Wisdom Tooth Removal
What is Wisdom Tooth Removal?
Your wisdom teeth are the very last to come in. While some people have more than enough room for these third molars to come through the gums, others may not. This causes the wisdom teeth to become impacted, which means that they are essentially stuck underneath the gums until surgically removed. Impacted wisdom teeth can become painful, irritated, infected and even damage surrounding dentition.
Why is Wisdom Tooth Removal important?
If you leave impacted wisdom teeth alone, the pain and problems they cause won’t go away. Over time, you’ll experience more and more issues revolving around these teeth. This could include crowding, damage to the second molars and even cracked or broken appliances. Some patients even experience recurrent earaches and headaches as a result of their impacted, painful or infected wisdom teeth.
What are some signs that you need to have Wisdom Tooth Removal?
Wisdom teeth will normally begin to show up on dental x-rays when a patient is around 18 years old. It is best to have them removed as soon as they pose a problem. Some signs to look for when it comes to knowing when they should be removed include:
- You have tenderness and whole-mouth pain
- You have persistent, recurring bad breath
- Other teeth are becoming damaged
- Your teeth are beginning to shift and crowd
- You’ve been told the wisdom teeth need to be removed
- You suffer from headaches, earaches and even migraines
What can you expect during surgery for Wisdom Tooth Removal?
The surgical procedure involves administering an anesthetic to numb the area. We even offer sedation to make the procedure more comfortable for you. We then make an incision through the gum line to remove the underlying impacted wisdom tooth. The gums are stitched to close them and the process is repeated for any other wisdom tooth in the mouth. You can expect some minor swelling and tenderness for the first few days following surgery. It is important to follow all aftercare instructions to prevent complications after the surgery has been completed.
If you have wisdom teeth that need to be removed, call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our helpful team members.