Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth, or the third molars at the back of your mouth, don't always have to be removed. But, it's common to have them removed as most of the time they're misaligned, impacted or causing pain.
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Culver City, CA
Wisdom teeth, the last set of molars to emerge, typically between 17 and 25, often lead to dental issues. At Link Dental, we can assess the need for their removal through visual inspection or X-ray imaging if they’ve surfaced or are still beneath the gum line.
While extracting wisdom teeth falls under oral surgery, the procedure can be performed by either your dentist or an oral surgeon, usually under general anesthesia, particularly for multiple extractions.
Link Dental specializes in pain-free wisdom teeth extraction, located in Culver City, CA, offering various dental sedation methods. For further details, please get in touch with our office!
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How do I know if my wisdom teeth need removed?
While every patient is different, some common signs indicate the need to have your wisdom teeth removed. These signs include:
- Impaction, i.e., if the tooth is stuck under the gums or is completely hidden. If wisdom teeth aren’t able to emerge usually, they can become trapped within your jaw, which can result in infection or cause a cyst that can damage other teeth or roots.
- Changing bite alignment—Wisdom teeth can grow at various angles in the jaw, sometimes horizontally, which can cause a change in your bit alignment.
- Crowding or damage to existing teeth caused by wisdom teeth not having enough room to come in properly.
- Emerging only partially—if your wisdom teeth only partially emerge through the gums, it can cause a magnet for bacteria that can cause gum disease and oral infection.
Many dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth early, before the roots and bone fully form and when recovery is faster.
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How long does it take to heal after wisdom teeth removal?
For most patients, it takes between 4 days and two weeks to heal from the procedure. During this time, you may experience swelling and pain and should ensure that you get plenty of rest to quicken the healing process. Some things can lengthen the healing process, such as smoking, using straws, and not keeping proper oral hygiene.
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What is an impacted wisdom tooth?
When a wisdom tooth doesn’t have enough room to come in, it is usually considered an impacted wisdom tooth. Depending on where the teeth lie within the jaw, there are several degrees of impacted wisdom teeth. Soft tissue impaction occurs when the tooth’s crown has penetrated the bone, but the gum still covers part of the tooth.
When the tooth has partially erupted, but a part of the tooth remains submerged in the jawbone, this is considered partially bony impaction. Complete bony impaction occurs when the tooth is entirely encased by jawbone.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about wisdom teeth, please contact our office, and we will be happy to discuss further.
