Skip to main content

Wisdom Teeth

If you’ve recently felt an ache in the back of your gums, noticed your rear gums are red, or have been biting your cheek and tongue more often than usual, there’s a chance your wisdom teeth might be erupting. Between the ages of 17 and 25, a third set of molars grow in the back of your mouth. These third molars are referred to as the wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth are entirely natural, and yet they’re often a big problem! As such, wisdom teeth extraction is often the best way to deal with the various issues this extra set of teeth can cause.

Why Wisdom Teeth Should Be Removed

There are various reasons as to why wisdom teeth should be removed. At Grove City Dental, we’ve noted six main causes for booking a removal. These are the concerns to keep in mind.

Wisdom teeth often grow in such a manner that means they get trapped in the jawbone or under the gum tissue. This can lead to infection in the long term and serious daily recurring pain.

This is another problem that stems from the uneven way wisdom teeth can grow. If they erupt unevenly, they can end up crowding your other teeth and cause your current smile to become crooked.

Wisdom teeth grow deep in the back of the mouth, which makes them hard to reach when brushing and flossing. This tends to cause an increased amount of cavities, often resulting in the need for additional oral surgery.

The adult human mouth already contains around 32 teeth. If wisdom teeth try to grow through, they could push out other teeth, or simply make it a lot harder to eat and drink due to a lack of space.

This is the most common cause for wisdom teeth extraction: Wisdom teeth hurt! If they push through your gums, they can make it very hard to carry out daily activities without any discomfort.

Wisdom teeth tend to be useless. There’s little point to keeping them, especially when they can cause so many other oral health issues like the ones listed.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

If you’re interested in visiting a dental office to talk about getting your wisdom teeth removed, you might want to know ahead of time what to expect. Remember, you can ask your dentist any questions about the procedure before you undergo it.

Wisdom teeth extractions are an outpatient procedure, meaning you should only be in for the duration of the operation before you’re allowed to go home again.

Anesthesia options

There are a few anesthesia options offered in a wisdom teeth removal procedure. Usually, your dentist will numb the gum with a local anesthetic. However, if the teeth are impacted or stretch deep into the gum, a general anesthetic may be offered for increased comfort. For a stronger numbing feeling, Grove City Dental also offers laughing gas or a conscious sedation pill. Your comfort is our number one concern during the entirety of your wisdom teeth extraction.

When to get wisdom teeth extracted

The best time to get wisdom teeth taken out is as early as possible. Having your wisdom teeth removed before they can negatively impact your smile generally results in a smoother, faster, and more pain-free process.

 

Recovery Process for Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Recovery typically lasts two weeks. Three to four days after the procedure, some swelling and pain is common. After the first week, you may experience some jaw stiffness or bruising, and in rare cases, numbness in certain parts of your mouth, but these symptoms will improve.

Try not to exercise for the first week after surgery. Similarly, eat soft foods or have a liquid diet for at least the first four to five days after your procedure. The dental office will give you additional specific before and after instructions for your surgery. Talk to your oral surgeon if you experience serious side effects after the removal.

Contact Grove City Dental

If you’re experiencing pain and discomfort due to wisdom teeth, making an appointment for an extraction consultation is simple. Just give us a call today to schedule time with one of our dental professionals!

Here at Grove City Dental, we perform wisdom teeth removal on a regular basis and can put your worries around this kind of oral surgery at ease. Our team will answer your questions and tell you everything you need to know regarding a potential extraction.