Wisdom Teeth
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Wisdom Tooth Extraction in NW Calgary
Safe and Reliable Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often than not, they are misaligned and or impacted and require removal.
Wisdom teeth are the furthest set in the back of the mouth and usually cause no problems if the person’s jaw can accommodate them. However, most people require a wisdom teeth extraction. At Brentwood Village Dental Clinic, we can determine which wisdom teeth need to be removed and identify which ones will be functional. While some patients need all four teeth extracted, others may only need one or two. Getting wisdom teeth removed early avoids painful problems, teeth alignment issues, potential infection, and damage to the gums.
Don’t wait until you’re in pain – speak to us about your options today. Delaying wisdom teeth removal can result in partial eruption and a longer healing period. If you’re feeling anxious or nervous about wisdom teeth extraction, we can discuss sedation options. Our goal is to recommend the best course of action depending on your individual situation and make the extraction process as smooth and comfortable as possible with little complications.
Our Wisdom Teeth Services
Why do wisdom teeth have to be removed?
If impacted wisdom teeth are left in place, they can cause excruciating pain, they can push against and damage or destroy the teeth in front of them. And in rare cases can lead to in infection or can cause a cyst that can damage other teeth roots or bone support. Teeth that are partially erupted can be at a higher risk of infection because the partially emerged teeth create a passageway for bacteria that cause gum disease and oral infection. These teeth are also at a higher risk of decay because they are inaccessible and hard to keep clean.
Crowd nearby teeth
If wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to come in properly, they may crowd or damage nearby teeth.
Sinus Issues
Problems with wisdom teeth can lead to sinus pain, pressure, and congestion.
Inflamed Gums
Tissue around the area can swell and may be hard to clean.
Cavities
Swollen gums can create pockets between teeth that help bacteria grow and cavities form.
My wisdom teeth aren’t hurting yet, why should I remove them now?
Can’t I just wait until they hurt?
Wisdom teeth removal, while done by dentists, is not at all like routine dental work. If your dentist has told you that your wisdom teeth should come out for one of the reasons listed above. Then chances are very good that at one point they will become a problem in the future. Therefore, we strongly urge you to plan ahead for this inevitability. This means being proactive even if they are not currently bothering you.
The main reasons to plan ahead for your wisdom teeth removal.
If you plan ahead, you are able to take your time finding a suitable dentist. Because wisdom teeth removal is very complicated (especially when they are impacted or there is exceptional root anatomy etc). Not all dentists can, or will remove wisdom teeth. Often time these dentists are booked quite far in advance, and or work limited hours. For instance, in our office we have several dentists who are able to remove wisdom teeth. However, if your wisdom teeth became a problem on a weekend or evening, these particular dentists would not be here, as they work limited hours, therefore, you would be forced to wait until an appointment could be booked. The pain from wisdom teeth can be excruciating, if you wait for them to start really hurting and then are unable to get in with an appropriate dentist to have them removed. You could be very uncomfortable.
If you plan ahead you can take advantage of sedation.
The process of removing wisdom teeth can be unpleasant. Even though it can be done in a dental office, the process of removing these teeth is considered a surgery. The Dentist must make incisions and remove both soft tissue and bone, sometimes the teeth even have to sectioned into smaller pieces. During this process there are many different noises and sensations as well as pushing, and manual manipulation of the tooth, and needing to have their mouth wide open for a long time can be very uncomfortable and even upsetting for some patients. Therefore, most dentists recommend that patients be sedated for wisdom teeth surgery.
Properly preparing for sedation is a process that takes time and requires a pre-operative consultation to measure baseline vital signs and have the patient’s overall health assessed. If the dentist has questions or concerns about the patient’s overall health a medical clearance letter could be required from the patient’s physician (this alone can take weeks). On the day of the sedation appointment patients must not eat or drink anything for 8 hours prior to the appointment and must come with a caregiver. Patients being sedation must arrange to take time off work or school and are not able to drive a car or be responsible for young children for 24 hours after their appointment.
Therefore, If you are presenting at an office, needing your wisdom teeth removed immediately due to pain and or infection. even if there is a dentist on hand, that can remove them, that dentist would not be able to sedate you for the procedure.
The recovery period can vary from person to person, but generally, the initial healing takes a few days to a week. Complete recovery of the gums usually takes 3-4 weeks. During the initial recovery period, it’s essential to rest and follow your dentist’s or oral surgeon’s instructions to help promote healing and minimize complications.
For the first few days following the surgery, it’s advised to eat soft foods that don’t require much chewing, such as yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, and soup. Gradually reintroduce more solid foods into your diet as your comfort and healing process allow. It’s also important to stay hydrated, but avoid drinking from a straw for at least a week, as the suction can disrupt the healing process.
Wisdom teeth can contribute to many orthodontic problems. For example, keeping your wisdom teeth can increase the probability of developing conditions such as:
- Dental caries
- Oral infections
- Periodontal disease
- Teeth overcrowding
- Tooth decay
- Jaw complications
Generally speaking, most insurance policies cover a portion (between 50% to 80%, depending on the plan) of the wisdom teeth removal cost. However, the patient will typically be responsible for out-of-pocket expenditures.
Typically, no; follow-up appointments are generally not scheduled after a wisdom-tooth procedure. But if you experience problems such as bleeding or oral pain, you’ll want to contact your dentist as soon as possible.
Post-surgery, there are a few things you’ll want to be vigilant of to ensure a speedy recovery. Ignoring these symptoms after your wisdom tooth removal can result in infection and other oral health complications. Watch out for the following signs and symptoms:
- Bleeding has not subsided
- Inflammation
- Difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth
- High temperature or fever
- A general feeling of illness
- Pain and discomfort
Contact your dentist immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms after your wisdom tooth extraction.
Try to abstain from rigorous exercise (heavy lifting, jumping, strenuous running, etc.) to avoid your blood pressure from rising. If your blood pressure increases, it can interfere with recovery and result in excessive bleeding.
Yes! In fact, we recommend it. However, allow 24 hours before returning to your regular oral health routine. After the post-surgery wait time has passed, you may also continue wearing any orthodontic retainer you may have been using previously.
It’s normal (and expected) to experience some pain and inflammation after your wisdom tooth extraction surgery. As such, here are a few ways you can alleviate the discomfort:
- Use an ice pack: You can reduce swelling after your tooth wisdom extraction by using an ice pack to the outside of your cheek on the surgical side.
- Keep your head elevated: Position yourself upright, keeping your head raised above your heart. When you go to sleep or want to lay down, use additional pillows to ensure your head remains elevated—this can help reduce the inflammation.
- Rinse with saltwater: Rinse your mouth out with a glass of warm salty water numerous times daily to remove bacteria and control the swelling.
Consume a liquid diet or soft food: Regarding post-surgery eating, stick to easy-to-chew, soft foods for the first couple of days. Also, switching to a liquid or moderate-liquid diet can work well too. Over time, when the wisdom tooth extraction surgery site heals and the pain and inflammation subside, you can resume your regular diet. Smoothies, eggs, yogurts, etc., are fantastic alternatives in the meantime.
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