Impacted wisdom teeth are extremely common dental problem, but the prospect of getting them fixed can leave some patients feeling frightened and unsure. Is this something your usual dentist can handle, or will you need to see a specialist for a complex and painful procedure?
The answer is that most general dentists can pull an impacted wisdom tooth. In fact, the extraction process isn’t too from pulling a normal tooth. Let’s go over what a regular tooth pull looks like, how wisdom tooth pulls are different, and how dentists handle teeth that are hidden under the gums.
How Regular Tooth Pulls Work
If a tooth is damaged beyond repair (for example, fractured at the gumline or too heavily decayed to support a filling or crown), it may need to be pulled. Some people also get premolars pulled to make more room for other teeth during orthodontic treatment.
Dentists perform standard tooth pulls like these all the time. Usually, all they need is a little local anesthetic and some elbow grease to get the job done. You won’t need stitches and the empty socket will clot over in just a few days.
How Wisdom Tooth Pulls Are Different
Most people get their wisdom teeth removed shortly after they come in. Even if yours have fully erupted, you may still want them taken out to avoid crowding and make it easier to keep your back teeth clean.
Your dentist can pull all four non-impacted wisdom teeth in a single relatively short appointment. The procedure is similar to pulling first or second molars; your dentist just has to reach further into your mouth. There’s no surgery involved and patients usually make a full recovery in a week or so.
Adapting the Process for Impacted Wisdom Tooth Pulls
If your wisdom teeth are impacted, things get a little trickier. Your dentist will need to cut into your gums and maybe even your jawbone to get some of each tooth’s crown exposed. Once they have enough to work with, they’ll either extract the tooth in one piece or break it up into smaller chunks that can be easily dislodged.
This process takes significantly longer and may require general anesthesia instead of the numbing shots used for standard extractions. You’ll also need a few extra days to recover afterward.
While it’s more complicated, though, it’s nothing your dentist can’t handle. Many (if not most) of the wisdom teeth most dentists pull are at least partly impacted. We’re used to handling these kinds of cases!
It’s Time To Take Those Wisdom Teeth Out
The bottom line is that very few tooth extractions need a specialist’s expertise – and if your impacted wisdom teeth do, your dentist will gladly refer you to a colleague who can help.
The team at Ouellette Dentistry has performed hundreds of impacted wisdom tooth extractions over the years. You can trust us to do the same for you. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment and get your impacted wisdom teeth removed by the pros.
