The removal, or extraction, of wisdom teeth involves a surgical procedure to remove the last molars in the back corners of your mouth. These teeth are the last to emerge, which typically happens during the late teens or early twenties.
However, wisdom teeth can remain under the gums until later in life or not emerge at all. If you would like to learn more about wisdom teeth removal, Wheaton Oral Surgery in Naperville, IL would be happy to answer any questions you have.
Why Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Because they are the last to erupt, there is often not enough space in your mouth for your wisdom teeth. This can result in various oral health issues.
For one, wisdom teeth may remain impacted, or trapped beneath your gum tissue. This can cause tenderness and swelling.
In addition, wisdom teeth can only partially emerge, which can result in painful overcrowding. In turn, crowded teeth can make thorough oral hygiene difficult, leading to decay and gum disease.
Finally, wisdom teeth can come in crooked, which can affect your bite and cause ulcers or cuts in your cheek tissue.
The American Dental Association recommends that you have your wisdom teeth removed before the age of 20. This is because tooth roots are less developed, making complications less likely.
In addition, Dr. Scherer may recommend wisdom tooth removal even if impaction isn't currently causing any problems. This can prevent a procedure further down the line that could be more painful and complicated.
How Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Wisdom tooth extraction is a safe, routine procedure we perform in our office.
The type of anesthesia used will depend on the severity of your case and any dental phobias you may have. We will either use general anesthesia to fully sedate you or a local anesthesia like Novocain®.
Once your wisdom teeth are pulled, you'll be asked to gently bite down on a gauze pad for about 30 to 45 minutes after leaving our office. This will limit bleeding.
You will likely experience minor pain and swelling for 1 to 3 days. If these symptoms persist after a few days, don't hesitate to give our office a call, especially if you are running a fever.
What Are the Risks of Wisdom Tooth Removal?
Complications are rare with wisdom tooth extraction.
However, the procedure sometimes requires that we make an incision in your gum tissue and/or remove bone tissue. In rare cases, the treated area can result in a painful dry socket when the post-surgical blood clot is lost.
In addition, infection can develop in the socket, especially if the area isn't cleaned well once you arrive home.
How Do I Prepare for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Other than scheduling an initial exam in our office, there is really no preparation for wisdom teeth removal.
However, we will need to do x-rays to design a treatment plan, so it's important to inform us if you are pregnant or have other conditions that could be affected by x-rays.
Schedule Wisdom Tooth Removal with Your Oral Surgeon in Naperville, IL
Wheaton Oral Surgery will ensure your wisdom tooth removal is as comfortable and risk-free as possible. Give us a call at (331) 204-0314 for more information.
