A wisdom tooth extraction is a rite of passage for patients, something that most people will have to deal with at some point in their life. However, it’s also a procedure that people tend to be a little bit nervous about. People tend to worry about what the surgery will entail, or how they’ll handle aftercare.
Thankfully, at Canyon Creek Family Dentistry of Richardson, we offer gentle wisdom tooth extractions for a pain-free tomorrow. If you happen to be near Richarson, make an appointment with us today and we’ll be happy to talk to you about what the procedure will entail.
Most teeth grow in sometime in childhood. However, the last set of molars people get don’t emerge until sometime around early adulthood. These are the wisdom teeth.
It’s believed that these teeth are relics of an era of human history where people lost more of their teeth as they aged. However, this isn’t really the case nowadays, which makes wisdom teeth unnecessary. It’s also the case that not everyone will develop all four of their wisdom teeth; some people are naturally missing a few, while others are born without any at all.
Typically, these teeth are unnecessary and may cause problems due to their late development. They’re unusually likely to be impacted, are susceptible to infection, and don’t do much to increase people’s overall bite strength. They might also affect the alignment of the surrounding teeth, pushing them out of place. That being the case, they’re usually removed as they begin to emerge.
If you notice that you’re experiencing pain or swelling associated with the emergence of your wisdom teeth, it might be a good idea to talk to us about taking them out.
As with any procedure, we will numb your mouth completely in order to ensure that you’re completely comfortable for the duration of your treatment. We’ll also provide you with sedatives if you’re anxious about your procedure.
If a wisdom tooth has managed to emerge, this usually makes removing them simple. We will use a tool called an elevator to gently lift the tooth from its socket, and then a pair of forceps to take them out of place. If the wisdom tooth is impacted, surgery may be necessary to fully remove the tooth from beneath the gum’s surface.
In the days after a wisdom tooth extraction, it’s common for people to be a little bit sore. This could be accompanied by some bleeding and facial swelling. We will give you detailed instructions for aftercare when we meet you for your consultation, but for posterity here are a few things that you should keep in mind:
If you have any other questions about how best to handle your wisdom tooth extraction, or what the process a whole should entail, make an appointment with us today and we’ll be happy to talk to you.