Don’t Let Wisdom Teeth Cause Discomfort

Greetings Plano! Welcome back to the ongoing dental health blog of 1st In Smiles. In our last post, we detailed what you could expect if you need to have a tooth removed. In the days following that post, several patients have asked what they could expect if they need to have their wisdom teeth removed.

Many adults will need to have their wisdom teeth removed at some point in their lives. At 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, we regularly remove wisdom teeth. In today’s post we’re going to give you the 411 on having your wisdom teeth removed. We’ll detail what they are, when/if you’ll need to have them removed, and how they’re removed.

Wisdom teeth are your third molars; they are the last teeth in your mouth to erupt. Typically, you’ll have four wisdom teeth – two on either side of your upper and lower jaw. (Some people may have fewer or more wisdom teeth. On rare occasions a patient may never develop their wisdom teeth.)

Your wisdom teeth rest under your gums during adolescence. They tend to leave (erupt) from your gumline during your later teenage years or early 20s. Your wisdom teeth may never erupt through your gums; this condition is called impacted wisdom teeth. In addition, your wisdom teeth may only partially emerge through your gums; this condition is called partially impacted wisdom teeth. We often recommend removing impacted and partially impacted wisdom teeth, as they can adversely affect your oral health.

Wisdom teeth often need to be removed because they are adversely affecting your oral health or the appearance of your smile. We recommend removing your wisdom teeth if they are causing you any type of pain. Your wisdom teeth are not needed for effective chewing, and are not visible in your smile, so there is no reason to keep them if they are causing you pain.

You may also need to have your wisdom teeth removed if you are suffering from gum disease and/or teeth decay. Wisdom teeth are more susceptible to decay and disease because they are located in the back of your teeth and harder to reach than your other teeth.

Finally, you may need your wisdom teeth removed simply because your mouth doesn’t have room for the extra teeth. Wisdom teeth can cause crowding and push your other teeth out of alignment. Wisdom teeth can also move your other teeth out of alignment if they grow in crooked or at angle, in which case they will also need to be removed.

If your wisdom teeth are causing you discomfort, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX. We will physically inspect your teeth and use digital x-rays to determine the health and positioning go your teeth. Digital x-rays allow us to see the exact position of impacted wisdom teeth and plan for their removal.

Having your wisdom teeth removed is a relatively quick process. We can generally extract wisdom teeth in about an hour. Before we begin, we will numb your mouth with a local anesthesia to ensure you feel no discomfort from the procedure. We can also provide you with dental sedation to allow you to relax during your procedure. We recommend having someone to drive you home after your procedure.

Following the removal of your wisdom teeth, we will provide you with detailed instructions on how to care for your mouth. You’ll probably be limited to a soft food or liquid diet for a day or two following your procedure. You’ll also have to be cautious about how your brush your teeth. If you follow the provided instructions, you’ll likely experience minimal discomfort from the procedure.

Make an Appointment

Are your wisdom teeth causing you pain? Then get them out of there! At 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, we can remove wisdom teeth, including impacted or partially impacted wisdom teeth. Call us at 972-380-8105 to schedule an appointment.