newport beach wisdom teeth

As people approach their early 20s, up to four new molars could erupt. Known as wisdom teeth, these third molars could lead to serious trouble for the health and beauty of your smile. To protect your oral health, our team can easily and comfortably remove them. In today’s blog, your Newport Beach, CA, dentist discusses wisdom tooth extraction.

Why Third Molars Need Removal

Our smiles have evolved over the millennia to accommodate 28 teeth, but if all 4 wisdom teeth erupt, you could be looking at 32 teeth forced into the same area. This could cause a painful capital eruption known as an impaction, and damage surrounding teeth to cause cavities and infection. Misalignment could occur too, leading to negative changes to your smile’s appearance and also increasing the risk of issues like tooth decay and gum disease, and even TMJ disorder and bruxism. Simply put, these teeth could alter the health, function, and beauty of your smile in negative ways, so we suggest extracting wisdom teeth before that happens.

Ensuring Your Comfort

If you’re approaching your early 20s or have a family member who is, then we recommend a checkup visit. Our team will look at the smile with digital x-rays so we can identify the position of the third molars and assess the risk they pose to the smile. Our team will then plan the extraction, so we can avoid blood vessels, nerves tissues, and sinus cavities. We also take steps to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the procedure. Our team could administer a local numbing agent to the area where the teeth are being extracted. Sedation could also be provided, so you enter a calm state even if you have serious dental anxiety. You then have little to no memory of the procedure, and your experience is a positive one!

The Extraction Process

Once you’re comfortable, we will then open the gums above these teeth so we can easily reach and extract them with a pair of forceps. Once we do, we will suture the area closed. A friend or family member can bring you home afterward, and we will provide detailed aftercare instructions or prescriptions for any necessary medications. We can remove sutures in a follow-up visit. Most people only need to rest for a day, and can then return to normal routines and activities.

If you have any questions about the process of extracting your wisdom teeth, then contact our team today to learn more.

Talk To Your Newport Beach, CA Dentist About Replacing Lost Teeth

Our team wants to make sure you can enjoy optimal oral health and an even smile. To find out more about tooth extraction and schedule a visit, please contact your Newport Beach, CA dentist’s office at (949) 630-0143.