Wisdom teeth are your last set of molars to come in and usually emerge when you are between 17 and 21 years old. Since wisdom teeth can often become impacted, which means they come in at an angle rather than straight through the gums, it is often necessary to remove them before they cause pain or begin to push on your other teeth. Dr. Alan Dilsaver commonly performs wisdom teeth extractions at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA.
If a wisdom tooth is impacted and can only emerge partially, it is possible for an operculum to form over the tooth. Once this flap of skin forms, the tooth will be hard to clean and can become infected. This infection is called pericoronitis.
When a wisdom tooth is in danger of causing such problems, Dr. Dilsaver will extract the tooth. Many times all four are removed at once. This is done either by using a local anesthetic to numb the area or a general anesthetic to sedate the patient. It depends on the preference of the doctor and patient, as well as how far the wisdom tooth has emerged. After an anesthetic is applied, the gum tissue around the wisdom tooth is cut and the tooth is loosened and pulled out. If necessary, the gums will be sutured.
After the surgery, rest is required, and you will need to change the gauze applied to the incision every couple hours. To see if your wisdom teeth may need to be removed, schedule an appointment with us in Easton, PA by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.LehighValleySmiles.net.
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