Your wisdom teeth are typically the last to emerge, appearing sometime between the ages of 17-25. Unfortunately, this delay in development also increases the likelihood of your wisdom teeth becoming impacted and other oral health problems. At Kirkland Premier Dentistry, expert dentist Gaurav Sharma, DDS, regularly performs safe, effective wisdom tooth extractions.
If you’re wondering whether you can benefit from wisdom tooth extraction, call the Kirkland, Washington, office or use the online booking tool to make an appointment today.
Wisdom teeth, or your third molars, are four teeth located at the very back of your mouth: two on top and two on the bottom. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why they come in so late, but it’s thought to be a product of human evolution.
No. The team at Kirkland Premier Dentistry performs wisdom teeth extractions on a case-by-case basis.
When your wisdom teeth start coming in, your dentist takes a series of X-rays to evaluate their alignment. If your wisdom teeth have room to come in, aren’t affecting your surrounding teeth, and you can keep them clean, you may be able to avoid an extraction altogether.
Depending on the results of your X-rays, your dentist may recommend an extraction even if your teeth feel fine. Some of the most common reasons for wisdom teeth extractions include:
Infected or impacted wisdom teeth can also cause cysts and permanent jaw damage. If your dentist recommends an extraction, it’s important to heed their advice.
Wisdom teeth extractions typically require two separate appointments.
At your initial consultation, your Kirkland Premier Dentistry provider walks you through the wisdom tooth extraction process and answers any questions you have.
During this appointment, you’ll also want to mention any prescription medications or supplements that you’re taking. Your dentist uses this information to safely administer anesthesia during your procedure. Finally, your dentist schedules an extraction appointment about a week later.
On the day of your extraction, your dentist administers a local anesthetic to numb your teeth, gums, and tongue. If necessary, nitrous oxide or another type of anesthesia can be administered to help you relax.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, your dentist carefully extracts your wisdom teeth using a pair of dental pliers. If your wisdom teeth haven’t yet broken through your gum line, your dentist accesses them by making small incisions along your gum line.
After removing your wisdom teeth, your dentist uses gauze pads to soak up any excess blood, and then carefully stitches up the extraction sites.
When your anesthesia wears off, the team provides you with a list of careful recovery instructions as well as antibiotics and prescription pain medication to help you stay comfortable.
If your wisdom teeth are coming in and you suspect an extraction is necessary, call or use the online booking tool to make an appointment today.