Maintain a Painless, Healthy Life with Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Wisdom teeth have nothing to do with being wise. Most wisdom teeth grow between ages 17 and 21, a period historically associated with gaining maturity, hence the term “wisdom” teeth. However, not everyone develops these teeth. It’s common to have fewer than four or none at all.

Over time, we have evolved, and one part we no longer need is an elongated jaw. Our jaws are smaller and stop developing at 18  when wisdom teeth come in. As you’d expect, there’s often not enough space for wisdom teeth to grow properly, thus causing problems like: 

• Swelling
• Overcrowding
• Toothaches
• Jaw pain
• Increased risk of infection/tooth decay
• Swelling
• Damage to the nearby structures

Since wisdom teeth can remain trapped in the jawbone, they are only visible in dental X-rays. That’s why routine dental check-ups are essential to detect and treat dental issues before they cause future health complications. 

Not everyone’s wisdom teeth require removal. If the wisdom teeth have broken through the gum line and don’t cause pain or affect your oral hygiene, there’s no need for removal. However, the dentist will recommend extraction if the tooth will likely cause health complications. 

Wisdom tooth removal can be simple or surgical. The type of extraction depends on the location of the tooth. 

• Simple extractions: This extraction is straightforward and is ideal for wisdom teeth that have erupted above the gum line. For this extraction, the dentist wriggles the tooth in back-and-forth motions to loosen it from the ligaments. Then, the dentist pulls out the tooth in one piece. 
• Surgical extractions: This is the go-to procedure for impacted wisdom teeth. The doctor incises your gums to access the trapped tooth.  Removing a bit of the underlying bone is sometimes necessary if the tooth is fully stuck beneath the jaw. Mostly, the dentist breaks the tooth into several pieces to ensure minimal trauma to the surrounding structures during extraction. 

Wisdom teeth extraction may sound scary, but it’s nothing you should stress about. To minimize discomfort, we’ll numb your gums with powerful anesthetics. You’ll feel a little discomfort during the process. The process takes about 45 minutes and can be done right here in our office.