GENERAL DENTISTRY
DENTAL EXAMS & CLEANINGS | DENTAL X-RAYS | FILLINGS | WISDOM TEETH / EXTRACTIONS
ROOT CANALS | CROWNS | BRIDGES | SEALANTS | PREVENTION
WISDOM TEETH / EXTRACTIONS
What are wisdom teeth and why do I have them?
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars. Most people's wisdom teeth come in during their late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth can be a welcome addition to your mouth if ample room is available for them and they align themselves with the rest of your teeth. Just like other molars, wisdom teeth perform valuable chewing functions and can help support the structure of the mouth and jaw.
Why do some wisdom teeth have to be extracted?
The arrival of wisdom teeth can sometimes cause problems mainly due to misalignment. Misalignment can come in many different forms. Some wisdom teeth may position themselves horizontally. Some may be be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward.
When wisdom teeth are poorly aligned with the rest of the mouth, they can crowd existing teeth, sometimes even causing damage to the teeth around them, the jaw or even the nerves. Wisdom teeth that are angled toward or overlap other teeth often become traps for plaque and other debris, eventually causing tooth decay. Misaligned wisdom teeth can also become trapped in the soft tissue of the gums or in the jawbone and become impacted and must be removed.
How are wisdom teeth extracted?
The procedure for extracting wisdom teeth depends on the position of the impacted teeth. During a pre-extraction exam, your dentist will determine the position of the wisdom teeth and recommend the best procedure for extracting them.
During a wisdom tooth extraction, the tooth and the surrounding tissue are first numbed with a local anesthetic. Your dentist may also administer a sedative to calm any anxieties about the procedure. Sedatives may include: nitrous oxide (otherwise known as "laughing gas"), an oral sedative, or an intravenous sedative, administered via an injection.
The actual extraction procedure will vary by patient. Wisdom teeth that are trapped in soft tissue, but have fully erupted through the gum can be easily extracted with the same procedure as any tooth removal. However, if the wisdom tooth is underneath the gums and embedded in the jawbone, an incision into the gums will be required to remove the portion of bone that lies over the tooth. Your dentist may recommend extracting the tooth in small sections rather than in one piece to minimize the amount of bone that needs to be removed to get the tooth out.
After the extraction, your dentist may prescribe pain medication and/or antibiotics as well as the application of ice packs to ease discomfort during the first 24 hours.