Wisdom Tooth Extraction Dallas, TX
Safeguarding Your Smile with Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth were once spares that came in during young adulthood to replace molars that were worn down due to early man’s diet. Today, however, they are no longer necessary, and often cause many oral health problems like impaction, cavities, crowding, and gum disease.
Thankfully, protecting your healthy adult teeth from damage and keeping them clean doesn’t have to be a challenge with wisdom tooth extraction. Your oral surgeon can skillfully remove these damaged teeth, safeguarding your mouth and preventing further problems from occurring.
Why Choose Bear Creek Dentistry for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
- Sedation Options Available
- A Skilled Dental Team You Can Trust
- Late, Early, and Weekend Appointments Available
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are four molars that come in at the very back of your mouth beginning around the ages of 17 to 26. Researchers believe that they once acted as back-up teeth for early man, whose diet consisted of many tough-to-chew foods like roots, plants, and tough meats. Over time, as humans’ diets changed, they no longer needed these teeth, and as they evolved, their jaws became smaller and less able to accommodate them.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
Today, even though we no longer need wisdom teeth, we still get them. But while it might be nice to have a few backup teeth, unfortunately they often cause more harm than good. Often, because they have little room, they can grow in sideways and become impacted. This can in turn cause them to break the neighboring teeth, or cause crowding, brushing and flossing problems, and even gum disease. Thus, it is usually best to remove them.
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
Wisdom tooth extraction is nothing to be afraid of. Before the procedure begins, your dentist will make sure that you are sedated and unable to feel any discomfort. Once you are completely numb, your dentist will remove your wisdom teeth and stitch the incision sites closed with a dissolving suture. This will not need to be removed and should completely dissolve within a week or so. Your mouth will be packed with gauze to bite down on to stop any bleeding, and you will be able to return home to recover for a few days.
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Recovering from wisdom teeth extraction is easier than you might think. First, be sure to follow our care instructions. Stay on schedule with your pain medication, avoid hot beverages for the first 24 hours, avoid caffeine for two to three days following your procedure, and do not drink from a straw for at least one week.
Furthermore, stick to soft foods or liquids for the first few days, and apply cold compresses to your cheeks over the extraction sites for greater pain relief. Get plenty of rest and be sure to avoid strenuous activity for at least two to three days after. Soon, your stitches will dissolve (never pull on them!) and you will be able to return to your regular diet.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions FAQs
Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?
The mouths of modern humans are often too small to accommodate the wisdom teeth, and this can lead to a host of oral health issues like crowding, chronic pain, and infections. However, our ancient ancestors survived on diets of tough, raw plant and animal matter, and they needed extra chewing power to grind their food into pulps that could be easily swallowed. The wisdom teeth provided this extra biting force, and it may have been easier to keep them healthy then since refined sugar was not available. However, modern cooking methods have led to our jaws becoming smaller, and many people today do not have enough room to accommodate their wisdom teeth. However, some research suggests that children who enjoy tougher diets receive more jawbone stimulation and are less likely to need wisdom tooth extraction.
Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?
Most people have four wisdom teeth, but some have fewer than that or none at all. One article from 2015 estimated that between 5% and 37% of people today are born with three or fewer third molars, and genetics may be a major factor in how many wisdom teeth an individual has. However, you’ll still need to receive an X-ray at our office in Dallas to determine how many of these molars you have since wisdom teeth can be hidden within the gum tissue. While most people’s wisdom teeth emerge in their late teens or early twenties, some will receive them earlier or later than that.
Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Painful?
Wisdom tooth removal always begins with the patient receiving an appropriate anesthetic to ensure that they feel no pain. However, you can expect discomfort for a few days after the procedure, and you can manage it by strictly adhering to the detailed aftercare instructions we will provide to you. These will probably include items like sticking to a soft and mild diet, practicing excellent oral hygiene, rinsing regularly with saltwater, and avoiding actions that can disturb the blood clot forming over the surgical site such as spitting and drinking through a straw.
How Long Does Wisdom Tooth Surgery Take?
The anesthetic used during your wisdom tooth extraction will probably make it seem like no time passes at all between the beginning and the end of the procedure, but the process takes about fifteen to twenty minutes per tooth on average. Removing all four often takes about ninety minutes, but the actual time depends on factors like how the tooth is positioned and whether it is impacted. We’ll be sure to give you a proper estimate of your treatment time during your consultation at our Dallas office.