As you or a member of your family approaches your late teens or early 20s, up to four new teeth could erupt in the rear of your mouth. The wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, can cause serious trouble for the health, function, and appearance of your smile. Which is why your Houston, TX, dentist talks about removing wisdom teeth.
The Impact of Wisdom Teeth
At one time, these additional teeth were necessary but over the past millennia they have become a hindrance. Which means when they arrive, trying to support up to four new teeth in the smile can lead to serious complications. For example, you could develop misalignment, which not only changes the appearance of your smile but increases the risk of complications like tooth decay and gum disease. They can upset bite balance to make TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding) more likely. They may only partially erupt, causing painful impaction that can also lead to damaged teeth or infection. To preserve the health, function, and beauty of your smile, we will remove these third molars prior to their eruption!
Planning the Tooth Extraction
To begin, we will take detailed digital x-rays of your bite to pinpoint the position of these teeth and assess the risk they pose to your smile. This system provides detailed images chairside, no need to wait for development, and this uses 90% less radiation too. Once we identify the position of the teeth and plan the extraction, we will take steps to ensure you feel comfortable. In addition to a local anesthetic to the area being treated, our team can also offer dental sedation to help you enter a state of calm and relaxation, with little to no memory of the procedure.
Removing Your Third Molars
When you’re comfortable and ready, we will open the gums above the teeth so we can access and remove them with a pair of forceps. We then suture the area closed. As sedation sometimes takes a moment to wear off, have a find or family member on hand to bring you home. We will provide instructions for the next day or two, such as eating soft foods, avoiding straw use, and being very gentle when you brush and floss. You also need to rest! We may provide prescriptions for medications to help keep you comfortable and aid in the healing process. Our team can remove sutures in a follow-up, and most people return to their normal routine in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
If you have any questions, contact our team today!
SCHEDULE YOUR PROCEDURE SOON
If you have third molars soon to erupt, then our team is here to help. To schedule your appointment, call MMC Dental in Houston, TX, at (713) 926-8896.