Wisdom Teeth Removal
Our mouths and teeth go through many different changes throughout our lifetime, and one significant change that happens is getting your wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are the third molars that are supposed to come in later in life, generally around 17-25 years of age. If your wisdom teeth come in correctly and remain healthy, they can help you chew. At Complete Dental Care, we urge our young patients and their parents to pay close attention to the wisdom tooth area. Once your wisdom teeth start coming in, please notify us as soon as possible. We make it a point to check our patient’s wisdom teeth through x-rays and monitor their arrival at our dental offices. It is common knowledge that most dentists recommend wisdom teeth removal before or as soon as they arrive. Learn more about wisdom teeth, why dental professionals encourage patients to get them removed, and the removal process.
Why Should I Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
We typically remove wisdom teeth because they can cause severe pain and damage to surrounding teeth upon growing in. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to keep your wisdom teeth. Below we have listed the main reasons why patients get their wisdom teeth removed:
- Tooth Damage: Wisdom teeth won’t always grow straight. When they don’t grow completely vertical, they will start to contact the roots of the second molar as they erupt. With x-rays, we can determine whether or not they will grow straight. We highly recommend getting them extracted if this is the case.
- Not Enough Space: The main reason for wisdom teeth removal is that there is not enough space at the back of the mouth for the teeth to grow in. The lack of space causes the wisdom teeth to damage the surrounding teeth or push the teeth together, causing crowding.
- Hard to Keep Clean: If your wisdom teeth can and do grow in properly without harming any other teeth, we want you to be aware of how hard they can be to clean. Wisdom teeth that are fully erupted are at higher risk of accumulating decay because they are hard to reach. If you decide to keep your wisdom teeth, we encourage you to increase oral hygiene to prevent decay.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Process
The procedure for wisdom teeth removal is one of the more extensive dental procedures. First, we will use IV sedation to be comfortable and calm during your procedure. You will still be aware but will be so relaxed that it is common for patients to fall asleep.
Depending on if the teeth are impacted (still underneath the gum tissue) or erupted will determine the next step. We will cut away the gum tissue for impacted teeth to expose the tooth for removal. We will loosen the tooth from the tissues and then pull it out like any regular extraction. In some cases, we may need to cut the tooth into pieces to remove it entirely.
Next, we will clean and close the holes left from the teeth removal. After we complete the process, patients are not allowed to drive due to the strength of the sedation.
Post-Procedure Care
After your procedure, your mouth will remain numb for a few hours. Once the pain starts, we encourage you to take the recommended dosage of pain medication. It is important to eat soft foods and refrain from drinking from a straw. We will give you more post-procedure instructions, determining your specific procedure.
Need a Consultation?
If you are unsure whether your wisdom teeth are about to grow in or are even present, please give our dental office a call. We are more than happy to help you learn more about your wisdom teeth and educate you on the benefits of having them removed.
If you have any questions regarding the procedure or wisdom teeth, don’t hesitate to contact us.