Wisdom Tooth Extractions

For most of your teeth, extraction is a last resort. Your dentist will do everything they can to save as much of your natural teeth as possible before they pull your teeth. One exception to this general rule, though, is wisdom teeth. Once your wisdom teeth come in, it’s likely that your dentist will suggest extraction for a variety of reasons.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars that come in during early adulthood. For most people, wisdom teeth will emerge sometime between the ages of 17 and 25. While a patient may notice their wisdom teeth coming in and mention it to their dentist, often times a dentist will notice the wisdom teeth forming during a routine checkup—especially if x-rays are taken.

Why Wisdom Tooth Extraction May Be Necessary

While for some people wisdom teeth pose no issues, for others wisdom teeth can cause massive oral health problems. Because of this, many dentists will decide to pull the wisdom teeth of their patients as soon as they begin to emerge.

When wisdom teeth erupt, they often come in at odd angles. This, in turn, impacts the healthy teeth of the patient. This impact causes damage to the healthy teeth, and can also be very painful. Another likely issue that may occur as a result of wisdom teeth erupting at odd angles is gum disease and tooth decay. The odd angles that the wisdom teeth come in at can make it difficult to properly brush and floss—leading to the formation of decay, infection and disease.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction Procedure

The process of having your wisdom teeth extracted is more in-depth than a general tooth extraction, and it will more than likely require surgery. Because of this, it’s important to either choose a day that you have off of work, or to take a sick day. After the surgery you will need to recover—and you will be in an unfit state for work.

Your dentist will first provide you with anesthesia to ensure that you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. Because a more advanced anesthesia is often used, you will enter a sleeplike state. When you begin to “wake” from the state, it is very likely that you won’t remember anything.

During the procedure itself, your dentist will cut into your gums and remove the tooth. They will then sew the area back up. Often the dentist will use stiches that dissolve on their own.

Speak with Your Dentist

If you notice your wisdom teeth erupting, or if you begin to feel discomfort behind your molars, set an appointment with your dentist for x-rays to see if your wisdom teeth are emerging. From there you can determine whether or not you should have your wisdom teeth extracted. If your dentist decides to extract your wisdom teeth, you can set an appointment for a convenient time to have your wisdom teeth extracted.

Contact Lansdowne Dental Care for an appointment today regarding wisdom tooth extractions in Leesburg, VA.

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