Wisdom Teeth Removal

What are wisdom teeth?

Your wisdom teeth are the third molars that come in the back of your mouth once all of your permanent teeth have already come in. Typically, wisdom teeth appear during your young adult years between the ages of 17 and 25.

Since they come in after the rest of your teeth, there often isn’t sufficient room for them. This can lead to a host of oral health problems.

Why do I need wisdom teeth removal?

In some cases, your wisdom teeth remain under tissue and can only be detected in X-rays. These instances may lead to impacted wisdom teeth — when the teeth grow at an angle that endangers other teeth. However, if your wisdom teeth do appear above gum tissue and you notice three molars, there may be problems, such as infection or overcrowding.

You may notice painful or annoying symptoms, including:

• Red or swollen gums
• Bleeding gums
• Jaw pain
• Bad breath (due to pockets forming where bacteria from food accumulates)
• Difficulty opening and closing your mouth

At Westminster Family Dentistry, Dr. Farahbod and the team evaluate you and may use X-rays to determine if you need your wisdom teeth removed. A removal procedure can often help alleviate your symptoms and improve your oral health.

How does wisdom teeth removal work?

During a wisdom teeth removal procedure, you’ll be placed under anesthesia so that you don’t experience any pain.

First, Dr. Farahbod uses special dental instruments to cut open gum tissue and expose the tooth and bone. This allows him to remove any tissue that prevents access to the root of your wisdom tooth.

Then, he carefully removes the tooth, sometimes dividing it up into sections for easier extraction. After the tooth has been removed, he stitches up the incision and places gauze over the area to limit bleeding.

What is the recovery from wisdom teeth removal like?

After your wisdom teeth removal procedure, Dr. Farahbod will walk you through the recovery process. You’ll need plenty of rest for about a week and you’ll be prescribed pain medications to manage the discomfort.

Since your teeth will be sensitive for at least a few days, you’ll have to stick to a diet of soft foods, such as yogurt, ice cream, and soup. You can also use ice packs to keep down any facial or jaw swelling you experience. Dr. Farahbod will closely monitor your recovery and will bring you back in for a follow-up to make sure there are no signs of infection.

To learn more about wisdom teeth removal procedures, call Westminster Family Dentistry today and set up a consultation.