To accommodate all of our patient’s dental needs and wants, we offer a wide range of services that will help make your smile beautiful and healthy. At Thousand Oaks Dental, we see patients of all ages that require personalized care. We offer wisdom teeth removal in San Antonio, TX, one service that other family and cosmetic dental practices may not. The extraction of wisdom teeth differs from the extraction of other teeth. Please keep reading to learn more about when and why we recommend wisdom tooth removal.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
For those who are unfamiliar with wisdom teeth, they are a third molar that is in the back of the mouth. The standard amount of wisdom teeth is four, but it is common for some adults to have two, three, or none at all. To know whether or not you have wisdom teeth, we offer panoramic x-rays in our San Antonio, Texas office.
A common question about removing wisdom teeth is, “do I need to remove all my wisdom teeth?” Technically, not all wisdom teeth require removal if they have erupted and grown fully without causing damage to their adjacent tooth. Although you may not need to remove them, it is common and encouraged to remove wisdom teeth due to the following reasons:
- If safely erupted, you will need to clean wisdom teeth each day thoroughly to avoid decay. It is common for wisdom teeth, if left in the mouth, to not be adequately cleaned and accumulate an excessive amount of plaque that leads to problems.
- Before erupting, the wisdom teeth can start to grow in different directions. Growing in different directions leaves a strong possibility of the wisdom teeth causing severe damage to the surrounding teeth.
- Your dentist may remove wisdom teeth due to a lack of space left in the mouth. If there is limited space and wisdom teeth are allowed to erupt, tooth crowding will occur.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Process
Sedation
To prepare your mouth for the procedure, we will numb the areas to ensure you feel little pain during the actual process. Because the procedure is lengthy, it is common to use minor or significant forms of sedation. Some may be more comfortable doing an IV sedation to be asleep during the procedure.
If you know you experience anxiety during dental treatments, we will develop a plan to make you comfortable.
Removal
Whether your wisdom teeth have grown in or are impacted will change the course of the procedure. In some cases, your dentist can extract fully grown wisdom teeth like any other tooth, with no surgery required.
With impacted teeth, you will need oral surgery due to the need to go into the gum tissue to remove the tooth. Once removed, the area and the socket will be deeply cleaned and closed.
Post-Care
Caring for your mouth and gums after a wisdom tooth extraction is essential to prevent infection and pain. We will give you specific instructions on how to manage pain and swelling.
Call Thousand Oaks Dental Today
Removing your wisdom teeth before they begin to erupt will save your teeth from possible damage and pain. If you would like to learn more about your wisdom teeth and your next step, please call our dental office located in San Antonio, Texas, today. We look forward to helping you maintain your beautiful and healthy smile.