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Dr. Spencer Elliot Schwartz, DMD
Dentist
Dr. Spencer Schwartz is a Dentist practicing in Nutley, NJ. Dr. Schwartz specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures, and performing examinations, among many others.
Dr. Spencer Elliot Schwartz, DMD
- Nutley, NJ
- Accepting new patients
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What are the symptoms of a spreading tooth infection?
The main signs of an infection would include, but are not limited to, swelling, pain in the area of the jaw. A dental infection often will be accompanied with a swelling that oozes READ MORE
The main signs of an infection would include, but are not limited to, swelling, pain in the area of the jaw. A dental infection often will be accompanied with a swelling that oozes a white substance. Feeling feverish can happen too. But there are many signs of an infection- even the absence of pain.
Should I wait to have my wisdom teeth extracted?
You should never extract a lower wisdom tooth unless it's absolutely necessary. The reason is because in the course of removal there is risk of disrupting the nerve that gives READ MORE
You should never extract a lower wisdom tooth unless it's absolutely necessary. The reason is because in the course of removal there is risk of disrupting the nerve that gives you sensation along your lower jaw up to the front of your lip causing numbness. It's a low risk and the numbness will resolve most of the time (but not all of the time). Of course if you're the patient who ends up going numb during the course of a lower wisdom tooth extraction you won't care about the odds. Lower wisdom teeth are usually tightly anchored into the jaw and their removal can be difficult.
Upper wisdom teeth present with less anatomical risks . Removing them for the sake of removing them is not a good idea. If they have a cavity, an infection, if they're significantly impacting your hygiene and challenging to clean, if they're impacting normal activity such as working, studying, social situations- or are such that you are "always thinking about that damn wisdom tooth"- entertaining their removal is merited. When they aren't impacted upper wisdom teeth aren't terribly difficult to remove. Usually the jaw bone isn't as dense and they aren't anchored in the jaw as tightly as lower wisdom teeth.
I am not in agreement they should be removed just for the sake of removing, or just because the may appear to cause crowding. There should be sound reason and patients should be correctly informed. In my opinion wisdom teeth are largely removed without serious need.
Upper wisdom teeth present with less anatomical risks . Removing them for the sake of removing them is not a good idea. If they have a cavity, an infection, if they're significantly impacting your hygiene and challenging to clean, if they're impacting normal activity such as working, studying, social situations- or are such that you are "always thinking about that damn wisdom tooth"- entertaining their removal is merited. When they aren't impacted upper wisdom teeth aren't terribly difficult to remove. Usually the jaw bone isn't as dense and they aren't anchored in the jaw as tightly as lower wisdom teeth.
I am not in agreement they should be removed just for the sake of removing, or just because the may appear to cause crowding. There should be sound reason and patients should be correctly informed. In my opinion wisdom teeth are largely removed without serious need.
