The truth about wisdom teeth; conservative, gentle removal in Los Banos CA

Wisdom teeth have a bad reputation. But they do not need to produce problems. At Artistry in Smiles, we encourage patients in Los Banos CA and surrounding areas of Santa Nella, Dos Palos, Gustine, Newman and Hilmar to get to know more about these back teeth, what to expect as they develop, and how to care for them should they need to be removed. We also encourage you to keep regular visits with Dr. Benjamin Seaton who will monitor your teeth, including these third molars, and detect and intervene with underlying problems before they threaten your oral and overall health and cause severe pain and other disruptive symptoms.

Basics 

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to develop in your mouth. There are generally four wisdom teeth, two teeth at the very back of the upper and lower jaws on either side of the mouth. These teeth usually emerge during the late teens and early 20s, as individuals are entering adulthood and “gaining wisdom.” As a “vestigial organ,” like your appendix or tailbone, wisdom teeth are not necessary for proper function or oral health. So, if a wisdom tooth needs to be removed, this extraction does not present additional challenges to healthy function. Holding on to these teeth when they are not developing correctly can threaten the health of surrounding teeth and produce other severe complications, not to mention intense pain. 

The trouble with wisdom teeth 

By the time these teeth begin to erupt or break through the gums, there may not be sufficient space in your mouth to accommodate them. These molars may, in turn, become partly or wholly trapped (impacted) underneath the gums. As they still attempt to break through overlying tissues, wisdom teeth may push up against surrounding teeth. The pressure caused by pushing against these tissues can be intolerable. To relieve pain and get you back on the road to a healthy smile, we will recommend conservative, efficient, and exact removal of impacted wisdom teeth with PIEZOSURGERY®. 

However, these teeth did not begin to appear overnight. We can prevent these debilitating symptoms from arising in the first place by recommending tooth removal as soon as we notice that a tooth is not able to erupt healthily. For this reason, it is essential that we examine your mouth at least every six months. 

Parting thoughts

Our advanced, technology-assisted approach to removing troubled teeth minimizes post-surgical problems, such as swelling, bleeding, and pain. However, we will also provide instructions on post-extraction care that support healthy and fast healing. For instance, it is important to refrain from using straws or other behaviors that might dislodge the clot that forms over the treatment site. 

It is also important to remember that not all wisdom teeth cause problems. Some patients don’t have any issues with their wisdom teeth. Still, other patients may only have one, two, or three of these molars. Some fortunate patients never develop a single wisdom tooth. Since your mouth is unique, we urge you to contact us today at  (209) 812-0041 and get a routine of visits to our office.