Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom Tooth Extraction. Is it time for you or your teenage son or daughter to think about wisdom tooth extraction? If they are in their teen or early adult years or if you’re experiencing oral health problems, the answer is very likely “yes!” Wisdom tooth extraction is a common oral surgery that is used to prevent and protect against the problems incoming wisdom teeth can cause.
Count on the experts for an important procedure like a wisdom tooth extraction. Plaza Dental Center is dedicated to providing the best dental treatment for all procedures including wisdom tooth extractions. Contact us today to learn more or make your appointment by calling us at 314-361-1818 or here.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth start to grow in typically between the ages of 17 and 25. They are the third set of adult molars, located in the very back of your mouth. Many of us do not have adequate room in our mouths for these teeth to properly grow in, leading to impaction, straightening problems, and much more significant oral health consequences. It has become common practice to undergo oral surgery for wisdom tooth extraction.
With wisdom tooth extraction typically done in the teen years, it can be seen as a rite of passage of sorts. You’re likely familiar with the concept of wisdom tooth extraction and know you or your children probably need to have it done, but do you know why?
Why We Need Wisdom Tooth Extraction
We perform wisdom tooth extraction largely as a preventative measure. When wisdom teeth grow in, they can crowd the mouth and lead to all sorts of potential problems. If you did not undergo wisdom teeth extraction when you were younger and your wisdom teeth grew in, wisdom tooth extraction may still be a good option for you. The removal of wisdom teeth is used to prevent and treat:
- Impacted wisdom teeth that aren’t able to break through your gums because your jaw is not large enough to accommodate them
- Wisdom teeth that grow through your gums only part of the way. A layer of gum tissue can then grow over the teeth, becoming a pocket where food and bacteria can get trapped, inflaming the area and causing infection
- Impacted tooth complications that lead to such problems as infection, damage to other teeth or facial bones, an abscess, or a cyst
- A wisdom tooth or multiple teeth growing in at the wrong angle – the top of the tooth could face forward, backward, towards the inside of the mouth, or towards the cheek. This can be troublesome and lead to further dental issues and complications
- Pain, swelling, infection, and inflammation caused by the emergence of wisdom teeth
- Gum disease, tooth decay, bone damage, and the growth of cysts
- Challenges with smile perfecting treatments such as disruption to teeth-straightening measures
- Difficulty maintaining oral hygiene, as the third set of molars are hard to reach when brushing
The Wisdom Tooth Extraction Procedure
Your oral surgeon will first need to take x-rays to see where your wisdom teeth are growing. The wisdom tooth extraction procedure itself will be a quick visit to the office, typically around one hour. Your oral surgeon will make an incision in your gum, take out the tooth and root, clean out the area, and stitch it up. You will be under some sort of anesthesia.
It’s important to closely follow your oral surgeon’s instructions for care of the extraction site following the surgery. They will likely tell you to do the following:
- Apply ice to manage swelling
- Take any prescribed medications as needed for pain, or try managing with simple over-the-counter pain relievers
- Avoid excess spitting or drinking through a straw to allow blood clots to form
- Rest the day of the surgery and avoid strenuous activity for the following week to avoid disrupting the blood clot
- Drink lots of water, but avoid hot and carbonated beverages for the first 24 hours
- Be gentle when brushing your teeth and rinse your mouth gently and often for a week after the surgery
- Do not smoke for at least 72 hours after the wisdom tooth extraction
In most cases, after your wisdom tooth extraction, you can return to living life as normal in just a few days, with no follow-up needed. However, you should contact the oral surgeon and update them if you experience anything troubling such as ongoing bleeding, a terrible taste, numbness, or dry socket inflammation after a few days.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction Near You | Plaza Dental Center
A wisdom tooth extraction is a common dental treatment that prevents or aleviates common dental problems that occur with the presence of these extra molars that our jaws are not built to fit. For wisdom tooth extraction with a quick and convenient procedure and an easy recovery for lasting dental benefits, trust Plaza Dental Center. Send us a message or call us at 314-361-1818 today to discuss how we can help you with your wisdom tooth extraction.