Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Houston, TX
Removing Painful, Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Our early ancestors may have benefitted from having wisdom teeth, but they don’t serve much of a purpose in this day and age. And while it can sometimes be safe to keep them if they’re able to erupt without issue, in many cases it’s simply better for your oral health to have them removed as soon as you can. Is anyone in your family expecting to receive their wisdom teeth soon? Our dentists at Hiner Family Dentistry can help determine whether an extraction will be necessary. Just give us a call to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Hiner Family Dentistry for Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
- Same-Day Appointments in Emergency Situations
- Family-Owned & Operated Practice
- Sedation Available for Anxious Patients
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
While the rest of your permanent teeth should already be in your mouth around the age of 12 or 13, the wisdom teeth (also known as the third molars) take longer to erupt, sometimes not appearing until you have already reached your twenties. Some people have four wisdom teeth while others only have three or fewer (with some not having them at all). Since there’s a limited amount of space in your mouth, oftentimes the wisdom teeth won’t have the room they need to emerge through the gums, instead becoming impacted.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
Impacted wisdom teeth often cause a lot of pain. Furthermore, they may grow at the wrong angle, and consequently, they might push your other teeth, damaging their roots and causing them to move out of alignment.
In certain cases, impacted wisdom teeth may not cause issues at first. However, if you aren’t able to clean them properly, then you’ll be more likely to develop tooth decay and gum disease.
Wisdom tooth extraction is often an important step for protecting oral health, but it isn’t necessary for everyone. Our team will need to examine the teeth in question in order to figure out your needs.
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
Impacted wisdom teeth need to be removed surgically. An incision is made in your gums so that the teeth in question can be worked with. Sometimes it may be necessary to divide the tooth up and take it out one section at a time.
Surgery won’t be required if your wisdom tooth has managed to break through the gums. Instead, we can just raise the tooth with a dental elevator and gradually loosen it with forceps.
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction
- Protect Your Blood Clot: The blood clot that forms at the extraction site needs to stay in place until healing is complete. To keep it safe, avoid spitting, smoking, or drinking through a straw.
- Manage Your Discomfort: Take whatever pain medications you were prescribed according to our directions.
- Only Eat Soft Foods: Do not eat anything hard or crunchy while your mouth is still recovering.
- Keep an Eye on Your Symptoms: If your symptoms grow severe or don’t go away when they should, it’s a sure sign that you need to contact our team for help.