Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Morgan Hill, CA

What are Wisdom Teeth?

In short, wisdom teeth are the third set of molars. They typically make an appearance in a person’s late teens or early twenties. With that said, there are some patients who don’t develop them at all! That’s why it’s so important for our dentist in Morgan Hill, Dr. Hong, to take new X-rays every year. This ensures that she can monitor what’s going on underneath the gumline and, if necessary, perform an extraction.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

Some people go their whole lives without their wisdom teeth causing trouble. In fact, removing them is only necessary if a problem could occur otherwise. For example, the wisdom teeth might:

• Not have sufficient room to erupt past the gumline, becoming impacted (stuck) and causing pain.
• Only emerge partially, making them difficult to clean and increasing the risk of tooth decay and infections.
• Damage them and/or push them out of alignment.

What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure

The extraction process will look a bit different depending on whether or not the tooth in question is trapped underneath the gumline. If that’s the case, then an incision needs to be made in the gums first. Then, the tooth can be removed section by section, and we can tend to the extraction site. Conversely, if the tooth has already broken through the gumline, then we can simply grip it, rock it loose, and remove it.

Recovering From Wisdom Teeth Extraction

To ensure you can heal comfortably at home, our dentist in Morgan Hill will provide you with a list of aftercare instructions, like:

• Sticking to a liquid diet for the first 24 hours (no straws)
• Not smoking, spitting, or exercising
• Brushing and flossing carefully, especially around the extraction site
• Taking prescribed or OTC pain medication as directed
• Keeping your head elevated, even while you sleep
• Changing the gauze pads as needed

As the days go on, you should feel progressively better. If you’re continuing to experience soreness, discomfort, and sensitivity after the one-week mark, then let us know.