You’ve been told that you need to have your wisdom teeth removed. They don’t hurt, so why do you need them extracted? Does everyone have his or her wisdom teeth pulled? There are many questions that arise when you need a tooth extracted, and Dr. James Geer has the answers for you. Here we’ll discuss wisdom teeth removal in Tomball, and when you should get your teeth removed.
Why Do My Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
Sometimes called your third molars, wisdom teeth are your last set of teeth to come in around the ages of 17-21. They’re located at the very back of your mouth behind both of your molars. There are a number of reasons that wisdom teeth need to be removed such as:
- Crowding – there is often not enough room for your wisdom teeth and they may crowd your other teeth, causing them to shift.
- Impacted teeth – when your wisdom teeth do not fully erupt, they can get stuck beneath your gum line and cause inflammation and infection.
- Cleanliness – it’s hard to keep teeth at the back of your mouth clean, and this can put you at risk for oral health issues such as tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Can I Keep My Wisdom Teeth?
There are certain circumstances in which third molars can remain in place, and one is if they’re fully erupted and positioned correctly. As long as they aren’t crowding your other teeth and you’re able to properly brush and floss them, Dr. Geer may decide that it’s not necessary to remove them.
Does Wisdom Teeth Extraction Hurt?
With today’s dental anesthetics, you won’t feel anything during your surgery but some slight pressure. Most patients are shocked at how quickly and smoothly their procedure goes. You’ll leave with explicit instructions on how to care for your mouth after surgery.
For optimum recovery, you should limit your activity for the first 24 hours after surgery and eat soft foods those first few days. You can take pain medication as needed, and warm salt-water rinses can be soothing while you’re healing.
Extracting your wisdom teeth in Tomball is sometimes necessary in order to protect the integrity of your oral health. Dr. Geer has many years of experience in guiding patients through oral surgery; so if you need your teeth removed, contact our office to meet with him.