Wisdom Teeth Removal

Many patients ask what exactly wisdom teeth are and why do they need to be removed. Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars located in the back of your mouth. On average they erupt between the ages of 17 and 25 and when they erupt there is a high chance damage your second molars will occur. At Fraser Family Dental Practice, we generally recommended to extract wisdom teeth before they create problems or need a more complicated surgery to remove them.

People have their wisdom teeth removed for various reasons:

• When wisdom teeth become impacted they are not able to erupt normally. They can become quite painful is trapped within the jawbone or gums.
• Wisdom teeth may erupt and come in crooked. This can create a problem with your second molars as they press against them and can feel quite uncomfortable.

Our dental team will use current dental x-rays to determine if you are a candidate for wisdom teeth removal. Once it is determined that it would be beneficial for your wisdom teeth to be removed a surgical appointment will be made. Before surgery please make sure to mention any drugs you are currently taking!  Surgery should take approximately 45 minutes and we will administer either local, IV, or general anesthesia. Your gums, and possibly jawbone, will be cut and therefore stitches will be used to assist with a quick healing time. The stitches will dissolve within a few days; you may also have gauze pads stuffed where the wisdom teeth were to help soak up extra fluids.

We advise having someone to drive you home once surgery is completed, as you may still feel a bit drowsy. Swelling and mild discomfort are normal, and the average healing time is a few weeks. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation today!