Safe, Easy Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Our teeth are designed to help us bite and chew our food and maintain our jawbone structure. That’s why your dentist will always do everything possible to preserve your natural smile. However, when wisdom teeth enter the picture, they can cause quite a disruption in your mouth and end up causing more harm than good.
If you’ve been experiencing wisdom tooth pain in Seattle, our trusted dentists, Dr. Robert Johnson and Dr. Alex Hurliman, can help. Our experienced dental team helps patients in Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, and Shoreline get the relief they need with safe, easy tooth extractions. Read on to learn why we have wisdom teeth and why, more often than not, we recommend having them removed.
What are Wisdom Teeth and Why Do We Remove Them?
Wisdom teeth are types of molars found in the very back of your mouth. These teeth usually appear in your late teens or early 20s and, more often than not, become impacted (fail to erupt) due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry.
The average mouth is meant to hold 28 teeth, each with its own specific function that helps them work cohesively to provide protection and structure to your mouth. When your wisdom teeth emerge, they force the rest of your teeth out of alignment to make space for them. This is why so many people have trouble with their wisdom teeth right away—it isn’t easy for a mouth meant for 28 teeth to accommodate 32.
Wisdom teeth extraction is often necessary because of the problems these extra molars can cause. For example, sometimes, impacted wisdom teeth don’t erupt at all and can even grow completely sideways. This can cause pain as well as a host of other dental issues.
Even if your wisdom teeth are not impacted, we might recommend wisdom teeth removal if it looks like there could be future issues. That’s because wisdom teeth can reposition themselves at any time, which can quickly lead to impaction and infection. Each patient’s situation is unique, so our trusted dentists will always assess your own individual needs with panoramic X-rays and a thorough examination.
Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
If your wisdom teeth don’t come in properly, you’ll probably know it right away due to increased discomfort and feeling “off.” Common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include:
- Numbness
- Limited jaw function
- Halitosis (chronic bad breath)
- Inflamed or bleeding gums
- Swollen glands in the neck
- Headaches or jaw aches
- Tenderness or pain in the gums and jaw
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, please call our office right away at (206) 682-3888 and we’ll set you up with an appointment with our trusted Seattle dentist.
The Tooth Extraction Process
Knowing what to expect from your wisdom tooth surgery can be a source of relief. The process begins with a consultation to determine whether your wisdom teeth need to come out. When this has been decided, your dentist will go over the procedure with you so you’ll know what to expect.
To remove a wisdom tooth, we will first need to numb the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic. Your dentist can use additional medication to safely sedate you during the extraction if you are feeling nervous about the procedure. Since the impacted tooth may still be under the gums and embedded in your jaw bone, your dentist will need to remove a portion of the covering bone to extract the tooth. To minimize the amount of bone that is removed with the tooth, your dentist will often “section” your wisdom tooth so that each piece can be removed through a small opening in the bone.
Once your wisdom teeth have been extracted, the healing process can begin. Healing time varies depending on the degree of difficulty related to the extraction. Your dentist will let you know what to expect and will provide aftercare instructions for a comfortable, efficient healing process. Make sure you have someone trustworthy to drive you home after your procedure as you will be unable to drive.
Wisdom Teeth Extractions at Aesthetic Dental Associates
If you have been experiencing tooth pain or other wisdom teeth trouble, our Seattle dentists, Dr. Robert Johnson and Dr. Alex Hurliman, are here to help. Call us today at (206) 682-3888 or fill out our online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. We look forward to helping you!
Wisdom Tooth Extraction FAQ
While not everyone will have to have their wisdom teeth removed, most people simply will not have enough room in their mouths for their regular molars and all four wisdom teeth. This lack of space can lead to overcrowding, and the wisdom teeth likely won’t have the room to be effective anyway.
If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain, or if they’re impacted, it’s best to have them removed as soon as possible. Wisdom tooth complications can lead to infections, periodontitis, cysts, and other health problems.
Wisdom teeth don’t grow in like your other teeth. They have a more angled position, especially if they are impacted, and they grow into an already full mouth. Wisdom teeth also typically have multiple roots, which can be challenging to remove.
