What Is Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Wisdom teeth are the third molars that typically begin to develop around the time a person reaches adulthood. If the wisdom teeth have enough room to come in fully, they often won’t cause any problems. If, however, you do not have enough room in your mouth for them to come up completely, they become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can become painful, infected and even damage surrounding teeth, so it is important to have them removed.
Why Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Needed?
The reason you might need to have wisdom teeth removed is because they are impacted completely or have only partially erupted through the gums. If left untreated, these wisdom teeth can become painful and cause severe swelling. They may push against the surrounding teeth, which can cause both overcrowding as well as damage. Some patients even have recurrent headaches and earaches in relation to their impacted wisdom teeth.
Who Is A Candidate For Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Most patients who have problematic wisdom teeth can and should consider treatment. We can determine if extraction is needed with the help of both an exam as well as dental x-rays. This allows us to see where the wisdom teeth are located and the best way to go about removing them. If you need to have these third molars removed, it’s best to have the procedure done as soon as possible.
What Happens During Wisdom Teeth Removal?
The first step is to provide you with anesthetic or sedation of your choosing. We will discuss these options when you come in for a consultation appointment. We then make an incision through the gums and extract the underlying wisdom tooth. The gums are stitched closed and the process is further repeated for any other wisdom teeth needing to be removed. You can expect pain, swelling and slight discomfort for the first few days following surgery. We are here to answer any post-operative questions you may have concerning the procedure.
If you think you might need to have your wisdom teeth removed, call our office today and we will be more than happy to answer your questions.