Wisdom Teeth Removal
Dr. Matthew Harris, our dentist here at Lake of the Pines Dental, has made it his priority to provide many different services. Dr. Harris specializes in many forms of dentistry, including dental surgery. He performs surgeries such as wisdom teeth removal and recovery here in Auburn, California.
Dentists perform extractions at most general dental practices but refer to oral surgeons to perform wisdom teeth extractions. We perform all extractions in the office with the proper techniques and sedation methods.
Wisdom Teeth Removal and Recovery
Our wisdom teeth are the third back molars hidden under the gums until they are ready to erupt. Generally, patients can expect their wisdom teeth to start to show between the ages of 17-25. Although this is the time they are expected to erupt, some wisdom teeth do not erupt in some cases. One reason that wisdom teeth may not erupt is that they are impacted. Impaction means that the tooth is grouting in the jawbone horizontally instead of vertically. If the wisdom tooth does erupt, it may be thwarted by surrounding teeth that crowd the wisdom tooth.
Why get Them Removed?
Although it might seem great to have four new teeth to use, some severe issues can come when your wisdom teeth are ready to grow in. Below are some of the main reasons why it is recommended for you to get your wisdom teeth removed.
- There might not be enough room in your mouth for your wisdom teeth to grow. This can affect the appearance of your smile, making it look more crowded and crooked.
- If your wisdom teeth erupt vertically, they may break or become damaged by surrounding teeth already in position.
- Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain and damage to your sinuses once they start to grow in. Pain in the wisdom tooth area, congestion, and pressure are signs that your wisdom teeth are affecting your sinuses.
- Wisdom teeth, if grown fully, are located in a hard-to-reach area which means they accumulate decay and are hard to clean. This increases the likelihood that you will need a dental filling in the future.
There are some cases where wisdom teeth do not need to be removed. These include:
- If wisdom teeth have already grown in full and did not cause harm to surrounding teeth. If they are healthy and haven’t changed the anatomy of your smile, they don’t need to be removed.
- Before erupting, we can detect whether you have room in your mouth, gums, and jaw bone to hold another four teeth. If there is significant space and no harm will befall you, there is a chance the wisdom teeth can grow in.
Sedation Dentistry
Choosing to remove your wisdom teeth is a serious and lengthy process. It is a dental surgery. At Lake of the Pines Dental, one of our top priorities is your comfort. To ensure that you are comfortable during the surgery, we administer IV sedation. This medication is given through an intravenous catheter, much like a straw that sits in your veins and delivers medication through the bloodstream. With this medication, you may fall asleep, yet, you can follow directions. With this sedation, you might not be able to remember the procedure.
We also use other standard sedation procedures during wisdom teeth removals. This may include location sedation, which is a shot of Novocain, Lidocaine, or Mepivacaine in the area being treated. Additionally, we may give you nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, to relax you before the procedure.
If you are unsure whether you or your child requires a wisdom tooth extraction, contact us, Lake of Pines Dental, in Auburn, California, for a consultation.
