Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Temple, TX

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the final (or third) set of molars that people typically develop in their lifetime. These kinds of pearly whites are the wide and flat ones at the back of your mouth. They’re used for grinding up food for efficient digestion. However, since today’s foods require less chewing to consume, most humans no longer need their wisdom teeth. More importantly, our jaws generally don’t have enough space to fit these third molars, and some people might not even develop them at all.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

Wisdom tooth removal is often thought of as a rite of passage, but in reality, it’s not always strictly required. If the teeth in question can fully erupt and are positioned correctly, then they can stay as long as you keep them clean and healthy. Extraction will be required if the wisdom teeth are completely or partially trapped underneath the gums, or if they start to crowd the nearby teeth, causing pain and damage.

What to Expect from the Wisdom Tooth Extraction

If you need to pull your wisdom teeth, then you can expect several different ways to extract them, depending on how your molars developed. Our expert dental team will walk you through your treatment plan and the steps you’ll need to take to prepare in advance. Once it’s time for your extraction procedure, we’ll ensure that your mouth is completely numb before starting any work. We’ll likely administer one of several sedation options to keep you relaxed and comfortable throughout the process. Our team will then extract your molar with specialized dental tools depending on whether it’s impacted or not.

Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Some bleeding may occur after the surgery. To stop it, bite down on a gauze pad for thirty minutes at a time. Get in touch with us if the bleeding does not seem to subside. While you’re recovering, you can apply a cold compress to the side of your face to reduce any swelling and take pain medication if you need to. Any discomfort should usually go away after a couple of days. You can eat a wide variety of soft foods as long as you stay away from the surgical site while chewing.