Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to come in, and they can grow at any time between 16 to 25-years-old. Due to their position, wisdom teeth often don’t have enough room to grow, which can cause problems.
As general dentistry experts, Expressions In Dentistry understands your family’s schedule can be hectic, making it difficult to find time to schedule appointments; let alone have oral surgery that requires some recovery time.
But with spring break here and school not in session, now is the time to have your or your family’s wisdom teeth removed..
There are several reasons why we recommend wisdom teeth extractions. Your wisdom teeth grow in at odd angles and positions, which can result in impacted wisdom teeth.
Impacted wisdom teeth occur when your wisdom teeth grow toward the second molar or in a way that looks almost as if the tooth is lying down. This can lead to your teeth shifting and cause pain or infection.
One reason it’s important to remove your wisdom teeth is that they can cause issues that aren’t noticeable without a dental exam. And it’s difficult to properly and thoroughly clean them making the risk of decay or infection higher.
When you visit Expressions In Dentistry for wisdom teeth extraction, our team will first examine your wisdom teeth. We'll check to see if they're infected, impacted, and how many need extraction. We'll also look at your other teeth to see if any damage occurred from your wisdom teeth.
Next, we use IV sedation which prevents you from feeling pain but keeps you alert enough to perform requests like turning your head. Patients usually don’t remember their procedures.
Once you’re sedated, Thomas Ludlow, DDS starts the extraction process. He first makes an incision to open your gums, allowing them to easily remove small pieces of your underlying tooth. If you have impacted wisdom teeth, he may need to remove small sections of your jawbone.
After they finish extracting your wisdom teeth, we clean the surgery site to ensure no debris is left behind. After stitching up your gums, we place gauze on your wound to stop the bleeding.
Expressions In Dentistry provides you with a list of aftercare instructions to ensure a quick and safe recovery.
It’s normal to experience bleeding the day after your procedure, but keeping the gauze clean and in place helps avoid blood clots.
For pain management, our team may give you a prescription if over-the-counter (OTC) medications don’t help. Make sure you closely follow the instructions about what to eat and drink and how to clean your mouth.
Most wisdom teeth extractions don’t have complications, but they can occur.
Dry socket is the most common post-surgery complication and occurs when the blood clot at your surgery site dislodges, resulting in nerve and bone exposure.
Dry socket causes severe pain, so make sure you follow your aftercare instructions carefully. Although rare, an infection can occur if bacteria or food get into your socket.
To learn more about wisdom teeth extractions at Expressions In Dentistry, call our Folsom, California office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ludlow.
