As people approach adulthood, there could be a change to their smile. For some, up to four new molars could erupt, which makes a number of negative changes to your smile. At your Metairie, LA, oral surgery clinic, we can protect smiles by carefully extracting the wisdom teeth.
The Dangers of Wisdom Teeth
There simply isn’t room for these teeth in most cases, so once they arrive in early adulthood, they could cause severe issues for our oral health. The lack of room could mean a painful partial eruption known as impaction, which in turn damages nearby teeth to increase the risk of tooth decay and infection. Dental misalignment could occur as well, as the changes to the bite balance could lead to concerns like TMJ disorder or bruxism (teeth grinding). As the alignment of the smile changes, the risk of cavities and periodontal concerns will increase too. As you can see, the arrival of your wisdom teeth means major complications, but we can help avoid them with a tooth extraction.
Planning Treatment
To get started, our team will take detailed digital images and x-rays of your smile, so our team can identify the position of these teeth. This is crucial for planning treatment, and to ensure there is no contact with blood vessels, nerve tissues, and sinus cavities. Our team will then use local anesthesia and sedation to help you enter a relaxed state, so you’re calm even if you have dental anxiety. With sedation, you have little or no memory of the procedure. We want to ensure your oral surgery is a comfortable experience.
Extracting Your Third Molars
Once you’re prepared and comfortable, our team opens the gums above the wisdom teeth so we can access and remove the teeth with a pair of forceps. We will send you home with detailed aftercare instructions and prescriptions for any needed medications, so the healing time is quick. Most people return to normal activities after only a day or two of rest. In that time, you avoid straws, brush and floss gently, and eat soft foods. Take any necessary medications as prescribed, and avoid prodding the site with your tongue. Extraction then protects you from orofacial pain and other complications. If you have any questions about how our team plans and implements a tooth extraction, or if you have third molars soon to erupt and want to protect your smile, then reach out to our oral surgery clinic today to schedule a consultation and start the process.
Speak With Your Metairie, LA Dentist About Wisdom Tooth Removal
Our team wants to help protect your smile from the impact of third molars. For more information on oral surgery, reach out to our Metairie, LA oral surgery clinic at (504) 455-7161.