What to Expect From Wisdom Teeth Removal in San Jose

If you are considering a wisdom teeth removal in San Jose, call our office and schedule a consultation. Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. If there is room in your mouth for this third set of molars and they grow in properly, you could continue to live with them without experiencing any irritation. However, most people do not have enough room, and they grow in impacted as a result. This can lead to discomfort while also creating space for food to become trapped.

Signs you need to have your wisdom teeth removed:

Soreness or pain.

If your wisdom teeth hurt or the area is sore, you may need to have them extracted.

Gaps.

If you have a gap in between your wisdom tooth and your back molar, this can become a space where food becomes trapped and plaque builds up. If you are constantly reaching for a toothpick to remove food from this area, you should consider an extraction.

Your teeth are moving.

If your teeth appear to be shifting out of place, it could be because your wisdom teeth are pushing them forward. If you have already had braces to straighten and align your teeth, this is a risk you may not want to take. When you visit us for a wisdom teeth removal in San Jose, we can examine your teeth and determine if they are moving due to your wisdom teeth or another issue like a tongue thrust or even oral cancer.

The process of removing wisdom teeth:

When we complete a wisdom teeth removal, we have several ways of doing so. If the tooth has already started to grow in and is coming in straight, we can typically pull it out of the socket after giving you anesthesia. This is the fastest way to do so since it does not require oral surgery. If, however, your tooth is impacted or still under the surface, we will need to create a flap in the gum tissue that will be lifted up so we can access the tooth below. If there is any gum tissue or bone on top of the tooth, it will need to be cut away so we can reach the tooth and try to lift it out of the socket. There are times where this will not be enough to loosen it, and in this scenario, we will need to break the tooth into several pieces and remove them one at a time. Next, we will clean the area to ensure no debris remains and the area does not become infected. Afterward, we will lay the flap back down and suture it in place. This entire process is done using anesthesia so you do not experience any discomfort.

Afterward, we will place gauze on the area to stop the bleeding. We also recommend you use an ice pack for 15 minutes at a time and take ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. You may experience discomfort for a few days, so be careful to continue icing and stick with foods that are soft and easy to eat.