Wisdom teeth and general extractions

Wisdom teeth and general extractions

Wisdom teeth, which are commonly known to cause dental problems, are the last permanent teeth to erupt in a patients late teens or early twenties. Not everyone needs to have these teeth removed, but removal can take care of symptoms you currently have or prevent future problems. Some problems that can occur with wisdom teeth are gum infection and disease, tooth decay, root resorption, cysts and poor positioning in relation to your other teeth. It is recommended to remove them early because the older you are, the more formed the roots of these teeth become. Our clinics also offer extractions of other primary and permanent teeth if it is determined that they need to be removed. This can be done with local anesthetic and nitrous oxide. The need for extractions can be diagnosed at your regular dental cleaning appointments.

What to Expect

After taking x-rays, if it is decided if the wisdom teeth can be removed in our clinics we use local anesthetic and sedation. On the day of your extraction, you will arrive at the clinic and be given local anesthetic and sedation to help. The entire procedure should be pain free, but you may feel slight manipulation. You will be given pain medication and instructions on how to keep the area clean. It is normal to have swelling and bleeding for 1 or 2 days after the procedure. It is advised to eat only liquids and soft foods for a few days after the procedure. You will return to the clinic in one week to remove the sutures and check healing.

Results

Complications after having wisdom teeth removed are rare. Typical recovery takes 3 or 4 days, and up to a week depending on how impacted the teeth were. Removal of wisdom teeth can alleviate pain, allow you to clean your mouth more easily, reduce the risk of tooth decay and damage to nearby teeth, and avoid infection.