Wisdom Teeth Removal Specialist

What are wisdom teeth?

Your wisdom teeth are the third set of molars at the back of your mouth, appearing on the top and bottom behind your second molars. They typically come in during your young adult years between ages 17-25, well after your permanent teeth come in.

This means there isn’t enough room for your wisdom teeth to come in properly. Without enough space, your wisdom teeth can appear at odd angles, which can lead to many oral health problems that threaten your surrounding teeth and soft tissue.

Why do I need a wisdom teeth removal procedure?

Impacted wisdom teeth can apply pressure against your second molars, leading to pockets where bacteria accumulates. Over time, this can cause decay.

The team at K Street Dental & Orthodontic Group recommends wisdom teeth removal if you're dealing with any of these situations due to impacted or erupted wisdom teeth:

• Jaw pain
• Inflamed gum tissue
• Cavities
• Sinus issues
• Alignment problems (crowding can lead to crooked teeth)

Wisdom teeth don’t always cause issues, but most people need to have their wisdom teeth removed at some point.

How does wisdom teeth removal work?

Wisdom teeth that need to be removed may not have come through the surface of your gums, or they may have broken off at your gum line. Your dentist will need to make a small cut in your gum to remove the impacted tooth. They may need to remove some of the bone around your tooth so that it can be thoroughly extracted.

First, your dentist gives you a local anesthetic, so you don’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. If you're having a couple of teeth removed at one appointment, as is common with wisdom teeth removal, your dentist will likely provide you with a general anesthetic. You won’t feel any pain throughout the procedure.

Your dentist may divide each tooth into sections for easier removal. They use special dental instruments to remove the tooth, then clean the site of tooth fragments or debris.

Afterward, they stitch up the incision to promote fast healing and place gauze over the extraction site to limit bleeding.

What is the recovery from a wisdom teeth removal?

The initial healing period typically lasts about 1-2 weeks. During this period, you may experience some pain and discomfort or difficulty chewing as you heal.

To combat this, the staff at K Street Dental & Orthodontic Group prescribes pain medication and instructions to stick with a diet of soft foods to ease your recovery.

If you need to set up a wisdom teeth removal consultation, do it today! Just call the office or book an appointment online.