When you visit your New Orleans dentist, the last thing you want to hear is that your wisdom teeth are impacted and need to be removed. Whether you suffer from dental anxiety or not, you will likely be curious about how your wisdom teeth became impacted in the first place and how your dentist plans to comfortably and safely remove them. With the ultimate goal of your oral health, the dental team at Downtown Dental can provide caring and compassionate wisdom teeth removal when you need it. Here’s how.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
You have four wisdom teeth that erupt in the back of your mouth well after your other adult teeth come in; these are known as your wisdom teeth. Strangely enough, these teeth serve no real purpose in terms of your smile, bite, or oral health. Often, they become problematic because they can crowd your other teeth or partially erupt, making the area difficult to clean. Because of these reasons, wisdom teeth removal is a common dental procedure.
What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
If your wisdom teeth, also known as your third molars, begin to cause dental issues because they become trapped in your gums or jawbone. Sometimes, they are only partially trapped, but they can also be completely trapped. Either of these scenarios is known as impaction. Sometimes, your wisdom teeth may come in at an angle, but sometimes, there simply isn’t enough room in your jaw to accommodate them. Once your wisdom teeth become impacted, they can cause the following dental issues:
- Pain
- Cavities
- Gum disease
- Infection
If your wisdom teeth become impacted, your dentist will likely recommend removing them before they cause further oral health problems.
Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
It’s possible that your impacted wisdom teeth don’t hurt or cause any problems; however, you could develop symptoms suddenly or gradually. The signs that could indicate impacted wisdom teeth include the following:
- Facial pain or swelling
- Red and swollen gums
- Bleeding gums
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Trouble opening your mouth completely
Your New Orleans dentist can assess your dental situation and take x-rays to determine whether your wisdom teeth are impacted.
The Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal Process
On the day of your wisdom teeth removal procedure, your dentist will complete the following steps:
1. First, they will numb your teeth and gums and ensure you are completely comfortable before the procedure begins.
2. The next step involves making incisions in your gums to expose your impacted wisdom teeth.
3. Once they can reach your impacted teeth, your dentist will loosen them and remove them from their sockets. If necessary, they will divide each tooth into parts to make it easier to remove.
4. After your impacted wisdom teeth have been removed, they will clean and disinfect the area to ensure you won’t develop an infection.
5. If necessary, your dentist will put stitches in your gums to close the surgical site.
6. Finally, gauze will be placed in your mouth where your impacted teeth were removed. This will help slow the bleeding from the surgical site.
The entire process takes approximately one hour, but it could take longer if your case is more complex.
Risks and Complications of Wisdom Teeth Removal
There are a few potential risks involved with having your impacted wisdom teeth removed, including the following:
Dry Socket
If your blot clots on the surgical site break loose too soon, your jawbone will be exposed, causing pain at the site.
Infection
You could get an infection if bacteria become trapped in your surgical site.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should contact your dentist immediately:
- A fever that exceeds 102 degrees
- Excessive bleeding at the surgical site
- Severe pain at the surgical site after taking medication
- Trouble breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Facial swelling that worsens over time
- Noticeable signs of infection, such as pus at the surgical site
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Removal
Once your impacted wisdom teeth have been removed, you can expect to be uncomfortable and experience some bleeding from the extraction site, but your dentist can recommend the best ways to recover from the procedure. You should be able to go back to work or school within a few days once the discomfort and swelling subside.
Taking over-the-counter pain medications can help; you should also eat only soft foods and avoid drinking from a straw until your mouth has had a chance to heal.
Do You Need Tooth Extraction in New Orleans?
If you are looking for a dental expert in root canals or need tooth extraction New Orleans, LA, consider the dental team at Downtown Dental. In addition to wisdom teeth extraction, we offer a wide range of dental services, including dental bridges, to help you achieve the best oral health possible. Call us at (504) 528-7800 to schedule a consultation or an appointment.
We look forward to hearing from you.