WISDOM TEETH

Wisdom tooth extraction shouldn’t be stressful. Gentle Tooth Removal solutions for optimal comfort.

Tooth Extractions

The team at Evergreen Dental has extensive experience in removal of teeth of all shapes, sizes and locations. Having a tooth removed can be daunting but the knowledge and care taken into the procedure helps minimize discomfort during healing and may also speed up the recovery period. Teeth may be extracted because they are severely decayed, have advanced periodontal disease, broken/cracked in a way that cannot be saved (including vertical root fractures) or even in some cases healthy teeth that are misaligned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth). Removal of teeth requires a thorough analysis of the dental radiographs (X-rays) and intraoral conditions.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are also called third molars. They erupt usually between the ages of 16-24. As humans have evolved over the ages and diets have become softer, wisdom teeth have become genetically useless in most cases. As the teeth try to erupt, impactions can occur with adjacent teeth, jaw bone or gum tissue. As a result, they can become infected leading to damage to adjacent teeth, jaw bone or nerves.

How is the Procedure Carried Out?

If sedation is requested, medication will be administered approximately one hour before the appointment. Review of your medical history is done prior to sedation to make sure there are no contraindications with the sedation or the procedure.

While sedated, vitals are monitored throughout the procedure. The procedure itself takes less than an hour most of the time. To reiterate, there should be no pain during the procedure.

Will it Hurt?

Anytime a tooth is removed, it is considered a minor surgery. As expected, there will be some discomfort after the procedure that is easily managed with medication but there should be no pain during the procedure.

Before anything begins, a thorough check of the tooth and surrounding areas is made to make sure the area is numb and comfortable.

The sensation of pressure is noticed during removal but nothing else. Medications are prescribed after the visit depending on the circumstances. We can provide sedation prior to the appointment to allow for a smooth experience.

How Long Does it Take to Heal?

Any discomfort should subside within two weeks of the procedure. The socket or gums may take 4-6 weeks to close and the bone should heal within 3-6 months.

What is a Dry Socket?

The socket is the hole in the bone where the extraction of the tooth occurred. Dry socket is when the blood clot that forms in the socket to protect the bone and nerves underneath becomes dislodged or dissolves a couple of days after the extraction.

This creates pain that leaves the bone and nerve exposed to the outside environment which can lead to infection and pain radiating through the face.

It only happens in 5-10 % of cases but increases with any of the following risk factors: