Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth are the third molars located at the very back of your mouth. Although they don't always require removal, they can lead to problems if they are not growing correctly. Our clinic offers advanced and state-of-the-art oral surgery services for the removal of wisdom teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Washington, NJ
Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars. They come in anywhere between the ages of 15 and 25 and are known to cause issues with many patients’ oral health. We can visually examine your wisdom teeth (if they have erupted) or use x-ray imaging to assess if they need to be removed. Depending on the shape of your mouth, the size of your teeth, and the position of your third molars, a wisdom teeth removal procedure is determined on a case-by-case basis. Proactive wisdom tooth removal can help to reduce the risk of problems such as crowded teeth, pain, TMJ issues, infection, and disease.
Due to their position in the bone and against adjacent teeth, wisdom teeth can harm the healthy teeth next to them. Additionally, third molars are pretty difficult to keep clean. So, even with good oral hygiene, your wisdom teeth may develop an infection. Instead of treating them with gum infection therapy or a filling, removing the teeth for proactive purposes is typically the standard of care.
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How do I know if my wisdom teeth need removed?
If you are wondering whether your wisdom teeth need to be removed, there are some common signs that you should look out for. These signs may include impaction, meaning the tooth is stuck under the gums or entirely hidden. If wisdom teeth cannot grow normally, they can become trapped within your jaw, leading to infection or a cyst that can damage other teeth or roots. Another sign is a changing bite alignment, as wisdom teeth can grow at different angles in the jaw, sometimes horizontally, which can cause a change in your bite alignment. Crowding or damage to existing teeth can also be caused by wisdom teeth not having enough room to come in properly. In addition, if your wisdom teeth only partially emerge through the gums, it can cause a magnet for bacteria that can lead to gum disease and oral infection. Many dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth early, before the roots and bone fully form and when recovery is faster.
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How do I relieve wisdom tooth pain?
Wisdom teeth generally come in between the ages of 17 and 25. As they grow up through your jawbone and begin to break through your gumline, they may become inflamed or bleed. These occurrences could cause headaches or tooth pain. Below are some remedies to relieve wisdom tooth pain:
- Rinse with salt water
- Use peppermint essential oils or clover oil to soothe the pain
- Take aspirin or an over-the-counter pain reliever
- Apply an ice pack or heating pad to your cheeks
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What is an impacted wisdom tooth?
When a wisdom tooth doesn’t have enough room to come in normally, it is considered an impacted wisdom tooth. There are several degrees of impacted wisdom teeth depending on where the teeth lie within the jaw. Soft tissue impaction occurs when the crown of the tooth has penetrated through the bone, but the gum is still covering part of the tooth. When the tooth has partially erupted, but a part of the tooth remains submerged in the jawbone, this is considered partially bony impaction. Complete bony impaction occurs when the tooth is entirely encased by the jawbone.
Questions About Wisdom Teeth?
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