Wisdom Teeth
Care You Can Count On
Dr. Raffi Yessayantz DDS
Wisdom Teeth
The third molars, or wisdom teeth, are the most commonly removed teeth in the mouth as they are unnecessary for good dental health and often cause oral problems due to overcrowding.
If your jaw is too small, as your wisdom teeth erupt they can force your other teeth out of alignment and thus damage your bit. This can cause swelling and discomfort as well as an increased risk of gum disease. Even if your wisdom teeth never erupt through your gums, if they are in an abnormal position, they can impact the roots of your other teeth and force them out of alignment that way.
Oral Surgeons
Dentists who have performed an additional 4-6 years of surgical residencies to receive an advanced education and training for anesthesiology and diagnosis/surgical treatment are known as Oral Surgeons, or Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. If oral surgery, such as wisdom tooth removal, is necessary your Dentist will recommend you to an Oral Surgeon for care.
The Process
Wisdom teeth extraction is a common occurrence as they are the last set of permanent teeth to come in and often times force other teeth out of alignment.
After determining if your wisdom teeth qualify for a regular tooth extraction (your teeth have erupted from the gums) or an impacted tooth extraction (your teeth are still under the gumline), your Oral Surgeon will perform the necessary procedure.
Regular Tooth Extraction
- First, an anesthetic is applied to the necessary area.
- Then, special tools are used to surround the tooth and rock it back & forth until it separates from the ligament that holds it in place.
- Sometimes, the tooth needs to be cut into smaller pieces prior to its extraction.
- Once the necessary teeth have been removed, you may require stitches.
- Finally, a cotton gauze pad is placed over the wound to help stop any bleeding.
Impacted Tooth Extraction
- Local anesthetic is first applied to the necessary areas and then the patient is usually sedated as well.
- Next, an incision is made in the gums in order to remove any bone that may be blocking access to the impacted tooth.
- Then, the impacted tooth is cut into small sections for removal.
- After removal is complete, the gums are stitched back into place.
- Finally, cotton gauze is applied to stop any bleeding.