For people in their late teens and early 20s, up to four new teeth could erupt. These wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, could lead to impaction and serious complications. But we can help! In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa, CA, dentist talks about how we handle wisdom teeth with a tooth extraction.
The Dangers Associated With Third Molars
When these teeth erupt, there is often little room for them. Forced into this limited space, they may only partially erupt, which is known as an impaction. This could cause misalignment, damage nearby teeth, and increase the risk of tooth decay and infection. The pressure on your jaw joints could also boost the risk of complications like TMJ disorder and even bruxism (teeth grinding). Instead of allowing these serious changes to occur in the balance and health of your smile, we can remove them prior to eruption to keep your smile intact.
How We Plan Tooth Extraction
To begin, we will take detailed digital x-rays and CBCT images of your jaw, so we can pinpoint the position of these teeth and plan extraction to avoid contact with nerve tissues, blood vessels, and sinus cavities. When the time comes for treatment, we will take steps to ensure you are comfortable, such as administering a local anesthesia and using sedation to help you enter a deep state of calm, even if you have dental anxiety. You will likely have no memory of the procedure. Our team will follow the same struct guidelines and protocols as a hospital operating room.
Removing Wisdom Teeth
Once you are sedated and ready, we will open the gums above these teeth so we can access and remove them. For some, this could take as little as 30 minutes to an hour. We then suture the area closed and will provide prescriptions for medications to aid in the healing process. A friend or a family member can take you home as you will be a bit groggy, and for the next day or two you need to rest and eat only soft foods as the area heals. We will remove sutures in a follow-up visit. If you have any questions about how our team will remove wisdom teeth to protect your smile, or if you would like to schedule a visit now and use your 2024 dental benefits before they expire at the end of the year, then reach out to our team today.
Talk to Our Team About Third Molars in Santa Rosa, CA
Our team wants to help you enjoy good oral health, and that means preventing the eruption of wisdom teeth. To learn more about treating smiles before wisdom teeth erupt, then give us a call at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery at (707)545-4625 today!
