Wisdom Teeth
According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, as many as 9 in 10 Americans have at least one impacted wisdom tooth. Most of us don’t have room in our jaws for those additional teeth to work their way in.
Even if the teeth come through the gums normally, they may cause overcrowding, forcing the rest of our teeth together and possibly making them crooked. They also may grow in at an angle. This is possibly problematic in the future.
In most cases, a patient can’t tell when it’s time for a wisdom tooth to be removed. On some occasions, you will experience acute soreness at the site of the tooth as it partially erupts. Most frequently, however, a dentist will conduct an X-ray and will tell you when it’s time for a tooth to come out. This happens for most patients in their late teens or early twenties. Be sure to request an X-ray if you’re concerned a wisdom tooth may be coming in.
Paradigm Dental strives to offer the highest quality in wisdom teeth procedures. For most dentists who don’t want to (or can’t) remove wisdom teeth, the patient will be referred to an outside oral surgeon. This requires more scheduling and new specialists, and could prove to be more complicated for the patient.
The process of wisdom tooth removal is technically difficult and requires a high degree of specialization. The technology used in the procedure is different than that offered in most dentists’ offices, so few dentists offer removal in-office.
At Paradigm, we want to provide our patients with the easiest, full-service care that we can. That’s why we chose to offer full removal at our office.
Most removals take only a few minutes to perform, but you’ll be under anesthesia or sedation to prevent any discomfort. Once we remove the teeth, we suture the gums shut. Keep in mind that you will need a driver to take you home following the extraction. The recovery process is more intense than a normal removal. You’ll want your pantry to be stocked with soft foods.
Are you interested in a wisdom teeth procedure at Paradigm? Contact us, or come visit our office in Beaverton!