Thousands of years ago, humans developed wisdom teeth to assist with chewing tough foods. These days, our mouths have evolved to be smaller, and we eat foods that are softer. We’re left with wisdom teeth that don’t serve much of a purpose—for some, they only cause pain.
If your wisdom teeth erupt partially, come in at an angle, put your other teeth at risk, or cause pain, then you may need to consider extraction. At UDental Clinic, we offer wisdom teeth removal services directly in our office.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, otherwise known as the third molars, are located at the very back of your mouth. Because of their location, they can become infected or inflamed. Extraction is often a more convenient option than trying to manage pain. While it may be a bit uncomfortable to heal from the procedure, it’s preferable to dealing with problematic wisdom teeth for a lifetime.
Wisdom teeth can create crowding and bite problems when left unaddressed. The relationship that your wisdom teeth have with the adjacent teeth is the primary determinant when deciding whether to extract them. Even if a wisdom tooth is not currently causing pain, it may lead to problems down the line. Extracting them at a younger age will reduce the risk of complications.
Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Some patients can keep their wisdom teeth throughout their lives with little to no issues. For others, they’re a constant source of pain and discomfort. Extraction services allow us to safely remove your wisdom teeth, restore your comfort, and prevent complications.
Diagnostic imaging (such as x-rays) can tell us if you need your wisdom teeth extracted. We can see the teeth below the gum line and determine whether you have enough space for them, or if they will grow in impacted.
You may only require one wisdom tooth to be removed. In some cases, all four need to be extracted. Each case is different; we’ll examine your individual results to determine the best solution for your wisdom teeth issues.
Issues Caused by Wisdom Teeth
Leaving your impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth in can cause:
- Crowding & misalignment of your other teeth. If your mouth lacks the space for your third molars, other teeth in your mouth will be pushed together to compensate. This can cause straight teeth to become crooked and overlap.
- Cavities in the surrounding molars. It’s difficult to clean wisdom teeth, especially if they’re only partially erupted. Wisdom teeth increase your chances of developing cavities at the back of your mouth.
- Damage to the cheek tissues. If you’ve ever bitten your tongue, then you’re familiar with how it can make the tissue swell up for days. Wisdom teeth that stick out will catch on your cheek when you bite down, causing damage to the tissue.
- Headaches. Pain in your mouth may lead to pain throughout your head as well. If you consistently wake up feeling sore and achy, your emerging wisdom tooth may be to blame.
- Bite issues. If your bite is off-centre, it may cause issues with your jaw joint. Some patients develop temporomandibular joint disorder due to bite issues.
- Infections. Impacted wisdom teeth may only break the gumline partially, or not at all. The swelling they cause leaves you vulnerable to infections, which have health impacts on your entire body.
Extraction Process
Our main priority is making sure you are numb and comfortable during your oral surgery. We administer local anaesthesia to prevent you from experiencing any pain.
To remove your teeth, the dentist may need to make a small incision to free your wisdom teeth from your gum tissue. Once we have access to your tooth, we can gently loosen the tooth and remove it.
Stitches may be required for proper healing after your wisdom tooth removal. We provide oral surgery at our clinic so that you don’t have to travel elsewhere for your procedure.
Healing Process
Healing time will depend on the difficulty of the surgery and the quality of your aftercare. Some swelling and pain following your procedure are normal. You should begin to feel better in 48-72 hours. Light bleeding immediately following the surgery is normal and should slow down within a few hours.
While the healing process looks different for everyone, you can expect possible difficulty chewing in the days that follow your treatment. After you have an extraction performed, we recommend the use of painkillers to manage discomfort as you heal. Ibuprofen can reduce swelling and pain.
We will discuss aftercare and pain management before your surgery. If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to call our office.
Book an Appointment Today
If you’re looking for wisdom teeth removal in Edmonton, we can help. At UDental Clinic, we provide oral surgery to patients with wisdom tooth issues. Call today to schedule a consultation.