the panoramic X really goes all the way around the mouth that shows the bone structure as well because sometimes you'll be missing things like cysts and tumors and the jaw that won't be seen by the regular dental lectures. Oh,

okay. Thank you. Thank you. That's great, then thank you so much for coming. Okay, have a good day. You too. Bye. Bye.