What’s so wise about wisdom teeth? They gain their name from the fact that they tend to develop as you reach adulthood. As you’re gaining wisdom. But for many people, wisdom teeth are more of a pain and hassle than anything.
At 1st in Smiles in Plano, TX, we can remove your wisdom teeth if they are causing you pain. In today’s post of our dental health blog, we’re going to look at wisdom teeth. Specifically, when you can expect them to develop, and how to know if they’ll need to be removed.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Your wisdom teeth are your third molars; they are the last teeth to develop. Generally, you have four wisdom teeth. Two on either side of your upper jaw, and two on either side of your lower jaw. Although four is the standard number, some patients have fewer or several more. Some patients may not have any wisdom teeth at all.
Wisdom teeth are present under your gumline during adolescence. However, they tend to erupt (leave your gums) later in life. Many people have their wisdom teeth grown in during their teenage years, or their first few years of college. On occasion, a person’s wisdom teeth may never fully develop. They may stay impacted in their gums or only partially emerge from their gums. In these situations, the wisdom teeth may have to be removed.
How Do I Know if My Wisdom Teeth Need to be Removed?
Good question! Wisdom teeth are only removed if doing so can maintain your oral health or improve the appearance of your smile. Removing wisdom teeth is a common procedure performed at our office, and can greatly benefit many of our patients.
You may need to have your wisdom teeth removed if they are causing pain or discomfort. On occasion, wisdom teeth that aren’t causing you pain may also need to be removed. If you are prone to gum disease or tooth decay, we may need to remove your wisdom teeth because they will be susceptible to these diseases. You may also need them removed if your mouth doesn’t have room for them, removing them can help prevent the wisdom teeth from pushing your other teeth out of alignment.
We will throughly exam your mouth to determine if we need to remove your wisdom teeth. We can use state-of-the-art digital x-rays to see exactly where in your gums your wisdom teeth are located. That means even if your wisdom teeth are impacted or partially impacted, we can still plan a treatment to provide for their removal.
How Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Generally, removing wisdom teeth is a quick process. It may even take less than an hour. Much of your treatment time will depend on the positioning of the teeth and the current condition of your gums. We can num the area with local anesthesia, ensuring that process is completely painless. We can also help you relax for the procedure with dental sedation.
After the teeth have been removed, we will provide you with specific instructions for caring for your mouth in the days that follow. You will generally need to eat soft foods and liquids for the first couple of days. Any soreness should pass with two to three days.
Make An Appointment
Do you think you or a teenaged child may need to have their wisdom teeth removed? Then contact 1st in Smiles in Plano, TX, to schedule an appointment. We have tons of experience in removing wisdom teeth in the safest and most painless way possible. So call us at 972-905-9266 to schedule an appointment.
