Our Services / Wisdom Teeth

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth come in last, after all of your other permanent teeth. They’re located at the very back of your mouth and emerge through the gum line in your late teens or early adulthood. Because your wisdom teeth come in after all of your other teeth, they’re more likely to become impacted. 

What are the symptoms of wisdom teeth-related issues?

If one or more of your wisdom teeth become impacted, telltale signs include:

• Pain or swelling around your jaw
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• An unpleasant taste in your mouth

You might also experience difficulty opening your mouth or pain when biting or chewing.

What causes impacted wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth often become impacted because there’s not enough room in your jaw for them to emerge. You might also experience an impacted tooth if it grows at the wrong angle. If your wisdom teeth can’t break through your gum line, it can result in pain or an infection, increasing the risk of potentially serious issues.

How are impacted wisdom teeth diagnosed?

To diagnose an impacted wisdom tooth, Dr. Ospina conducts an oral exam and takes a  cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) Scan. The Scan provides 3D images of your jaw and teeth allowing Dr. Ospina to see if they’re impacted or damaging your surrounding teeth and bones.

If one or more of your teeth are impacted, or there’s not enough room for them to come in comfortably, Dr. Ospina extracts them.

What does wisdom teeth removal involve?

Wisdom teeth removal is a common type of oral surgery that usually takes 90 minutes or less. To ensure your comfort, Dr. Ospina offers sedation dentistry. Once the anesthesia sets in, Dr. Ospina carefully accesses your wisdom teeth by making a small incision in your gums. 

He splits each wisdom tooth and removes them one at a time. Dr. Ospina highly recommends adding bone graft to the newly empty bone sockets to minimize the risk of developing “dry socket.” Dry socket is a condition where the bone is exposed to air which causes intense pain and often migraines. By receiving a bone graft and carefully following post-operative instructions you can minimize the risk of developing dry socket. 

Once the extraction and bone graft are complete, Dr. Ospina closes the incision, orders you a prescription for pain medication, and provides post-operative care instructions.

What is recovery like after wisdom teeth removal?

Following wisdom teeth removal, it’s normal to experience swelling, increased sensitivity, and mild discomfort. Take your pain medication as prescribed and eat only liquids and soft foods for the first few days. Dr. Ospina also recommends:

• Brushing and flossing gently
• Using a desensitizing toothpaste
• Avoiding extremely hot or extremely cold foods and drinks
• Avoiding extremely spicy foods

It is vital that you maintain your extraction sites as clean as possible. Refer to your post-operative care instructions accessible on the website under “patient forms” for directions on proper care. 

If your symptoms continue or get worse, don’t wait to call Dr. Ospina.

To see if you’re a candidate for wisdom teeth removal, make an appointment at Designer Smiles by calling our office today or scheduling online.