Wisdom Teeth Removal
So you need Wisdom Teeth Removal?
A person’s wisdom teeth normally begin to develop when they reach 18 years of age. Most people simply do not have enough room in their mouth for the wisdom teeth to properly grow into place. This can cause the wisdom teeth to become impacted or to only partially erupt through the gums. Both impacted and partially erupted wisdom teeth can cause problems that involve infection, inflammation, pain and even damage to surrounding teeth.
Why might you need Wisdom Teeth Removal?
You may need to have your wisdom teeth removed if they are unable to fully come up through the gums. We can determine the position of your wisdom teeth with the help of an x-ray. As you get older, the wisdom teeth become larger and longer, so we may advise you to only have the ones that are bothering you removed to prevent disrupting underlying nerve pathways. A CT scan is necessary prior to wisdom tooth removal.
What makes you a candidate for Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Most people who want their wisdom teeth removed can have them extracted successfully. These teeth serve absolutely no purpose in the mouth and can oftentimes do more harm than good for people who choose to keep them in. As the wisdom teeth get bigger, they may pose a problem during extraction because the roots intertwine with underlying nerves. This will be discussed at your consultation appointment with our doctor.
What should you expect with typical Wisdom Teeth Removal?
If you are going to be having all four wisdom teeth removed, we typically recommend general anesthesia so that the process goes quickly and comfortably for you. If you just need one tooth removed, local anesthetic can be administered. For impacted wisdom teeth, small incisions are made in the gums to expose the tooth and properly remove it. Sutures are often necessary to close the gum in these areas. You will be given aftercare instructions that must be followed so that your mouth heals quickly and properly.
If you need to have one or more of your wisdom teeth removed, call our office and we will work to get you scheduled with a consultation appointment.