Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Madison, AL
Our teeth grow while we age, and wisdom teeth typically develop last - when we are around 17 to 25 years old.
While most people tend to have wisdom teeth that usually grow in without issues,for others, wisdom teeth can become impacted. This could lead to pain and discomfort.
If you are dealing with your wisdom teeth growing in and being impacted, then you will need to come to see us at Singing River Dentistry in Madison, AL.
Our dentists will assess your situation and remove your impacted wisdom teeth in order to get you back to your normal daily activities.
Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
If your wisdom teeth are impacted, that means they do not have enough room at the back of your mouth and cannot grow in naturally. They might grow at angles instead of straight up or stay stuck within the jawbone.
If this happens, then impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, tooth decay, and damage to the rest of your mouth.
You might have trouble eating, talking, and even have pain while brushing.
If this becomes a problem, you will need to set up an appointment to have your wisdom teeth removed.
What Is a Tooth Extraction?
Teeth, including impacted wisdom teeth, may need to be removed sometimes because they are decayed or damaged to an extent that they are beyond repair.
Tooth extraction is a procedure that we use to remove the entire tooth. There are different types of extractions that we can use based on how visible the tooth is.
We will provide more information on the procedure steps as well as recovery instructions after your appointment at Singing River Dentistry.
Why Would I Need a Tooth Extraction?
A dental extraction is a treatment for several different dental conditions. For example, we may need to remove a tooth due to decay, crowding, teeth being impacted, or dental trauma that cannot be fixed.
| • | Advanced stages of gum disease, in particular, would cause tooth decay severe enough for extraction. Infection from gum disease can spread into your bloodstream if the tooth is not removed. |
| • | Crowding can cause pain and affect dental development. It can also make it difficult to maintain oral hygiene. |
| • | Impacted teeth are those which are unable to erupt through your gums. This is a common situation for wisdom teeth. |
| • | Dental trauma includes severe chips, fractures, and other injuries. These can be severe enough that we would not be able to save your tooth. |
Tooth Extraction Procedure
There are two types of extractions that we perform: simple and surgical extractions.
Simple extractions are used when your tooth is visible because it has erupted from the gum.
Surgical extractions are done when your tooth is not visible and has not yet erupted from the gums.
We provide local anesthetic for both simple and surgical extractions to ensure that you do not feel any pain during the procedure.
Preparing for Wisdom Tooth Removal
Most wisdom tooth removals are outpatient procedures, so you will go home on the same day. Depending on how complex the procedure is, as well as your own choice, you can have local or sedation anesthesia. It is very important for us to make you comfortable during your procedure.
IV Sedation
If you are having a longer procedure that requires more complex work, you will most likely get IV sedation. This will be a medication provided through an IV. The IV medication comes with the ability to quickly and easily adjust the dosage you receive throughout the treatment process. It can be powerful but is also incredibly safe as your vitals will be monitored the entire time.
This is most commonly administered when removing an impacted wisdom tooth or getting a dental implant.
Laser Dentistry
Sometimes laser dentistry is also used to remove wisdom teeth. Laser dentistry can be used to remove gum tissues to expose wisdom teeth that have not yet erupted in the mouth.
What Happens During a Wisdom Tooth Removal?
Once you are either unconscious or have your mouth numbed, the procedure for your wisdom tooth removal can begin.
We first cut into your gums to expose the root of your wisdom tooth and remove the bone that blocks access to the root of your tooth.
This is considered a surgical extraction. The procedure requires cutting into the gums in order to expose the wisdom teeth.
Next, we will remove the tooth and clean the area left behind. Then we stitch the wound closed and cover it with gauze to make sure the bleeding is controlled.
After Wisdom Tooth Removal
Once your impacted wisdom teeth are removed, you will have to deal with a few side effects resulting from the procedure. Swelling and pain are common for the first several days. You can use both ice packs and over the counter medication to deal with the swelling.
You should be eating mostly soft and cold foods while also rinsing your mouth out with salt water.
Once you go home after the procedure, make sure to rest for the remainder of the day, and drink lots of water.
After approximately 24 hours, you will be able to brush your teeth and start eating semi-soft foods.
Always be careful when brushing or chewing near where the procedure was done, and after a few days, the pain and swelling should go down. Then you will be able to get back to your day-to-day life.
Your Madison, AL Dentists Can Remove Impacted Wisdom Teeth!
Getting your wisdom teeth removed is a simple procedure, and thankfully you only need to get them removed once! We are here to answer any questions or concerns you may have about impacted wisdom teeth, or tooth extractions in general. Call Singing River Dentistry today at 256 - 562 - 4001, and we will get an appointment ready for you.
