If you’ve been told that you or your child needs to have their wisdom teeth removed, try not to worry. According to the Canadian Dental Association, 85% of Canadians will need a wisdom tooth extraction at some point in their lifetime.
Wisdom tooth removal is nothing to fear. Advances in dental technologies have made it possible for dental professionals to perform extractions with minimal pain and discomfort, requiring less recovery time and fewer medications.
Here is all the information you need about wisdom teeth and having them extracted.
What are wisdom teeth?
Also referred to as the third molar, wisdom teeth are the last teeth a person develops, which is where they got their name. They usually begin to surface in a person’s teenage years or early twenties, but some people never develop wisdom teeth at all.
When should they be extracted?
Some people are lucky enough to develop wisdom teeth that cause no problems at all, but for others, the mouth simply does not have room for these new teeth to come in, which causes issues for your other teeth. These are referred to as impacted wisdom teeth, and they will usually cause pain and discomfort as the tooth fights for space in the mouth. When this happens, your dentist in South Oakville will likely recommend a wisdom tooth extraction.
How does the procedure work?
When it’s time for your wisdom tooth extraction, your dentist will recommend one of three types of procedures based on your unique situation.
Depending on your specific case, you may be recommended to undergo a local anesthesia for the procedure, which will be administered through one or more injections. This option will keep you awake through the procedure, but you won’t feel any pain.
It’s also possible that you will be recommended a sedation anesthesia, which will be administered via intravenous, or IV drip. In this situation, you will be semi-conscious through the procedure, but you won’t have any memory or feel any pain.
The final option is a general anesthesia which will render you completely unconscious throughout the procedure. General anesthesia is administered via IV drip and is used in more complicated procedures. If you do undergo a general anesthesia, there will be a team present to closely monitor your medication, breathing, and heart rate.
Once you’re properly sedated, your dentist will make an incision in the gum to expose the wisdom tooth and remove it from your jawbone as gently as possible.
If you’re experiencing symptoms that indicate you need a wisdom tooth extraction, call our team at Trafalgar Village Dental today. We’ll book an appointment to assess your situation and work with you to determine a treatment plan that meets your unique needs. Our office is conveniently located in South Oakville, across from the Oakville Go Station. Ample, free parking is always available.