When your wisdom teeth rear their heads and start causing dental issues, one of the wisest things you can do is get them removed. Our team is here to help you remove pesky wisdom teeth so the health of your teeth and gums can flourish without interruption. Don’t worry; you won’t lose any intelligence once they’ve been removed. You will feel better, though! If they are bothering you, visit us at Springs Village Dentistry for a consultation and get back on the road to a happy, healthy smile.
What are wisdom teeth and why do we have them? It’s believed that our ancestors once used their wisdom teeth to help grind food easier. As the world advanced and our diets became less rudimentary, we used them less and less. Due to evolution, not everyone has these vestigial teeth now. There are also people who have their wisdom teeth and haven’t experienced any complications with them. Unfortunately, they have a habit of coming in at odd angles or becoming impacted. This can cause:
We understand that the wisdom teeth removal procedure can sometimes seem daunting, but rest assured. Our highly trained team performs extractions with precision, compassion, and a gentle touch. Some find that understanding the process helps relieve their anxieties.
Before we begin the removal process, we use sedation to make sure you’re comfortable and stress-free for the duration of the procedure. We then use anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth thoroughly. The tooth is loosened and then extracted using a variety of dental tools designed for precise removals. If your wisdom teeth are impacted, some minor stitches may be needed following the removal. Once the procedure is complete, we make sure you (and the person driving you home) knows the ins and outs of wisdom tooth removal aftercare so your healing process can be a quick one. A follow-up appointment is scheduled a week out so we can make sure that everything is going smoothly and without complications. Be sure to avoid straws and smoking as this could cause dry socket. After about a week or less, you can enjoy life from behind a fully healed, wisdom tooth-free mouth.
You have questions; we have answers. Here are some of the most common questions we get asked and what you need to know:
Let’s get right to it: Getting your wisdom teeth removed should not hurt! During the procedure, you may feel a little bit of pressure as we work, but it definitely should not be an uncomfortable experience. What can hurt though is when you leave problematic wisdom teeth in place and they end up pushing on your other teeth or causing a painful tooth infection.
There’s no perfect age to get them removed. It all depends on when yours come in and if they’re giving you issues. They come in fully and correctly don’t have to worry about getting them extracted. If, on the other hand, your dentist sees that yours are coming in at an angle, causing crowding, are unable to fully erupt, or have some other concern, then that’s when you should get them removed. It’s always better to handle the problem before it happens or before it gets worse!
For many people, recovery is just a matter of three to four days. For others, it can take around one to two weeks. Your personal recovery time will depend on how exactly your teeth were positioned as well as how well you followed your dentist’s wisdom teeth removal aftercare instructions.
When in doubt about what to eat after your wisdom teeth removal procedure, stick to soft foods. Think things like soup, mashed vegetables, oatmeal, ice cream, and smoothies. You should eat foods that will be easy to chew so that you don’t end up irritating the sensitive treatment area. Remember not to eat things that are too hot though since that high temperature can also lead to irritation.
We can’t wait to meet you.
Call (919) 825-3131 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.