There was a time, long ago, when our ancestors needed the third molars to help chew the kinds of food they ate. Our diets have since evolved, making these third molars--or wisdom teeth--superfluous. Our jaws are smaller than theirs were then, so there isn’t really room for these extra teeth. For some people, they never seem to cause problems. For... read more »

Bacteremia means that bacteria have entered the bloodstream. These bacteria can cause infection in other parts of the body, but the immune system is usually able to fight it off. However, some people are more susceptible to infection, especially when they undergo certain dental procedures because the mouth is full of bacteria which can enter the blood stream. Antibiotic prophylaxis... read more »