Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that involves removing one or more wisdom teeth from the rear ends of your mouth, often due to problems involving the eruption or development of the tooth. If you’re experiencing problems with your emerging wisdom teeth, removing them may be the wisest thing to do, as recommended by our dental professionals at Prime Dentistry.
While you may be aware of what a wisdom tooth is , you may not know much about the process of wisdom tooth extraction. Luckily, our beloved patients residing in the North East Philadelphia region can be more open to getting theirs removed at our office.
WHAT ARE WISDOM TEETH?
Quite contrary to popular belief, these “wisdom teeth” do not readily bring about intelligence. Also known as the third molars, they are the last of your adult teeth to erupt and are typically positioned at the rear end of your jaw. Most adults have four wisdom teeth, however, it is possible to have more, fewer, or none at all.
The most common problems with the third molars or the wisdom teeth occur when their development and positioning are hampered due to some intrinsic factors. Those wisdom teeth that present with such problems will be extracted by our dental professionals to help you get relief from the pain and promote superior oral health.
AT WHAT AGE DO MOST PEOPLE GET THEIR WISDOM TEETH?
While most of your adult teeth develop before you hit adulthood, your wisdom teeth may emerge significantly later. This eruption period can vary depending on the particular person. However, they are typically known to arise between the ages of 17 and 25, if at all.
DO ALL WISDOM TEETH NEED TO BE REMOVED?
It’s actually a huge misconception that all wisdom teeth need to be extracted. If your wisdom teeth are growing in a healthy and correct position, there is no need to have them removed. This can be indicated by the absence of problematic symptoms of “impacted” or improperly positioned wisdom teeth.
Our dentists at Prime Dentistry often encounter patients with a chief complaint of pain and tenderness in the jaw or swelling around the gums, all of which can be easy signs of impacted wisdom teeth.
WHAT PROBLEMS CAN A WISDOM TOOTH CAUSE?
The most common issue surrounding wisdom teeth is impaction. If your wisdom tooth is “impacted”, this means that there isn’t enough space in your mouth for the wisdom tooth to emerge and develop naturally. This can lead to a lot of issues such as crowding, cavities, gum disease, infection, and other forms of acute damage to the teeth and surrounding structures, often causing considerable pain and discomfort.
Because of the misaligned positioning of your wisdom tooth, it can make it difficult for you to practice proper oral hygiene activities, further making your tooth prone to decay and other easily preventable dental ailments.
PROCEDURE FOR WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL
At North-East Philadelphia’s most trusted dental clinic – Prime Dentistry – we treat each patient with utmost care and dedication. Since the process of wisdom teeth removal is fairly complex, we make sure that our patients are fully informed about the events of the procedure and any aftercare they should pay attention to.
The process of wisdom teeth removal widely depends upon the growth stage in which the wisdom teeth are. In cases where your wisdom tooth is in fact impacted, our dental professionals will begin the extraction process. A small incision is made in the gums to extract the underlying tooth roots. The tooth may be broken down into parts for easy removal and to minimize the amount of bone required to be extracted.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Will I be sedated or put under anesthesia for the procedure?
Most patients need not be put under general anesthesia for the wisdom tooth extraction procedure. For patient comfort, we provide nitrous oxide(laughing gas) and other forms of oral sedation, if deemed necessary.
- Will I need stitches?
Stitches may be required on some occasions, however, are not always necessary. If you do require stitches, they will likely dissolve on their own after a few weeks. If this does not happen, you will be called in for an appointment, where our oral surgeon will swiftly remove them.
- How long will the pain last after the procedure?
Surgical pain may last for a couple of days following the dental procedure. During this time, you’ll be required to take necessary precautions and follow all instructions.
- What are some post surgical precautions?
Our dentists recommend you follow these precautions immediately after the surgery:
- Avoid rigorous biting or chewing
- Regular bleeding is normal, but if the bleeding exceeds, call us immediately
- Ice your jaw for relief
- Be on a liquid diet for the first few days
- Avoid sucking on straws and hot beverages
If you’re in dire need of an emergency wisdom tooth removal or a wisdom tooth evaluation, visit Prime Dentistry in North-East Philadelphia to have our dental team evaluate it.
