The wisdom teeth are most often the last teeth to develop within the mouth. They normally begin to show up on x-rays when a person is about 16 to 18 years old and will continue to grow larger over the years. Unfortunately, most patients do not have enough space for their wisdom teeth to fully come up through the gums. This results in the wisdom teeth becoming impacted or only having the ability to partially erupt, with both possibilities causing a variety of dental problems.
Impacted wisdom teeth can become infected, painful and can even damage surrounding teeth as they are trying to make their way to the surface of the gums. When they are finally able to reach this area, they may only partly erupt and can begin to become inflamed and infected. Wisdom teeth should ideally be removed as soon as possible to prevent them from causing any problems. The sooner they are removed, the easier and better the procedure will be.
Teens who have wisdom teeth developing may be told they need to have them taken out. If your wisdom teeth are beginning to bother you, you may be advised to have them removed. Oftentimes, one of the first signs that wisdom teeth need to be removed is the pain and tenderness they cause. You may feel like your mouth is sore and tender or you may even experience pain relating to these teeth.
A consultation will help us determine how and when to remove your wisdom teeth. For simple extractions, local anesthetic is all that is required. For more complicated wisdom teeth removal, we may recommend full sedation to make the procedure much more comfortable for you. Dr. B then starts by creating a small incision through the gums to remove the underlying tooth. The gums will be sutured and you’ll be taken to a recovery room to fully wake up. You will need someone else with you to bring you home from the appointment and will be given important post-op care instructions that should be followed while at home.
If you think you may need to have one or all of your wisdom teeth removed and are ready to come in for a consultation appointment, call us today and we can answer your questions.
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