With millions of people having their wisdom teeth removed each year, odds are, you know of a friend, colleague, or family member that has had this common dental surgery! In fact, 85% of people will need to have their wisdom teeth extracted at some point in their lifetime! For many patients, wisdom tooth removal is crucial to attaining a beautiful smile, while others seek relief by getting rid of pain or infection. At LoPour & Associates DDS in Albuquerque, we’ve mastered the skills and techniques of this routine dental procedure and have performed countless extractions. When done by one of our experienced dental specialists, you can be assured that having your wisdom teeth removed is nothing to worry about and will help you achieve the smile of your dreams!
Wisdom teeth are located at the top and bottom back corners of your mouth and are the last permanent adult teeth to develop. Some people have enough room within their mouths for these teeth to grow in normally, while others may never develop them at all. When there is no room for them to grow in, they are referred to as impacted wisdom teeth and can cause pain, infection, and lead to other dental problems – this is when a wisdom tooth extraction is necessary!
Problems Caused by Impacted Wisdom Teeth
If you’re experiencing any of the following, a wisdom tooth extraction is likely needed:
- Pain
- Infection or periodontal disease
- Food and debris trapped behind wisdom teeth
- Damage to teeth surrounding a wisdom tooth
- Cyst development around a wisdom tooth
- Tooth decay in a developing wisdom tooth
An Expert’s Approach to Removing Your Wisdom Teeth
Nothing is more important to us than ensuring your comfort. Our oral surgeon will discuss every measure of the procedure with you beforehand so that you’re aware of what to expect. Depending on the severity of your wisdom tooth or other existing dental conditions, we’ll determine and discuss with you which type of anesthesia is right for you. Once the sedation has taken effect, the procedure begins and a small incision is made in the gums to expose the tooth. If necessary, parts of the bone will be removed along with any gums covering the area of the tooth. The wisdom tooth is then gently loosened from any connective tissues and may be sectioned to make removal easier. The wisdom tooth is then removed and the area is stitched up.
Following the procedure is an average two week healing process. During this phase it’s important to follow your dentist’s orders, such as taking your medications and avoiding solid foods, hot drinks, straws, smoking, and drinking alcohol to ensure a fast and successful recovery. You’ll be scheduled for a post-surgery follow up where your dentist will remove any stitches and ensure the site of extraction is healing properly.
Benefits of Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Aside from pain relief, there are many other benefits to having your wisdom teeth extracted. So much so, that even if you don’t have impacted wisdom teeth, it may still be suggested you have them removed! Being that there is a limited amount of space in the mouth, wisdom teeth can cause inflamed and irritated gums which may eventually lead to painful gum disease. They can also cause overcrowding in your mouth which may cause teeth to become crooked or overlap and damage other teeth. Wisdom teeth can also develop an infection within themselves, leading to an even worse infection in your mouth or the development of cysts or tumors. It may be difficult to keep wisdom teeth clean, and food and debris can become trapped behind them, increasing your chances of infection or plaque build up. For these reasons, many people opt to have their wisdom teeth removed even if they’re not presently causing any issues.
Achieving a beautiful and healthy smile is easy with the dental experts at LoPour & Associates in Albuquerque! Schedule an appointment with us today to see if a wisdom tooth extraction is right for you!
