Third molars are sometimes referenced as “wisdom teeth” because they typically arrive during a patient’s late teenage years or early twenties. Because of their late development, a patient’s mouth may not have enough space for them to grow properly. When this happens, they may damage adjacent teeth, affect a patient’s bite alignment, or simply not fully grow in at all (also known as “impacted”) and stay within the gum tissue. We recommend removing wisdom teeth when a patient experiences these issues.
Detecting Wisdom Teeth
If you have never had your wisdom teeth removed or inspected, we will look for them when you visit us for a dental exam. We may use X-rays, too, to help us determine precisely if they are there, because they may be underneath the gumline. If we see wisdom teeth are present and may affect your oral health, we may then decide to recommend their removal.
What is the Treatment Like?
We will begin the treatment by applying a local anesthetic to the teeth and surrounding tissue. Once the area is numb, we will carefully remove the teeth and use sutures to close the area. We may prescribe you pain relievers or antibiotics to help you be more comfortable during the healing process. While the area is healing, we suggest you refrain from prodding the area and that you eat softer foods for a few days. We’ll schedule a follow-up visit to see how well the area is healing.
Schedule an Appointment for Wisdom Teeth Removal with Us
If wisdom teeth are affecting your oral health, we can help by removing them. For more information, please contact one of our Riverside Dental Group offices. We have locations in Corona, Moreno Valley, Riverside, and Temecula.
