Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth are your third molars. These are typically the last teeth to appear in the mouth. They usually emerge in people between the ages of 17 and 25. If the mouth is large enough to accommodate them, then there is no problem. But in many cases, there is not enough room. That is when our oral surgeon may recommend wisdom teeth extractions. These can be performed in the comfort of our dental office in Killeen, TX.
Why You May Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
If the jaw bone is not wide enough for the wisdom teeth to come through the gums properly, they may remain trapped under the gum line, come through only partially, or grow sideways. Teeth that cannot properly emerge into place are called impacted teeth.
These poorly-positioned wisdom teeth can:
- allow bacteria to thrive around the impacted wisdom teeth. That can lead to a gum infection that causes swelling, stiffness, pain, and problems chewing.
- press against other teeth, which can cause them to move out of alignment
- damage the jaw bone and healthy teeth
While many people experience pressure or pain when the wisdom teeth emerge, that’s not always the case. Your dentist will take x-rays to determine whether the wisdom teeth are causing a problem now or may cause a problem in the future. Wisdom teeth extractions are very common; about five million Americans each year have their wisdom teeth removed. Most people choose to have their wisdom teeth taken out in their late teens or early 20s. That’s because it’s easier to remove wisdom teeth when the tooth roots are not fully developed and the jaw bone is not as dense.
The Wisdom Teeth Extraction Procedure
Our oral surgeon at Killeen will talk to you about the different methods available to keep you comfortable while he removes the wisdom teeth. If you’re having only one wisdom tooth extracted, you may only need a local anesthetic. However, if you need multiple wisdom teeth extracted, you may need oral sedation or another type of conscious sedation.
If the wisdom tooth is impacted, meaning it’s still under the gum line partially or completely, then the gum tissue will be opened and the tooth will be gently removed. The oral surgeon may need to apply sutures (stitches) to help with healing. After the procedure is over, you will rest for a short time before going home. You may need to have another person drive you, depending on the type of anesthesia you received.
The team at Coast Dental Killeen will give you a list of post-operative instructions to help you be as comfortable as possible while you heal. You may want to eat soft foods for a few days after the extraction(s), and you’ll need to be careful brushing your teeth until the healing is complete.
The first step is to find out whether you even need your wisdom teeth removed. Call Coast Dental today at (254) 285-2014 to schedule a consultation.
