Wisdom Teeth Valencia Wisdom teeth are a footprint of early human life. They were once critical to our oral health and survival in general. But when they grow in these days, they usually do more harm than good. Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that develop in some people during their late teenage and early adulthood years. In some cases, wisdom teeth may overfill the mouth, distorting teeth formations. In others, they may grow out from awkward angles that make them hard to brush and cause many other dental problems.At Erik P. Cadra DMD, we make a well-rounded dental examination of wisdom teeth in patients to determine any short-term or long-term issues that might accompany them. Besides a close-up physical inspection of the wisdom teeth, we also ask our patients some vital questions to determine the best course of action going forward. In some people, the wisdom teeth might just be naturally well-positioned and complementary to their dentition. Unfortunately, in some others, the wisdom teeth may be disruptive or impacted and the patient must undergo wisdom teeth extraction to save the development and arrangement of their other teeth. When is Wisdom Teeth Extraction Necessary?Wisdom teeth are oftentimes impacted, meaning they’re trapped in various positions inside your gums or jawbone and don’t surface normally like the other teeth. Sometimes when they surface, they can grow out at awkward angles, facing the back of the mouth, pushing against the next teeth, or “lying down” on the gum surface. In other cases, the patient’s mouth may not be wide enough to accommodate an extra set of molars. Wisdom tooth extraction is usually necessary in these instances because the wisdom teeth can give rise to myriads of dental issues. Wisdom teeth can cause severe pain, gum disease, tooth decay, or damage to surrounding teeth. Even if a patient isn’t grappling with any of these dental challenges, we can still recommend wisdom teeth extraction. This is sometimes needed if the wisdom teeth are hard-to-reach - thus being a potential breeding ground for bacteria, or if they interfere with teeth straightening procedures for other teeth. Our Wisdom Teeth Extraction ProcedureThe process starts with an examination at our Erik P. Cadra DMD office, where we will review issues like the health problems associated with your wisdom teeth, medications, and the details of the surgery - including the best type of anesthesia for you. The procedure usually takes an average of 45 minutes, after which you can go back to your normal daily routine. You may have to spend more time in the recovery room if you’re given general anesthesia that might take you longer to wake up from. But most times, we use local anesthesia to numb the pain around the site of the incisions. We may need to cut open your gums or bones to extract the teeth, after which we stitch up the wounds, but you’ll likely be sedated throughout the procedure. The RecoveryWhen you wake after the surgery, you might feel some pain and swelling in your mouth, but it’s something that you can stay on top of. We can recommend a wide range of remedies to help you ease into the recovery process, from ice packs to over-the-counter painkillers, antibiotics, and soft foods. We will also suggest some things you should avoid, like alcohol, caffeine, smoking, intense exercises, drinking with straws, and spitting. Most patients recover fully after just a few days with proper oral care. We also take care to ensure that our patients don’t encounter common complications like trouble swallowing and breathing, fever, worsening pain and swelling, numbness, and nosebleeds. We understand fear of these complications can scare people away from scheduling a wisdom teeth extraction. But at Erik P. Cadra DMD, we’ll use our wide breadth of experience and state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to make the procedure as quick and painless as possible. Call us today at 661-502-6990 and we'll help you put an end to your wisdom teeth problems. |
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