Wisdom teeth, which are the third set of molars, tend to surface around the ages of 17­25. In many cases, wisdom teeth are impacted, meaning that they don’t have enough room to emerge. They may also come in crooked or sideways. If left in the mouth, impacted wisdom teeth can cause the remaining teeth to become misaligned, as well as causing pain and infection.

Approximately 85% of wisdom teeth will need to be removed at some point in the patient’s life. The Canadian Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons suggests that the best time to have wisdom teeth removed is during the late teen and early 20s years. Patients usually recover from the extraction faster when it is performed earlier in life. It is in the patient’s best interest to have wisdom teeth removed before painful problems occur.

During the extraction, you will be given either local anesthetic or be treated with sedation dentistry. Your dentist will make an incision in the gum where the wisdom tooth is located. They may divide the tooth into pieces to make it easier to removes. After the extraction is complete, you will be given stitches to close the wound and facilitate healing. Full recovery usually takes about a week, and most patients are able to return to work after a day or so. Any discomfort or sensitivity after the treatment is usually remedied by over the counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

During your first appointment at Wellington Dental Clinic, we will complete a thorough dental exam which will include diagnostic digital x­rays. This X­ray can determine the position of your wisdom teeth and how best to move forward with extraction. Our skilled and compassionate staff will put you at ease, and help to keep you comfortable during all procedures. During our many years of practise we have done countless wisdom teeth extractions on teens and adults of all ages. We will apply state of the art knowledge, techniques and technology to ensure that your wisdom tooth extraction is performed safely and effectively with minimal chance of complications.

Please contact us today to further discuss how you can benefit from wisdom teeth removal.