Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the teeth that come in as the third molars in a person’s mouth. They are extremely difficult to clean because of their placement inside the mouth. Not all wisdom teeth fully erupt. Many people have to deal with partially erupted teeth that only display half of the top surface or less.
Most toothbrushes cannot touch the wisdom teeth even when they fully erupt. Because of the difficulty brushing the teeth, wisdom teeth almost always become infected and start to decay. When they decay, they can cause pain, facial swelling and unnecessary discomfort.
Our dentists will offer to perform a wisdom tooth extraction instead of trying to place a filling on such a tooth since the person will not lose any chewing or speaking ability by the loss. A wisdom tooth extraction consists of an anesthetic and the vigorous efforts of a dentist. Sometimes, dentists have to cut the gum to reach an impacted tooth.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
A Wise Surgical Procedure: Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Wisdom teeth (the third molars) cause problems for many people. They may have to be removed if they cause gum inflammation, infection, tooth or jaw pain, or crowding of front teeth.
Removing wisdom teeth preventively can remove the potential of encountering complications such as decay or injury to adjacent teeth in the future. Your teeth will be X-rayed to examine the tooth roots. You will receive local anesthesia to numb your gums, but will otherwise be awake during the procedure. You may request or the dentist or oral surgeon may recommend sedation to relax you.
Contact us for the cost of wisdom teeth extractions specific to your situation or to find out if your dental insurance covers your extraction.
For the procedure, specialised extraction instruments are used, depending on the type of impaction (soft gum or bone tissue) and the tooth’s position (angled under gum or partially exposed).