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Taking The Pain Out Of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are molars, the toughest and widest teeth that grind food. Regular checkups at Didsbury Smiles Dental are the first step in caring for your smile. At our Didsbury, Alberta, dental office, we monitor your ongoing oral development in order to identify potential problems and intervene to prevent them.

Third molar extraction, or wisdom teeth extraction, is one of the most common preventive treatments we offer. If left alone, wisdom teeth can cause various problems for your smile, including...

Impaction
Abscess
Partial eruption
Pain
Swelling
Cavities, due to impaired brushing and flossing
Increased risk of gum disease
Damage to neighboring teeth
Loss of orthodontic investment due to crowding

Who Needs Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

If you have any questions about the development of your third-year molars, contact our experts! Wisdom teeth extraction is most commonly performed during adolescence or early adulthood. If you are experiencing pressure, pain, swelling, or infection, please contact us right away. These urgent symptoms, together with crowded teeth, may indicate a problem with your third-year molars that must be addressed.

What are wisdom teeth?

"Third molar teeth" is another name for wisdom teeth. They are the last teeth to emerge in the oral cavity and are located at the back of the upper and lower rows of teeth. Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25, but they have appeared in some people as late as their 40s or 50s. This is why these teeth are known as wisdom teeth, as they appear during the "age of wisdom" phase of life.

When do wisdom teeth come in?

Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people's wisdom teeth emerge normally and line up with the other teeth behind the second molars. However, in many cases, the mouth is too crowded for third molars to develop normally.

Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth

Gum Irritation

You may experience minor irritation and swelling in the gums behind the second molars.

Aches and Pains

Wisdom tooth development frequently results in a dull ache near the back of the jaw, which can progress to frequent, more pronounced pain for some people.

Pain in Other Areas

Wisdom teeth can put pressure on nerves, causing pain in the jaw, eyes, and ears.

Redness

As the wisdom teeth begin to push through, the gums that sit on top of them may turn red or dark pink.

Small White Spots

Small white specks appearing behind your second molars indicate that your wisdom teeth are beginning to emerge. The white specks are the tops of your new teeth, which have broken through the gum line.

Types of wisdom teeth removal

Non-impacted wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth that have fully erupted and are above the gum line are considered non-impacted. In contrast, impacted wisdom teeth remain in the jaw and frequently cause complications later on.

Soft tissue impact removal

A soft tissue impacted tooth means that the tooth's crown has moved through the jawbone but is stuck in the gums, preventing it from fully emerging in the mouth.

Partial bony impaction removal

In this case, there is enough room for the wisdom tooth to partially emerge. However, the tooth cannot function properly during the chewing process, which can cause cleaning issues.

Complete bony impaction removal

If there is no room for the tooth to emerge, it remains embedded in the jaw bone and requires complex surgical techniques to remove. The impacted wisdom tooth may also be in an unusual position, making removal difficult.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Removed?

  • Damage to other teeth: The extra set of molars can push your other teeth out of place, causing mouth pain and bite problems.
  • Jaw damage: Cysts can form around the new teeth. If they aren’t treated, these cysts can damage to your jaw and/or nerves.
  • Sinus Issues: Problems with wisdom teeth can lead to sinus pain, pressure, and congestion.
  • Inflamed Gums: Tissue around the area can swell, making the area hard to clean.
  • Cavities: Swollen gums can create pockets between the teeth where bacteria grow and cavities form.
  • Alignment: Impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems with the crowding of other teeth and even necessitate treatment to straighten other teeth.

Benefits of Wisdom Teeth Removal

There are many advantages to having your wisdom teeth extracted, including:

Preventing infection or decay
Getting rid of bad breath
Enhancing oral health
Keeping other teeth from being damaged
Reducing or alleviating pain in your face and mouth
Avoiding the need for future dental or orthodontic treatment

How We Can Help You With Your Wisdom Tooth Extraction In Didsbury

At our office in Didsbury, Alberta, we offer sedation for optimal comfort during your extraction. Before you go home, our experienced team will give you instructions to follow as you recover from your surgery. Along with stocking up on your favorite soft foods, be sure to make arrangements for an alternative driver to see you home after your procedure.

Come See Us!

If it’s been a while since you saw the dentist, don’t wait until your wisdom teeth undo what your braces have corrected. Call today and schedule your dental checkup with Didsbury Smiles Dental!

Why Should You Choose Us For Your Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Didsbury Smiles Dental is here to serve all of your dental needs, including wisdom teeth removal. We understand that sometimes you need help from a professional to get the dental care you want and deserve. Let us be that professional for you! When you call us for wisdom teeth removal, we'll be standing by for you and your family to ensure that your oral health is prioritized.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Wisdom Teeth Removal

1. How many wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Even if only one or two of your wisdom teeth are bothering you, your oral surgeon will almost certainly advise you to have all four removed.

