For patients in their teens and late 20s, the risk of wisdom tooth eruption is high. Without removal, these new molars could lead to major problems for your oral health. But we can help prevent these complications! In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa, CA, oral surgeons talk about wisdom tooth extraction.
The Eruption and Risks of Wisdom Teeth
These new teeth, known as your third molars, tend to erupt when we are in our late teens and early 20s. While at one time they were necessary, now there is no room for them and their arrival can cause major problems for your smile. For example, there may only be room for a partial eruption, also known as an impaction. This means only part of them can erupt, and this could lead to infection or damaged teeth. As these new teeth are squeezed into your smile, this can shift the rest of your teeth to cause dental misalignment. In addition to altering the appearance of your smile, this can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Your smile could also be more susceptible to issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding) due to the imbalance in your bite.
Extracting Your Third Molars
Our team will make a detailed examination of your smile using digital x-rays, so we can pinpoint the position of these third molars and see if they need extraction. If so, our team can plan the process in detail so we avoid any contact with nerve tissues, sinus cavities, or blood vessels. Our team also offers local anesthetic and sedation to ensure you are comfortable and calm during the procedure, even if you have anxiety or special needs that could complicate treatment otherwise. Our team then opens the gums above the teeth so we can access and remove them. We then suture the area closed. A friend or family member can then take you home, as sedation takes time to wear off completely.
Recovery
For the first day or two, you should rest and eat only soft foods. Be gentle when you rush and floss, don’t prod the site with your tongue, and avoid straw use. We will remove sutures in a follow-up visit, and will provide detailed aftercare instructions and prescriptions to aid in the healing process. If you have any questions about how we extract wisdom teeth, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk to Our Team About Removing Third Molars in Santa Rosa, CA
Our team wants to help safeguard your smile and offer improvement in 2025 and beyond. To learn more about our tooth extraction process, then give us a call at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery at (707)545-4625 today!
