As people approach adulthood, they could have up to four new teeth erupt in the rear of the mouth. Without treatment, these could cause serious troubles for the health, function, and even the beauty of the smile. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa , CA, oral surgeons talk about the benefits of removing wisdom teeth.
The Risks of Your Third Molars
As we approach adulthood, up to four new molars could erupt in the rear of our mouth. When they arrive, there is usually no room for them, so this could lead to dental misalignment, infection, damaged teeth, or a painful partial eruption known as an impaction. To avoid these major negative changes to your smile’s health, function, and appearance, we need to remove them before they erupt. If you’re in your teen years or early 20s, or have a child or family member who is, consider an appointment so we can find out if these wisdom teeth need to be removed!
The Extraction Process
Our team will first take detailed digital x-rays of the smile to identify the position of the wisdom teeth and assess their threats to your smile. If they could cause major issues, we will recommend removing them prior to eruption. The process is a fairly simple and comfortable one, and usually takes only 30 minutes to complete. We will open the area of the gums above the teeth so we can access and remove the teeth with a pair of forceps. We then suture the area closed and provide medication to help it heal. For the first day or two afterward, you will need to rest, eat soft foods, be gentle when you brush and floss, and avoid poking the area with your tongue or fingers. We will remove sutures in a follow-up visit and make sure everything is healing properly.
Anesthesia and Sedation
Our team will always take measures to ensure you’re comfortable. For example, we will provide a local anesthesia to numb the area around the teeth. We also have three different options for dental sedation: nitrous oxide, oral, and IV. The option we choose will depend on your age, weight, medical history, and anxiety levels. While nitrous oxide wears off quickly, for those receiving oral or IV, a friend or family member should be on hand to bring you home afterward. If you have any questions about the process of extracting wisdom teeth, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Removing Third Molars?
We would like to help you enjoy optimal oral health with oral surgery. If you would like to learn more about the process of treating smiles with a tooth extraction, then contact your Santa Rosa, CA, oral surgeons by calling 707-545-4625.
