Wisdom Teeth Removal

Your wisdom teeth are your third set of molars that tend to appear after adolescence. They can cause crowding, potentially damage your existing teeth, and erupt at an angle. At Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry, we can remove your wisdom teeth before or after they come in. Whatever your needs may be, your comfort is our priority, and we strive to make the removal process as relaxing as possible.

When Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Necessary?

Wisdom teeth removal isn’t necessary for everyone. When you visit our office, we’ll examine your teeth and decide if the procedure is right for you. Unsure if you need your wisdom teeth removed? We’ve created a list of some common reasons your wisdom teeth may need to be extracted, including:

• If your wisdom teeth are impacted (stuck) underneath your gums.
• If your wisdom teeth are crowding your surrounding teeth and changing the alignment of your bite.
• If your wisdom teeth come in at an angle and are putting pressure on the teeth around them.

Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Hurt?

The earlier the need for wisdom teeth extraction is identified, the better. Early removal can help prevent damaging neighboring teeth, bone and gum tissue, and nerves and blood vessels. Before we remove your wisdom teeth, we’ll numb the surrounding area so the most you will feel is slight pressure, not pain, while we work. If you have dental anxiety or fear, we have relaxing sedation options to help you feel comfortable and at ease during the procedure.

After your removal, the area will most likely be tender and sore. When you leave our office, we will send you home with a list of aftercare guidelines to help you have an easy, painless recovery. Depending on your situation, we’ll either write you a prescription for pain medication or recommend a list of over-the-counter pain relievers. If you have any questions about wisdom tooth extraction, contact us and one of our team members would be happy to answer them.

What can I eat after getting my wisdom teeth removed?

After a wisdom teeth removal, you will want to stick to liquids and soft foods for at least a week. Things like yogurt, pudding, mashed potatoes, applesauce, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs are good choices to avoid pain or any problems. If you choose to drink a smoothie or milkshake after your procedure, make sure you do not use a straw. The suction created in the mouth when a straw is used can cause a dry socket, which is when the blood clot that forms in the healing process is removed, and it can cause a number of complications.

What are my options for sedation?

A local anesthetic will be used to numb the gums in the back of the mouth where the teeth are, but sedation is often used during wisdom teeth procedures to keep the patient calm and relaxed or unconscious during the appointment. If it’s going to be a relatively quick and easy removal, we may suggest nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, just to relieve any anxious thoughts. For impacted teeth or more complicated procedures where all four wisdom teeth are being removed at once, general anesthesia can be used to make it feel like the procedure was only a few seconds long, and you won’t have any memory of it. To learn more about our sedation options, get in touch with our office or visit our page on sedation dentistry.

Call our office to schedule your wisdom tooth consultation!

Preserve Your Dental Health!

Schedule a visit to see if you need wisdom teeth removal!