Wisdom Teeth Removal
Silverdale, WA
Wisdom Teeth Removal provided by Dr. Kasey Gillespie, DDS in Silverdale, WA at Life Long Dental
Did you know that about 85% of wisdom teeth end up being removed? As you get older, it becomes more difficult to remove impacted wisdom teeth.
This is why our team at Life Long Dental advises that you get damaged or impacted wisdom teeth removed on time to avoid complications. Failing to do so might cause discomfort, making it challenging to use your teeth.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are molars that grow at the back of your mouth; they are the last set of molars. Wisdom teeth erupt in your early twenties or late teen years. They are positioned at the back-most corners of your mouth and are often used for chewing and grinding.
Like other teeth in your mouth, wisdom teeth grow symmetrically, with two on the lower jaw and two on the upper jaw. Most of our patients wonder why humans get wisdom teeth if they end up being removed anyway.
Wisdom teeth, strategically located at the back of the mouth, were crucial to early humans as they relied on them for grinding raw plant tissues. As the human species continued to evolve, there was less dependence on wisdom teeth. Today, humans have smaller jaws, and no longer consume raw plants, making wisdom teeth unessential.
While you can keep wisdom teeth if they are not posing any risk to your oral health, extracting them is crucial if they are impacted or damaged.
Signs You Need Wisdom Teeth Removal
Several signs show you need wisdom teeth removal. Knowing some of these signs will tell when you should make a tooth extraction appointment with us.
Constant Pain in Your Mouth
If you feel pain at the back of your mouth, you will need an extraction procedure. Wisdom teeth pain is often a sign that they are starting to erupt, and you need to find a solution as soon as possible. While wisdom teeth pain is often persistent, it can come and go sporadically. An extraction procedure can help fix this problem.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums is another common sign that you need your wisdom teeth removed. This often happens when you brush the back of your mouth — the gums around that area will start bleeding due to inflammation. If you notice any of these signs, schedule an appointment with us to have your wisdom teeth extracted.
Gum Inflammation
Inflamed gums can be a result of problematic wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth start erupting from the gum line, they can make gums tender and swollen. You will notice various changes, like your gums appearing reddish and slightly swollen in some parts of your mouth.
This can make it challenging to brush your teeth as the gums can easily peel off. Our team will help reverse this situation by performing a wisdom teeth removal procedure.
Cysts
If you ignore your wisdom teeth for a long time, you will notice cysts forming in some parts of your mouth. Note that cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can damage and negatively impact your jaw and mouth. Such cases are often a result of impacted wisdom teeth and can affect your oral health. We will perform an extraction procedure to get rid of impacted wisdom teeth.
Sinus Issues
When wisdom teeth start growing roots and sprouting into the upper jaw, you will start feeling some pressure on your sinuses. Consequently, it can cause headaches, sinus pain, congestion, and uncomfortable pressure. In some cases, you might experience aggressive migraines that make it unbearable to do any physical activity.
The Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure
When you schedule a wisdom teeth removal appointment with us, we will perform the procedure in five steps. Each of these steps takes an average of 30 minutes, depending on the number of wisdom teeth being removed. It is vital to note that the wisdom teeth location also influences the procedure's length. Either way, we have an experienced team of professionals ready to perform the extraction procedure.
Here are the steps for wisdom teeth extraction:
| • | Anesthesia or sedation: This is the first step of the process. We apply a local anesthetic that makes the extraction site numb. Sedation is recommended for longer surgeries that involve several teeth extractions. |
| • | Incision: This is mandatory if your wisdom teeth are yet to erupt. We perform an incision procedure to expose your wisdom tooth for extraction. If the jawbone has trapped the teeth, we will carefully carve it out to allow smooth removal. |
| • | Tooth dissection: Next, we perform the wisdom tooth dissection. This happens if the tooth is in a non-common position. We will break it into smaller parts to remove it easily. Besides, doing so will decrease the size of the hole in your gum. |
| • | Extraction: After successfully dissecting your tooth, we will remove it. During this process, you might experience some pressure as the tooth moves in the socket. We will remove the wisdom tooth from its socket. |
| • | Stitching: This is the last step before the start of wisdom teeth recovery. We will stitch the gum back into position to give it a natural look. Expect light bleeding during this process, which will be put under control. |
Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth recovery after an extraction procedure is vital for your well-being. We recommend that you take a day or two off work after undergoing this procedure. Even though you can drive after wisdom teeth removal, you shouldn't do it for 24 hours if a sedative is used. Generally, it takes only a few weeks for the wound to heal after wisdom teeth removal.
If you are wondering what to eat after wisdom teeth removal, soups, yogurt, purees, and other soft foods are highly recommended. After tooth removal, you should be cautious about what to eat because hard and hot foods can cause bleeding.
Schedule Your Wisdom Teeth Removal Today!
If you have wisdom teeth that are causing any kind of discomfort, call (360) 633-2377 today. Our Silverdale dental experts at Life Long Dental are ready to perform a wisdom tooth extraction procedure that will leave you feeling better.
