If you’re reading this article, you don’t want to know that you need your wisdom teeth removed. You’re praying that you’ll find something here that will tell you that you’re the exception to the rule and your wisdom teeth can stay just where they are. And it’s no wonder. Wisdom teeth extraction gets a bad rap. But approximately 85% of wisdom teeth get pulled. How can anything so common be so awful? Put that one extraction horror story you heard at the office behind you and get wise to the truth because the procedure is common, yes, a little uncomfortable, but positively something you’ll get over in no time.

WHAT ARE WISDOM TEETH?

Your wisdom teeth are your third set of molars. They typically erupt between the ages of 16-20 when we are at a more “mature” age, thus the term “wisdom teeth.” If they grow correctly with good alignment, they are helpful for chewing and you’re off the hook for extraction. However, if you feel any pain or discomfort as they start to come in, it’s time to call the dentist’s office.

SIGNS THAT WISDOM TEETH NEED TO BE REMOVED

Some people have enough room in their mouth for their wisdom teeth to come in with no problem. When the space isn’t big enough, they are “impacted.” That means that the molars are trapped under your gumline or in your jaw.

Your dentist starts monitoring these teeth early on to see how they’re developing because when they don’t have the proper amount of room, problems like these can arise:

• Food becomes trapped giving bacteria a place to grow.
• Flossing becomes difficult leading to plaque build up.
• Partial eruption can give bacteria a place to enter the gums and create a place for infection to occur.
• Neighboring teeth can get crowded by wisdom teeth that are trying to come in.
• A wisdom tooth that is impacted can form a cyst on or near the impacted tooth leading to root damage.

HOW ARE THEY REMOVED?

It’s easy to see that if they aren’t coming in right, they aren’t worth the trouble. The good news is that removal isn’t as bad as that one story you heard. It’s a common procedure using sedatives and anesthetics (something you and the dentist will discuss prior to your appointment). Once the procedure is over, you’ll need to bite on a soft piece of gauze for 30-45 minutes to minimize the bleeding. There will be some pain and swelling, but in most cases it goes away after three to four days. Anytime there is severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or fever, you should call your dentist immediately.

Of course, our entire team at Asheville Dental strives to make every extraction as comfortable as possible for our patients. Have questions about a procedure before having it done? Call us for a consultation. We’d love to put your mind at ease.