As we approach adulthood, up to four new teeth could erupt in the rear of the mouth. Unless addressed, these could cause major complications for the health, beauty, and function of your smile. In today’s blog, your Olathe, KS, dentists will explain why these wisdom teeth require removal, and how we accomplish this with oral surgery.
Your Third Molars
These teeth tend to arrive in our late teens or early 20s. Over the past few millennia, our mouths have evolved to comfortably hold 28 teeth, but this number pushes it to 32 in the same space. As a result, major oral health complications could arise. To avoid these and protect your smile, we may suggest a dental extraction to remove them before they erupt.
The Dangers to Your Smile
For many, a partial eruption, known as an impaction, could cause serious discomfort. You could also develop damaged teeth, dental misalignment, and infections. The presence of these teeth could mean major problems of your smile’s health and beauty, issues that could require restorations or orthodontic care to correct.
Oral Surgery
We start with anesthesia and sedation. We will look at your medical history to see which form of sedation is best for you. For many, we may suggest IV sedation, the deepest form available for our patients. Not only does this help you feel comfortable, but it helps those who have serious dental anxiety remain relaxed throughout the procedure. We gently extract the teeth, and then suture the extraction site closed. We will send you home with detailed aftercare instructions, and a friend or family member can take you home, as the sedation often takes time to wear off.
For the first day or two, only consume soft foods, avoid using straws or engaging in vigorous activity, and don’t prod the extraction site with your tongue. When you brush and floss, do so very carefully, and take your prescribed medications as instructed. When you return to the office, we will make sure everything is healing as it should, and remove your sutures. Along with wisdom tooth extraction, we can also provide jawbone grafting to help those with lost jawbone tissue qualify for dental implant placement. If you have any questions about treating issues like wisdom teeth, or about our approach to oral surgery, then contact our team today. We want to help people in our community continue to enjoy their healthiest smile possible, one that will help them feel confident!
Do You Have Questions About Oral Surgery?
Our general dentists are ready to help preserve your smile by addressing third molars. For more information on tooth extraction or to schedule a dental consultation, call E-Care Dentistry, PA in Olathe, KS, today at 913-210-1701. We also proudly serve patients from Overland Park, Lenexa, and all surrounding communities.