Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Relieve Your Wisdom Tooth Pain
Many of us hear of the potential woes our wisdom teeth can cause us and are patiently waiting for the day that our dentist shares whether or not these teeth have erupted without any hassles or if they need to be extracted. The thought itself can be overwhelming, and having the confirmation that you need this procedure can be worse! But you're not alone.
Many patients visit Dr. Slaughter for wisdom tooth extractions, and many of them do so with these same fears. Luckily, another thing that they have in common is that after being treated by Dr Slaughter, they leave feeling calm and excited to say goodbye to tooth pain!
Wisdom Teeth Pain Shouldn’t Stop You
Wisdom teeth, the most commonly known name for your third molars, are the final set of adult molars that erupt on your upper and lower dental arches. Generally, these teeth will start to appear between the ages of 17 and 25 years after all your other teeth have fully developed. For many of our patients, their eruption can lead to problems like spacing and crowding issues.
If one or more of your wisdom teeth have become impacted, the resulting discomfort can also become increasingly more severe as they continue to try to erupt, in which case we recommend oral surgery to extract these teeth as soon as possible.
Why Do They Become Impacted?
In earlier times, our third molars were used to enhance chewing power so that we could consume a rougher diet. Our teeth also used to have larger dental ridges to accommodate these extra molars, and impaction was likely a much less frequent problem.
Today, however, third molars aren’t really needed, and many people don’t have space on their dental ridges to accommodate them. That means that when they try to erupt, they often become stuck (impacted) behind your second molars, and extracting them becomes an urgent need.
The Symptoms of Impaction
The problem with an impacted wisdom tooth is that no obstruction will stop it from trying to erupt. This means it will continue to grow and push, even if the impaction causes it to change angles. As a result, wisdom tooth impaction can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Increasing pain in the back of your dental arch
- Swelling in your gums
- A change in the alignment of your teeth
- Difficulty biting and chewing
- Chronic bad breath
- And more
Each of these symptoms can grow more prominent the longer an impacted tooth is left untreated, and you may experience issues like severe tooth malpositioning, internal tooth infection and cyst formation, and swelling around the tooth. In order to avoid these symptoms, it’s often recommended that wisdom tooth extraction be performed as soon as possible.
What To Expect During Your Surgery
Step 1: Sedation and Comfort
We’ll begin by administering the right type of anesthesia for your needs, so you feel calm, relaxed, and comfortable.
Step 2: Gentle Removal
Once the area is numb, a small incision is made in the gum to access the wisdom tooth. In some cases, the tooth is removed in smaller sections to protect the surrounding bone and tissue.
Step 3: Cleaning and Healing
After removal, Dr. Slaughter will carefully clean the site to reduce the chance of infection. The incision is then closed before we guide you through simple recovery steps so you can heal comfortably at home.
After Your Surgery
Do
- Stick to Dr. Slaughter’s post-surgical instructions.
- Use ice packs for the first 24 hours to help you reduce swelling.
- Eat soft foods and drink fluids for the first two days.
- Take it easy and resume normal activities within a short period.
- Brush your teeth carefully to avoid disturbing blood clots.
Don't
- Avoid using straws for at least 24 hours, as they can dislodge blood clots.
- Don’t rinse your mouth vigorously until the clotting is complete.
- Refrain from smoking, as it can disrupt your healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wisdom teeth are the last to develop, and often there isn’t enough room for them to come in. When they become impacted, they press against other teeth and cause significant discomfort.
Impacted wisdom teeth usually get worse over time. They can damage nearby teeth, affect your bite, or harm your jawbone. Removing them early prevents these problems from escalating.
Because impacted wisdom teeth may not break through the gums, they can’t always be pulled easily. In these cases, Dr. Slaughter carefully exposes and removes the tooth in sections to protect the surrounding tissue.
Recovery time depends on how many teeth are removed and how impacted they are. Most patients return to normal activities in 2-3days, with full healing over a couple of weeks.
