How Do I Know If They Need to be Removed?

Impacted wisdom teeth are the last molars on each side of the upper and lower jaw that are still lying below the surface. Wisdom teeth can create pain or disease if they come in crooked or push into already erupted teeth. Some impacted wisdom teeth don’t require removal, but an x-ray will reveal the exact position of the teeth and your dentist can provide the proper recommendation.

What Symptoms Might They Cause?

Wisdom teeth can sometime cause these symptoms before they are removed:

• Pain
• Tooth decay
• Cysts
• Swollen, red, tender or bleeding gums
• Swelling around the jaw
• Gum infection
• Damage to other teeth
• Bad breath
• An unpleasant taste in the mouth near the affected area
• Food to be trapped behind the tooth
• Headache or jaw ache
• Occasional difficulty opening the mouth
• Occasional swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Sedation options are available and will be varied based on the complexity of the extraction. A small incision is made in the gums, the tooth is gently removed and the socket is stitched close for healing. For larger wisdom teeth, the dentist may cut the tooth into smaller pieces before removal. Your provider will send you home with post operative instruction on diet and home care. Patients are usually able to resume life as normal within a couple of days.

Before we perform any wisdom teeth extractions, we want to make sure we know your specific situation. Our office provides advanced dental technology that allows us to see exactly where your wisdom teeth are located and how close they are to your nerves. We want you to have the safest extraction possible, and our state-of-the-art techniques can help us do just that.

Our staff will ensure your comfort as they go, explaining the procedure and how to take care of yourself once you’re home. After the wisdom teeth are extracted, we will place gauze to help minimize bleeding and provide you with any necessary medications.

For a quick healing process, remember the following:

• Avoid straws for at least 24 hours.
• Don’t smoke for 48 hours.
• You can gently rinse with warm water to clean your mouth.
• Don’t brush the teeth at the back of your mouth for another day or two.

You will also want to take it easy for the rest of the day. Participating in rigorous activities too soon can prevent quick healing and cause dry socket. Dry socket occurs when the healing is disturbed and the bone is exposed to the air.