Wisdom Tooth Extraction NYC
Are your wisdom teeth causing you pain? Now may be the time to get them out once and for all. Call your NYC wisdom tooth extraction experts at our office.
Many believe that wisdom teeth are holdovers from long ago, when humans had larger jaws and more teeth to replace the ones that fell out. These teeth seem great in theory (yay, more teeth!), but in reality they often cause problems, because most people’s mouths don’t have room for these extra teeth.
That can lead to all sorts of issues, such as infection, impaction, cysts, crowding, and crooked eruption. If you’re suffering pain from your wisdom teeth, it may be in your best interest to have them removed now, before they cause more trouble later.
Why Is It Necessary to Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Wisdom teeth are usually removed because you’re currently suffering from problems with them. Alternately, they may be removed to prevent problems in the future if your dentist has analyzed yours and believes they may cause you trouble later. Not all wisdom teeth must be removed, but many patients opt for full removal because early removal can be better all around.
The reason wisdom teeth are primarily removed in the teen years, or early twenties, is because it’s easier to remove them before the root structure has fully formed. The jawbone also becomes denser later in life, making removal more complicated.
What Problems Can Wisdom Teeth Cause?
Why remove them at all? There are a number of issues wisdom teeth can cause. Let’s examine those below.
- Infection – The most common problem associated with wisdom teeth is localized gum infection, or pericoronitis. With not enough room for the tooth to erupt fully, it can only erupt partially, and the gums near it can become inflamed and irritated.
- Impaction – Impacted teeth are those that do not manage to break through the gums. This can lead to infection, can cause the tooth to grow crooked and press against adjacent teeth, and can lead to crowding and other issues.
- Crowding – This refers to pushing other teeth forward. When the wisdom tooth (the third molar) erupts, it can push on the second molar, causing a domino effect, resulting in crooked or sometimes damaged teeth.
- Cysts – These are fluid-filled balloons that expand and can damage nearby teeth, sometimes damaging the jawbone as well.
- Damage to Adjacent Teeth – If your wisdom teeth are pushing on adjacent teeth, this can damage or break the nearby teeth. If one of your wisdom teeth has cavities, it can mean cavities for other nearby teeth, as well.
What to Expect When Your Wisdom Teeth Are Extracted
Wisdom tooth extraction is a kind of oral surgery, and many people have some anxiety and fear beforehand. Although this is a normal reaction, it’s important for you to know that there is very little risk during this procedure. It may help you to feel more comfortable if you are well prepared for your teeth removal ahead of time.
There are several things you can do that will make this process easier on you:
First, read up on the procedure itself. The more you know what’s going on during the surgery, the better you’ll feel. If you know exactly what’s going to happen, your mind won’t spend time conjuring fantastical ideas of your wisdom teeth surgery, as though you’re in a horror film with a dentist chasing you around with a drill.
Second, stock up before you go in for the procedure. You want to make sure you have plenty of soft foods and beverages, such as ice cream and yogurt. Grab a few movies so that when you’re relaxing after the surgery you won’t be bored. You may also want to pick up some over-the-counter pain medication, especially if you’re not a fan of narcotics.
Third, make sure to ask your doctor any questions that you have and read any information that is given to you. You will likely not be able to eat anything before the surgery because of the anesthesia. Some people do opt to stay awake during the surgery, which is fine, too.
What to Expect after Wisdom Tooth Removal Surgery
After the surgery, you are going to come out of the anesthesia and feel a little silly for thirty minutes or so. Once the anesthesia wears off, you will probably be hungry. If you’ve had a full removal (all four teeth), you will want to only eat soft foods for a while.
If you’ve only had one or two teeth removed, you may be able to chew on whatever side of the mouth you didn’t have teeth extracted from. You can expect some puffiness, and as the pain medication that your doctor gave you wears off, you will likely be in some mild pain.
The level of discomfort and pain depends on a variety of factors:
- How many teeth you had pulled
- Whether the teeth were impacted or not
- Whether there were any complications
- Your pain tolerance in general
- Whether you developed dry socket
Some people recover from their wisdom teeth removal very quickly, perhaps in a day or so. Others seem to take much longer to feel back to normal. It’s important to practice good oral hygiene at this time and follow your doctor’s advice.
If you don’t, you could end up with infection in the area where your tooth used to be, or you could get dry socket. Dry socket is when the blood clot that should be covering the area where a tooth was extracted is somehow removed and the underlying nerves are exposed, causing intense pain.
Get in Touch with a Wisdom Tooth Extraction Dentist in NYC
When your wisdom teeth have been bothering you, it might be time to visit a wisdom tooth extraction dentist in NYC. Pain in your wisdom tooth is usually an indicator of an infection, impaction, or even a cyst formation. Don’t wait to get your wisdom teeth removed, because the issues only become more complex and painful down the line.
Call New York Dentist to set up an appointment. We will conduct x-rays and a dental exam to determine your treatment needs. Our number is 555-555-5555, or you can make an appointment online using the website form on this page.
