Wisdom Tooth Extractions in Houston, TX

Why Do We Remove Our Wisdom Teeth?

There can be a number of reasons that we remove our wisdom teeth, but the overall reason is that we as modern humans do not have any immediate need for them. Sometimes, the wisdom tooth will come in in a way that is not harmful to us, so it will not have to be removed. The most common reasons for removing a wisdom tooth are:

• Impacted – The patient’s jaw is not large enough to fit the tooth and is unable to break through the gums
• Partly showing – The tooth may only partly break through the gums and therefore is unable to seal correctly with the gums. This opens up a route for infection and is dangerous to the patient.
• Angle – Some wisdom teeth can come in at an awkward angle, which can cause pain to the patient, or damage other teeth.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction Procedure

For a simple extraction, a dentist can perform it in office. If the tooth is impacted or it requires additional instrumentation or a surgical procedure, then it will be referred out to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Recovery for Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Immediately following the procedure, the patient will be asked to bite down on gauze to form a blood clot. In the days following the procedure, the patient must take careful steps to avoid breaking the clot, allowing it to properly heal. Some things to avoid:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Sucking out of a straw
• Hard foods or candies
• Chewing excessively
• Picking at the sore spot

The doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure that it has properly healed.

If you are in need of a wisdom tooth extraction in Houston, please do not hesitate to call our friendly staff and schedule an appointment.