What do you know about wisdom teeth? Also known as third molars, these additional teeth could arrive as we reach adulthood and unless removed, could mean serious complications for the beauty and health of your smile. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists will explain how we save smiles by removing wisdom teeth with a dental extraction.
How Do Wisdom Teeth Erupt?
Over the millennia, our smiles have evolved to comfortably hold 28 teeth. However, we have another set of molars, known as wisdom teeth, which can erupt in our late teens and early 20s, pushing this number to 32. As a result, misalignment can occur. The teeth may only be able to partially erupt, causing a painful impaction, as well as an increased risk of infection and damaged teeth as well. To avoid these complications, we want to remove these additional molars before they erupt and threaten your smile’s health and stability.
Removing Your Third Molars
We take detailed x-rays during your routine checkup and cleaning visits, so we will be able to assess the best time to remove these teeth. When that time comes, we will administer a local anesthetic around the area from which we remove the teeth, and also discuss dental sedation to help patients enter a calm, relaxed state, with little to no memory of the procedure itself. We then open the area above the jaw and gently remove the teeth with forceps. We suture the area closed, and a friend to family member can then bring you home.
Aftercare
Following treatment, our team can provide detailed aftercare instructions. We will urge patients not to poke the area with their tongue, and to rely on soft foods for the first day or two. Don’t drink with a straw, and be sure you take your antibiotics and pain medication as recommended. Avoid strenuous activity for the first couple of days, and be sure to see us for your follow-up visit, so we can remove the sutures and monitor the healing process. While wisdom teeth don’t require replacement, if we extract a tooth due to infection or damage, then we may suggest a bridge or dental implant to fill the gap in the smile. If you have any questions about addressing the third molars, or about the extraction process itself, then please feel free to contact our team with your questions and concerns!
SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO OFFERS DENTAL EXTRACTION
At Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, we would like to help you enjoy a healthy smile by removing your third molars before they erupt. We always take steps to ensure the process is comfortable! If you have questions about restorative dentistry and oral surgery, then please call our East El Paso location on N. Zaragoza Road at 915-849-9000!