Why Wisdom Teeth Often Cause Problems
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that typically appear in the late teens or early twenties. While they sometimes erupt without issue, this is rare since most mouths don’t have enough room to accommodate them. As a result, wisdom teeth often grow in at an angle, become impacted beneath the gums, or only partially erupt. These issues can lead to pain, swelling, infection, tooth decay, or overcrowding, making timely evaluation and treatment important for protecting your long-term oral health.
Discover what impacted wisdom teeth are, how the extraction process works, and how can provide gentle, expert care.
What is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
A wisdom tooth is considered impacted when it cannot fully erupt into the mouth. This often occurs due to lack of space in the jaw or blockage from a neighboring tooth. Some common signs and symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include:
- Persistent bad breath (halitosis)
- Gum or jaw pain and tenderness
- Frequent headaches or jaw discomfort
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Difficulty opening the mouth fully
Extracting impacted wisdom teeth is important to avoid problems like intense pain, infection, and bite misalignment. Left untreated, they can lead to more serious oral health complications in the future.
Extracting Your Wisdom Tooth
At Valley Dental, the wisdom tooth removal process is safe, easy, and completed in just a few short steps:
- Anesthesia: Our team administers local or general anesthesia to numb the area, keeping you comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure.
- Tooth Access: Once numb, the wisdom tooth is gently separated from the surrounding gum tissue to allow for safe and easy removal.
- Extraction: The tooth is carefully removed with minimal discomfort.
- Gum Care: After extraction, the gums may be stitched to support proper healing.
- Recovery: You’ll begin the healing process with support from our team to ensure a smooth recovery.