A Smart Move: Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal
Many people believe that the wisdom teeth are, by nature, problematic. For millions of people, however, the wisdom teeth pose no problems whatsoever. These permanent adult teeth erupt in the back corners of their mouths and cause no pain or oral health issues. In fact, in many cases, people do not even realize that they have wisdom teeth until their dentists tell them that they have erupted.
In other cases, however, impacted wisdom teeth can be the source of serious oral health problems, damaging adjacent teeth, causing bite issues, and resulting in excruciating pain. In such cases, the only permanent solution is to have the impacted wisdom teeth surgically removed. At the dental implant and oral surgery center of Drs. Gerald W. Bird and Jay A. Johnson in Melbourne, impacted wisdom teeth removal of the highest standard is available to patients who are suffering from pain due to the lack of space in their mouths for their wisdom teeth. We may also recommend the removal of wisdom teeth that are not currently causing pain but that are at high risk of creating oral health issues in the future. Our primary treatment goal is to ensure that patients emerge from surgery with optimal oral health that will last for a lifetime.
The Wisdom Tooth Removal Process
Wisdom tooth removal is a safe, but invasive, surgical procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis. Patients must be in sufficient health to be anesthetized in order to undergo wisdom tooth removal. Before wisdom tooth removal is performed, a thorough examination of the mouth must be performed to determine the state not only of the wisdom teeth but also of surrounding teeth. Sometimes wisdom teeth can cause damage to surrounding teeth that goes undetected without the aid of x-rays and other diagnostic tools.
In general, wisdom tooth removal is a fairly complex form of oral surgery, though the degree of complexity depends upon the type of wisdom tooth impaction. A wisdom tooth that has partially erupted will be easier to remove than one that is still fully encapsulated in bone.
In most cases, wisdom teeth must be removed in pieces. After the patient has been anesthetized, an incision is made in the gum around the wisdom tooth. At this point, the tooth is broken into pieces, and the pieces are carefully removed. After it has been confirmed that all of the pieces have been removed, the socket is then cleansed to help ensure that the site does not become infected. If necessary, the incision is then sutured closed, and gauze is placed over the surgical site. The patient is given specific instructions to follow that will help promote quick, comfortable, and proper healing. Most patients find that their swelling and discomfort largely subside within three days of surgery.
Learn More about Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal
To learn more about impacted wisdom teeth removal, or to schedule your initial consultation with one of our two esteemed oral surgeons, please contact our dental implant and oral surgery center today.
