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Wisdom Teeth Specialist

First Smile Dental

General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Alexandria, VA

While wisdom teeth don’t, in fact, make you wiser, knowing what they are and what wisdom tooth removal involves is an important part of your dental health. Keehong Kwon, DDS, and Erika Mogrovejo, DDS, and the team at First Smile Dental in Alexandria, Virginia, have extensive experience performing wisdom teeth removals, helping their patients maintain the health of their mouths. To learn more, call or go online today to schedule your first appointment.

Wisdom Teeth Q & A

What is wisdom teeth removal?

As you grow from a child into a teenager and then an adult, your mouth matures along with you. Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that develop for most people during late teenage years or early adulthood. 

If you’re lucky, your wisdom teeth will grow in an aligned fashion, causing no problems for your mouth. However, not everyone’s wisdom teeth grow out perfectly aligned. 

Wisdom teeth often grow in a fashion that causes overcrowding, misalignment, and other problems. For this reason, it’s often necessary to surgically remove your wisdom teeth to allow your mouth ample room for all of your teeth. 

What problems do overcrowded wisdom teeth cause?

When your mouth doesn’t have enough room to accommodate your new wisdom teeth, the teeth can grow in at odd angles, which can damage your nearby teeth, nerves, and jawbone.

In addition, if your wisdom teeth only have enough space to partially emerge, it creates the possibility for infection. This can lead to pain and swelling in the area, which can cause gum disease and tooth decay, both serious problems.

How are wisdom teeth removed?

Wisdom teeth removal involves oral surgery. Initially, the team at First Smile Dental numbs the area surrounding your tooth to minimize your pain during the procedure. In addition, they may use general anesthesia to make you more comfortable. 

The exact details of the procedure depend on the position of your wisdom teeth. However, it will involve weakening the connection of the tooth to your gums, and then pulling your tooth out.

In some cases, your tooth may need to be removed piece by piece. The team may need to place several sutures into your gums in order to minimize bleeding. 

As you have just had a tooth removed, you will experience some pain and soreness, although this can be minimized with medication. Swelling and bleeding are also common but will subside over time.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your wisdom tooth removal, speak with the team at First Smile Dental.

To learn more about wisdom teeth removal and whether it’s right for you, call or go online today to schedule your appointment.