Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom Teeth Removal

What are wisdom teeth? Most people have heard of wisdom teeth but may not know exactly what they are. The name itself may seem a little strange since they don’t actually make a person wiser. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to enter the mouth and they got their nickname because they come in when a person is older and more mature.

Wisdom teeth are also called 3rd molars because they are the last of the three molars that are located at the back of a person’s mouth. Many people do not develop wisdom teeth, but for those who do, they may not have room for them to properly come in. Wisdom teeth usually erupt in the mouth when a person reaches the age of 17 to 25.

When a patient is still young, Dr. David Firmage, DMD and his team at Gray Oak Family Dental will take an x-ray of the whole mouth. This x-ray will show all the teeth in the mouth including the wisdom teeth. This is usually done at a patient’s routine cleaning and checkup appointment. It’s important to have the wisdom teeth checked regularly to make sure they are developing properly and will enter the mouth in the right position.

Sometimes wisdom teeth will erupt in the mouth with no problems at all. However, a majority of people do not have room for these extra teeth. If this occurs there are several problems that can happen. One problem that can occur is overcrowding. Overcrowding occurs when the wisdom teeth push against the other teeth trying to make room to move in. This pushing shifts the other teeth causing them to overlap and look crooked. This can also cause many other issues including decay and gum disease.

Another problem that can occur, if wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to come out, is called impacted wisdom teeth. As wisdom teeth try to naturally move into place in the jaw they can become lodged under the teeth next to them. If the wisdom teeth are impacted several problems can occur. Some of these problems include:

* pain

* decay

* gum disease

* bleeding

* bad breath

* swelling

* damage to the tooth next to it

* issues with opening and closing the jaw

* infection 

If someone is in need of wisdom teeth removal there are several steps that will occur during their treatment. The first step is to make sure the patient is comfortable. This is done with the use of local anesthetic or in some cases IV sedation. Once the person is numb and comfortable Dr. Dave will use special instruments to remove each tooth.

Once the teeth are removed sutures may be needed to close the socket. When the procedure is completed the patient is able to go home and rest. Each patient is given special instructions on how to care for the area until it heals. Pain medication may also be recommended to help with any discomfort.

If you or someone you know needs wisdom teeth removal treatment the team at Gray Oak Family Dental can help. Their experienced team is trained in the latest techniques to remove wisdom teeth. Contact our Sherman Texas office to schedule an appointment.

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