As many likely already know, wisdom teeth are the third – and final – molars in the back of the mouth on both the lower and upper jaw. Wisdom teeth aren’t only the furthest molars in the rear of the jaw, but they are also the last to erupt through the gums. Wisdom teeth typically appear as an individual reaches their late teenage years or early twenties.
Wisdom teeth can cause a lot of discomfort for those who still have them. Yet, that is not the only reason why patients should get their wisdom teeth removed in Jacksonville, FL. Continue reading to learn more about how wisdom teeth can be expertly removed by a dental professional.
Why Are Wisdom Teeth Removed In Jacksonville, FL?
The late-erupting nature of wisdom teeth is why they’re arguably the most problematic of all teeth. That’s because by the time they erupt, there’s usually little to no room left in the mouth for them. This means that if they are allowed to erupt, it could lead to pain, overcrowding of the mouth and/or eventual malocclusion.
Some wisdom teeth never fully erupt. Instead, they remain impacted below the gum line, where they are unable to grow and develop properly. This can also be painful, and matters can become complicated if part of the wisdom teeth ever break through the surface. When this happens, they could wreak havoc on the other teeth in the mouth and harbor bacteria.
As it can be seen, wisdom teeth can be quite troublesome – and that’s why so many American adults today have had them removed. Since the tooth roots aren’t fully developed prior to an individual turning 20, most doctors prefer their patients to have their wisdom teeth extracted during the late teenage years.
The Process For Removing Your Wisdom Teeth In Jacksonville, FL
The process for removing wisdom teeth starts with an initial consultation. During this time, a doctor is able to assess the severity of the patient’s wisdom teeth and the method for removing them. This can also illuminate any irregularities that may exist in the patient’s teeth or jaw that may also need to be addressed. Once completed, a surgery plan is made, and the patient can be sent home for the day.
When it is time for the surgery, the patient can return to the doctor’s location. They will typically offer some sort of sedation dentistry to ease the patient through their treatment. Once sedated, an expertly trained doctor will be able to go in and remove the wisdom teeth with ease.
This will be done in such a way as to avoid damage to surrounding teeth and bone structures. Once completed, the patient is stitched up, woken up from sedation, and sent home with a designated driver. The whole process usually takes an hour or two to complete.
What Else Should I know About Wisdom Tooth Removals In Jacksonville, FL?
Preventative Procedure:
Even if wisdom teeth grow in seemingly fine, many dentists may still recommend their removal. That’s because they’re so far back in the mouth that they become difficult to clean and treat for tooth decay.
Regular Dental Checkup:
Regularly seeing the doctor per the industry-recommended timeline of once every six months is the best way to keep an eye on the development of wisdom teeth as people age. That’s because X-rays are typically annually taken, which can monitor the growth of these far-back molars and help to better determine what – if any – impact they are having on the rest of the mouth.
Outpatient Procedure:
Wisdom teeth removals are an outpatient procedure that’s conducted with anesthesia. It should be a painless procedure, though swelling and bruising is likely to occur following extraction. In the days following removal, patients are also usually directed to eat soft foods, such as pudding, yogurt, soup, and milkshakes.
Benefits Of Wisdom Teeth Removals
Long term, there are many benefits to the removal of a patient’s wisdom teeth. Not only will the pain from them trying to come in go away but they will no longer cause a risk for the patients surrounding teeth to shift around, nor be a cause of gum disease. Wisdom teeth removals are important to do earlier rather than later to reap the most amount of benefit from their removal.
What To Do After Wisdom Teeth Removals
There are things patients will have to look out for in the days immediately following surgery. Within the first day, keeping the area where the surgery occurred clean with gauze or tea bags is important. Ice can also help reduce swelling caused by the procedure.
Patients will want to stick to soft foods for the days following the appointment and avoid anything that requires sucking. The pressure caused by sucking can cause serious issues and even cause the stitches to become loose. This will cause excessive bleeding and requires immediate care from a doctor. Other things to do after a wisdom tooth extraction are covered by the doctor following the procedure.
We Can Remove Your Wisdom Teeth
One of the reasons why some people won’t have to get their wisdom teeth removed is because they don’t grow wisdom teeth. While this may be true for those people, many people will need to get their wisdom teeth removed, either before or after they have erupted.
Our trained and experienced dental professionals can remove your wisdom teeth with ease. Get in contact with Dr. Richard Caven, Dr. Shelby Denman, and Dr. Stephen Carpenter, at our our office by Jacksonville, FL office to schedule your consultation today!
