Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars to come in at the back of the mouth. While some people keep their wisdom teeth without having problems, most have them removed to minimize the risk of potential complications or because one or more of them is impacted. There are different types of impaction, including:

  • Soft Tissue Impaction – If there is not enough room for gum tissue to retract from around the tooth, it is a soft tissue impaction. This makes cleaning teeth difficult. We routinely perform wisdom tooth extraction due to soft tissue impaction.
  • Partial Bony Impaction – Wisdom teeth that have erupted partially but cannot emerge fully due to limited space or the angle of the tooth are partially impacted and can cause damage to the second molars.
  • Complete Bony Impaction – This is the most severe form of impacted wisdom tooth. The tooth is entirely trapped in the jawbone, often in a position that impinges on other tooth roots.

Why Wisdom Tooth Extraction is Needed

The wisdom teeth no longer serve a function, and most people’s mouths are too small for their wisdom teeth to emerge properly. If the tooth cannot erupt fully, it is impacted or trapped in the jawbone. When impacted, these molars often contribute to a variety of oral health issues, including:

  • Difficulty cleaning your teeth in the back of the mouth
  • Damage to adjacent teeth, especially the second molars
  • Overcrowding or misalignment of the other teeth
  • Toothache or jaw pain
  • Tooth decay can spread to other teeth
  • Abscess of the tooth

Many people have their wisdom teeth removed when they are in their teens or twenties to avoid future problems. This precautionary removal eliminates the potential for problems like those listed above, creating issues in the future. Having your wisdom teeth removed before impaction sets in is often the best option, as the surgery is more straightforward and there is less risk of complications. Patients in their teens and twenties heal more rapidly than older patients, which is another reason to have their wisdom teeth removed earlier rather than later.

Safe, Pain-Free Wisdom Teeth Removal

The doctors at I Smile Dental Studio use minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove wisdom teeth. The process is a simple procedure that does not require a hospital stay or general anesthesia. For simple removal of wisdom teeth, whether impacted or asymptomatic, our dentists use a local anesthetic to numb the teeth, jawbone, and surrounding soft tissues. While you may feel some pressure during wisdom teeth removal, you will not feel any pain.

  • We completely numb the area.
  • A small incision is made in the gum tissue surrounding the wisdom tooth.
  • If necessary, we remove a small portion of bone to make extraction easier.
  • The tooth is extracted using a rocking motion. We may section the tooth into pieces for easier removal.
  • The incision is closed with sutures that dissolve in a few weeks.
  • You can go home to recover.

Our patients are often pleasantly surprised by how simple a wisdom tooth extraction can be. Our dentists are specially trained in wisdom teeth removal and put your comfort first.

Although we routinely do simple wisdom teeth removal for impacted wisdom teeth, there are occasions when a specialist is the preferred choice. If at any point we believe an oral surgeon or other specialist would be better equipped to remove your wisdom teeth, we will refer you to a specialist.

After Wisdom Teeth Removal

We recommend you rest at home for three or four days following wisdom tooth extraction. You will have some discomfort and swelling for the first week, with the pain and swelling peaking on the third day. Our patients can usually control their pain with over-the-counter medication and ice packs. However, if this is not sufficient, you can contact our office for a non-narcotic prescription pain reliever. You should be pain and swelling-free within a week.

Patients are limited to a soft diet for the first few days to allow time for healing. Appropriate oral hygiene is essential following extraction. We will provide detailed after-care instructions on the day of your wisdom teeth removal.

If you have impacted wisdom teeth or would like to know whether your wisdom teeth should be removed to prevent future dental issues, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our office at Enfield Office Phone Number 860-749-0212 to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists for an evaluation.