The Easiest Rite of Passage
Almost everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed at some point. It’s almost considered a rite of passage, and Melrose Dental Group is here to make sure it’s as easy and comfortable as possible. If you or your teen are starting to experience wisdom tooth problems (more detail below), then just reach out today. We’ll make sure the process is stress-free from start to finish.
Why Choose Melrose Dental Group for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
- Able to See Both Adults & Teens
- Can Remove Impacted (Stuck) Wisdom Teeth
- Voted as Top Dentists by Boston Magazine
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Why are they called wisdom teeth? Because they tend to come in way later than all of the others, only appearing between the ages of 16-22 when a person is (hopefully) much wiser compared to when they got their first teeth!
Researchers have speculated that they helped our caveman ancestors eat their rough diets consisting of uncooked meats and vegetables, or they served as replacement molars when the others inevitably became cracked and worn.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
The human jaw has actually become smaller over the millennia as cooking techniques have advanced, leading to easier-to-chew diets that require less muscle. But while our mouths are smaller, most people still tend to have wisdom teeth, and there simply isn’t room for them anymore.
This can cause them to push on the neighboring teeth or become stuck while erupting, leading to pain and misalignment. They can also form a flap in the gums that easily trap food and bacteria, making someone particularly susceptible to cavities. There isn’t a way to create more room in the mouth, so the simplest and most effective solution is to remove them.
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
Our team will keep an eye on your wisdom teeth at your routine appointments so we can recommend extraction right before they cause major issues. But, if you or your child begin to experience pain toward the back of the mouth, or your bite changes, you can always reach out to us.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a minor surgical procedure. Once you are thoroughly numbed, a small incision will be made in the gums, and any bone that is blocking the tooth will be removed.
At this point, we will take out the tooth in pieces, as this allows us to use a smaller incision, leading to a faster recovery. Depending on the patient, we may remove one or all of their wisdom teeth in a single appointment.
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Gauze will be placed on the treatment sites to help control the bleeding, and you’ll be given a short list of recovery instructions. The closer you stick to them, the easier your time will be! It will include directions like:
- Avoid physical activity for a day or so
- Take any pain medication as instructed
- Avoid smoking
- Do not drink with a straw
- Do not swish or rinse
It will also outline easy-to-chew food items—it’s best to stick to a soft diet for at least a few days. Change the gauze out every few hours, and plan to take the day of your procedure off and maybe two to three more if your job requires a lot of physical activity.