Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Conway, SC
Quick & Comfy Wisdom Tooth Removal
It's generally best to keep all of your teeth, but third molars are often an exception. Leaving these pearly whites alone can cause health issues, putting your grin at risk. Thankfully, we at American Dental Care offer wisdom tooth extraction here in Conway. This procedure gets rid of your "extra" teeth, ensuring your smile remains safe, secure, and healthy. To learn more about it, please keep reading or book a consultation in the coming days.
Why Choose American Dental Care for Tooth Extractions?
- Dental Sedation That Keeps Patients Calm
- Gentle & Warm Dental Team
- CareCredit Financing Available
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Also known as “third molars,” wisdom teeth are the last ones to emerge. They typically erupt between the ages of 17 and 25 and sit in the back of your mouth.
Wisdom teeth are most notable for being largely unnecessary. While they once aided our human ancestors, they don't help people with modern diets. Still, not everyone gets such teeth – folks can have anywhere from none to all four of them. One’s third molars don’t always need removal, either.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
Wisdom teeth are only a concern when they threaten your smile. At that point, most dentists advise that they be removed to preserve your oral health.
Removal is most necessary when wisdom teeth lack space to erupt. Since people now have smaller mouths than their ancestors, they often don’t have room for third molars. That situation can cause third molars to become trapped in your gums, resulting in pain, infections, cysts, etc. An emerging wisdom tooth can also cause dental crowding, leading to a misaligned smile.
Often enough, patients who need wisdom tooth removal show signs like:
- Pain while eating
- Facial swelling
- Bad breath
- Jaw stiffness
- Difficulty opening the mouth
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
Though wisdom tooth extractions vary by patient, they usually follow set steps based on whether the affected teeth have erupted.
Removal is fairly simple when the wisdom teeth have erupted. After numbing your mouth (using an anesthetic), our team will use an elevator to lift the relevant tooth. We’ll then rely on forceps to grip and wiggle it free of its socket.
If the wisdom tooth is impacted, you’ll need a more surgical approach. Talk to our team during your consultation to learn what that involves.
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Your mouth will feel a bit sore after your wisdom teeth are removed. To ensure you recover well, please use these after-care tips:
- Don’t drink through a straw for a few days.
- Take pain medications as needed.
- About 24 hours after surgery, rinse your mouth with salt water to clean the area.
- Avoid foods that are crunchy, hard, and sticky.
- Since they interfere with healing, stay clear of tobacco.
- Get ample rest for the best recovery time.
- During sleep, try to keep your head elevated.
- Use a cold compress or ice pack to decrease swelling.
Don’t hesitate to call us if something happens with your wisdom teeth. After all, we’re always ready to deal with third molars!