Wisdom Teeth Extraction Specialist

What are my wisdom teeth?

Your wisdom teeth are third molars that may appear in the very back of your mouth on the top and bottom behind your second molars. The tricky thing about wisdom teeth is they come in during your young adult years (on average, age 17-25) well after the rest of your permanent teeth have come in.

That means there often isn’t enough space for your wisdom teeth to come in properly. Without sufficient room, your wisdom teeth can appear at odd angles and lead to a host of oral health problems that threaten surrounding teeth and soft tissue.

Why might I need to get my wisdom teeth pulled?

Impacted wisdom teeth can push up against your second molars and even create pockets for bacteria from the food you eat to accumulate and lead to decay. Your dentist at Cedarwood Pleasanton Dentistry may recommend an extraction if you're dealing with one of the following situations stemming from impacted or erupted wisdom teeth.

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

Wisdom teeth do not always come in and cause issues, but about 85% of people need to have their wisdom teeth extracted during their lifetime.

What is the procedure for a wisdom tooth extraction?

The wisdom teeth that need to be pulled may not have come through the surface of your gums, as is common, or they may have broken off at your gum line. To perform a surgical extraction, your dentist will need to make a small cut in your gum to lift the tooth out. It may be necessary to remove some of the bone around your tooth as well so that it can be thoroughly extracted.

Your dentist gives you a local anesthetic beforehand, so you don’t feel any pain. If you're having a couple of teeth removed at one appointment, as is the norm with wisdom teeth removal, your dentist might give you a general anesthetic. You'll feel no pain and will sleep through the procedure.

During the procedure, your dentist divides the tooth into sections for easier removal. Carefully, they use special dental instruments to remove the tooth then clean the site of tooth or bone debris. Afterward, they stitch up the incision to promote healing and place gauze over the extraction site to limit bleeding.

How soon can I expect to heal from a tooth extraction?

Typically, the initial healing period typically takes one to two weeks. You may experience pain and discomfort or difficulty chewing as you heal, but you’ll be prescribed pain medication and instructions to stick with a diet of soft foods to ease your recovery.

Since everyone's situation is unique, contact Cedarwood Pleasanton Dentistry and book a consultation to learn more about wisdom tooth extractions. You can schedule online or over the phone.