
Apr
Wisdom teeth, often called “third molars,” are generally the last to appear in your mouth. Without room for these teeth to emerge, they can become impacted and compromise oral health. Removing impacted wisdom teeth involves oral surgery. Dr. Ryan Watkins from Dreamtime Dentistry offers surgical wisdom teeth removal to our patients in Vista, California. These FAQs explain more about impacted wisdom tooth surgery.
If your older teen is complaining of pain in the back of his mouth, it could be due to the emergence of wisdom teeth. They can come in anytime between the ages of 17 and 25.
Wisdom teeth that are healthy, positioned properly, and do not impair existing teeth don’t necessarily have to be removed. Through routine checkups, Dr. Watkins can monitor these teeth to ensure they don’t cause problems in the future.
Wisdom teeth can become impacted when they don’t have space to come through. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain and inflammation and put you at risk of decay, gum infection, cysts, and other oral health issues. For this reason, it’s often recommended that these teeth be removed.
An impacted tooth is one that’s become trapped in your jaw. Partial impaction occurs when a tooth emerges partway and gets stuck due to a lack of space to move further. Complete impaction occurs when the tooth stays in your jaw due to having no space to move at all. Both situations require oral surgery to have these teeth removed.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause:
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, Dr. Watkins can take x-rays to see if wisdom tooth impaction is the cause.
For impacted wisdom tooth surgery, Dr. Watkins will make an incision in your gum and remove bone tissue to gain access to your tooth. Using forceps, we’ll loosen your tooth and pull it loose. We may break the tooth into pieces for easier removal. Afterward, we’ll clean the area and suture your gum so it can heal. This procedure is typically done under general anesthesia, which puts you to sleep. You won’t feel any pain or discomfort throughout your procedure.
Wisdom tooth removal is a safe and common surgical treatment that most dentists perform today. Working with a skilled dentist like Dr. Watkins can help ensure the success of your treatment and subsequent recovery.
If you’re having problems with your wisdom teeth, contact Dr. Ryan Watkins from Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, CA, at (760) 274-0993 to schedule a consultation for wisdom tooth removal treatment.