2. What happens if your wisdom teeth become impacted?

Food, plaque, and other debris can sometimes become trapped in the soft tissue surrounding an impacted wisdom tooth, causing swelling, gum tenderness, cavities, and bad breath. Dentists or oral surgeons frequently remove impacted wisdom teeth because they can damage other teeth or cause pain or infection.

3. Is there a risk that I might have nerve damage?

Nerve damage after wisdom tooth removal is extremely rare. The mere mention of nerve damage can be alarming. But don’t worry, the risks associated with these damages are negligible.

4. Why are wisdom teeth more difficult to remove than other teeth?

Wisdom teeth do not usually emerge like other teeth. If they have been impacted, they will be in a more angled position and will need to be sectioned into pieces when extracted to make the procedure easier. If the tooth is completely embedded, an incision in the gums will be required before accessing the tooth.

If a tooth is obstructed by the jaw bone, its extraction necessitates carefully removing some of the obstructing bone. The root anatomy of the tooth to be extracted is important in determining the difficulty level. Tooth removal becomes more difficult as the number of roots increases and the curvature and divergence of the roots can also affect the level of difficulty.

Unlike other teeth, there is no standard anatomy for wisdom teeth. In addition, wisdom teeth can be more difficult to treat than other teeth because of their proximity to the nerve.

5. What if I don’t have them removed now?

While not all patients require wisdom tooth removal, problems can arise if it is not done. Many patients have smaller mouths and jaws, which do not allow for proper third-molar development. If these teeth do erupt, they may cause overcrowding. Your teeth will then begin to shift and overlap.

6. What happens on the day they’re removed?

You may feel some pressure just before the tooth is extracted because your dentist or oral surgeon will need to widen the tooth socket by rocking the tooth back and forth before extracting it. Because the area will be numb, you should not feel any pain as your wisdom teeth are extracted.

7. Can I be sedated during my wisdom teeth removal?

Sedation anesthesia is administered by your dentist or oral surgeon via an intravenous (IV) line in your arm. During the procedure, you will be unconscious due to the sedation anesthesia. You feel no pain and have only a hazy memory of the procedure. Local anesthesia will also be administered to numb your gums.

8. How long does local anesthesia last?

A typical dental local anesthetic will last between two and five hours, depending on the amount used by your dentist.

9. Will I feel pain during the procedure?

Many procedures are sedation extractions or have local numbing anesthetics, so patients should only feel minor discomfort.

10. What is the recovery period for wisdom teeth extractions?

It can take up to two weeks to recover from surgery to remove your wisdom tooth or teeth. You may experience a swollen mouth and cheeks, which will be difficult for the first few days but will gradually improve. Gently pressing a cold cloth to your face helps reduce swelling.

11. Will I have stitches where the wisdom teeth were removed?

Sutures do not have to be used in every case. Sutures are only required if a large wound remains after wisdom tooth removal. Sutures help to prevent infection and promote rapid healing. They are not painful when administered under local anesthesia, so there is no need to be concerned. Sutures are typically removed on the seventh day.

12. What are dry sockets? How do I know if I have a dry socket?

A dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is a painful dental condition that can occur after a permanent adult tooth is extracted. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot at the site of tooth extraction does not form, dislodges, or dissolves before the wound heals.

Dry socket symptoms may include:

  • Severe pain in the days following a tooth extraction.
  • The appearance of an empty (dry) socket.
  • Bone visibility in the socket.
  • Pain that radiates from the extraction site to your ear, eye, temple, or neck on the same side of your face.
  • Bad breath or a bad odor coming from your mouth.
  • Unpleasant taste in your mouth.

13. Can I brush my teeth after getting my wisdom teeth removed?

For the first 24 hours, avoid brushing your teeth. After that, you can start brushing your teeth, but be gentle around the extraction sites (try to avoid as much as possible).

14. Can I gargle after getting my wisdom teeth removed?

For the first 24 hours, avoid gargling. The next day,you may swish lightly with warm salt water or mouthwash, but do not vigorously gargle until your follow-up appointment, when you will be cleared to do so.

15. What can I eat after my wisdom teeth are removed?

We recommend that you do not eat anything after surgery until the effects of the local anesthesia wear off. You can consume liquids such as juices, plain ice cream, milk, milkshakes, and yogurt. Don’t drink hot tea or coffee. After 2 or 3 hours, you can eat soft foods such as bananas, or any other food that does not require chewing. Avoid eating hard foods.

If you are comfortable, you may resume your normal diet on the second or third day.

We Are Officially OPEN!

Didsbury Smiles Dental is thrilled to be offering full dental services to our patients and community. We've missed you!

If you had an appointment that was cancelled due to COVID-19 or are due for a dental check up or cleaning, please contact us right away to have your appointment booked.

To see how we are going the extra mile to keep you and your family safe, check out our COVID-19 Protection Plan.