Wisdom Teeth & Teeth Extractions in North York

What are wisdom teeth?

Many people have had or need to have their wisdom teeth removed but do you know what they are? Simply put: your wisdom teeth are your third and final set of molars. Most people see these teeth erupt and grow in during their late teens or early twenties - just enough time to have gained some wisdom.

Why do I have to have them removed?

Sometimes wisdom teeth erupt and grown in with no problems. For many of us however, the development of wisdom teeth comes with a whole series of complications.

The most common complication is misalignment of the wisdom teeth. Misaligned wisdom teeth can be angled towards or away from the second molars. Poor alignment can cause crowding or even damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone or nerves.

What are the signs of wisdom tooth problems?

• Pain or stiffness near the back of your mouth
• Pain or irritation from a tooth coming in at an awkward angle and rubbing against your cheek, tongue, or top or bottom of the mouth
• An infected swelling in the flap of gum tissue that has formed on top of an impacted tooth that has partially broken through the gum
• Crowding of other teeth

These symptoms usually develop between the ages of 15 and 25. Your North York Dentist will keep a close eye on the development of your wisdom teeth.

Wisdom Tooth Removal

At Lawrence West Dental in North York, we will provide you with a thorough check up. We will examine your temporomandibular joints for pain and tenderness, and listen and feel for popping or grating during jaw movement. If required, we will take a panoramic x-ray of your jaw. These x-rays allow us to examine your entire jaw to make sure other problems aren't causing the symptoms.

From our thorough diagnosis we will devise a treatment plan that is right for you. We will create a program of therapy that may greatly reduce the stress on the joint while aligning it more accurately and comfortably.

For the first 24 hours you may experience the following symptoms:

• Bleeding will occur for several hours after the removal of the tooth. We recommend placing a piece of gauze over the area and bite down to apply pressure. Avoid rinsing, sucking, or spiting for the first 24 hours as it will inhibit the growth of clots to stop the bleeding
• Facial swelling in the area where the tooth was removed is very common. Just place a piece of ice wrapped in a cloth on the swelling for 10 minutes, then remove for 20 minutes
• Tylenol or Advil can be taken to alleviate some of the discomfort. Your dentist my prescribe you a more potent pain killer.
• Food should be chewed as far away as possible from the site of extraction. Avoid hot liquids and alcohol for at least 24 hours. In the case of difficult extraction consume soft or liquid foods for the first 24 hours
• Continue to brush your teeth but avoid the teeth directly next to the site of extraction. Do not use mouth wash as it can irritate the extraction site

Full healing can take from a few weeks to a few months to occur. Within the first week or two your mouth should be comfortable enough to use normally again. If you are concerned your recovery is not proceeding normally call us immediately.

Our North York dentist, Dr. Babatsikos will keep a close eye on the development of your wisdom teeth. With vigilance and preventative care we can avoid the complications of misaligned wisdom teeth.