Houston Wisdom Tooth Removals

Most people’s wisdom teeth (third molars) start to erupt sometime during high school. By a person’s late 20s, they’re usually fully developed. During your child’s regular checkups, we will take intermittent full-mouth X-rays to assess the size, position, and development of their unerupted wisdom teeth.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Extracted?

Depending on your individual anatomy, wisdom teeth can interfere with the health of your other teeth. The pressure that they cause and the angle at which they develop can lead to concerns like:

  •   Tooth crowding throughout your mouth
  •   Pain and swelling
  •   Full or partial impaction
  •   Gum infections and tooth decay
  •   Infection in adjacent teeth
  •   Cysts
  •   TMJ pain

In most cases, we only recommend removing your wisdom teeth if they will interfere with your overall oral health. For instance, partially erupted third molars are impossible to clean with a standard toothbrush and floss. As a result, they typically develop cavities and gum disease, jeopardizing the health of the tooth next to them. Or if they’re growing at an angle, they may lead to orthodontic relapse because of the pressure they put on your overall bite.

Recovering From Wisdom Tooth Surgery

As with any oral surgery or tooth extraction, you’ll want to give yourself a few days of recovery before resuming normal activities. Most people take about a week off from school or work. Stick to soft foods at the beginning, avoiding hard or irritating textures around your surgery site. During the first day, we recommend alternating a cold compress on and off the area every 20 minutes to minimize swelling.

Most post-operative discomfort can be managed with an over-the-counter inflammatory such as ibuprofen. If for any reason you suspect a clot has come loose, or there is ongoing bleeding, contact us immediately.

What Are Dry Sockets?

A dry socket is a painful condition that occurs when a clot comes loose in your extraction site. Although a dry socket can happen for a number of reasons, things like smoking, drinking through a straw, heavy coughing, or alcoholic beverages may predispose some people to the situation. When it happens, recovery times take much longer.

To help prevent a dry socket, follow your home care instructions as closely as possible. Avoid overzealous swishing or rinsing, which could potentially dislodge your blood clot following surgery. Instead, gently gargle with warm salt water to lift away food debris or bacteria and minimize swelling.

Your Wisdom Tooth Exam

Do you suspect that you (or your teen’s) wisdom teeth need to be removed? When you call byte Dentistry, we’ll book you for an evaluation and full-mouth panoramic X-ray. This digital image will show us the anatomy around your wisdom teeth, including how they’re positioned in relation to nerve structures and adjacent teeth.

If factors such as impaction or infection are a concern, we’ll discuss planning a wisdom tooth removal surgery. This treatment plan will also include your estimated insurance coverage and total estimated out of pocket costs, when applicable.

Visit byte Dentistry in Houston today for your family’s oral health needs!

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