Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, or damage to the adjacent tooth (the second molar) when they erupt incorrectly or remain impacted. Early evaluation can prevent these complications and allow for a simpler, less invasive, and safer procedure. Our team will guide you through the process with a gentle, professional approach tailored to your needs.
How is wisdom tooth extraction performed?
Wisdom tooth extraction is a procedure performed under local anesthesia and sedation.
Preparation before surgery
Before surgery, our treatment plan coordinator will meet with you to give you specific instructions. These may include guidelines on eating and drinking before surgery, as well as managing post-operative pain.
On the day of surgery
The dentist begins by opening the gum around the tooth in order to gently extract it. In the case of impacted teeth, a small incision in the gum is necessary.
Post-operative care
After the extraction, the dentist will give you post-operative instructions to ensure rapid healing, improve your comfort, and minimize complications. These may include: taking prescribed medication to relieve pain; using cold compresses to reduce swelling; foods to avoid for a certain period of time. One week after surgery, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled to ensure proper healing.
FAQ
What is a wisdom tooth?
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last molars at the back of the mouth. They normally appear between the ages of 14 and 25. However, their emergence is not always without problems.
Why do most wisdom teeth need to be extracted?
Generally, there is not enough space for wisdom teeth to erupt completely. Wisdom teeth may remain impacted, grow incompletely or at an angle, causing pain, infection, damage to adjacent teeth, or cysts. Your dentist may extract them to prevent these complications.
Will I feel pain after a wisdom tooth extraction?
Thanks to modern techniques and effective pain management, most patients have a very comfortable experience and can resume their normal activities within a few days.
What are the risks of not having wisdom teeth removed?
When a partially erupted wisdom tooth is not removed, that tooth and the adjacent second molar present several short- or medium-term risks:
- tooth decay;
- infection;
- resorption of the second molar (the third molar breaks part of the second molar);
- gum or bone problems (periodontitis).
Each of these problems can lead to significant pain and loss of the adjacent second molar.
What are the risks of impacted wisdom teeth?
When a wisdom tooth that is completely impacted under the gum or bone is not extracted, there is a rare risk that a cyst will form around the wisdom tooth, but more importantly, there is a significant risk that this tooth will become partially exposed in the mouth in the medium to long term.
Because the roots are now fully formed, extracting these teeth at an older age usually carries a much higher risk of nerve damage (risk of loss of sensitivity or pain) and requires much more invasive and painful procedures.