Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Dallas, TX

When We Recommend Wisdom Tooth Extraction

We recommend wisdom tooth extraction when it is the best way for patients to maintain healthy oral function. Some of the situations where wisdom tooth extraction may be unavoidable include:

• Impaction – tooth is unable to fully erupt from the gum line
• Crowding – there is not enough room for the additional teeth in the gum line
• Dental drift – surrounding teeth are moved out of position by the developing third molars
• Infection and decay – often occurs when wisdom teeth are impacted which can irritate and inflame the soft tissue and trap bacteria and plaque on the tooth’s surface leading to decay

How Wisdom Teeth are Removed

If your wisdom teeth are fully erupted from the gum line, we may be able to “pull” them. That involves using a metal clasp to shift the teeth back and forth until it breaks free from the socket. If the tooth is not fully erupted from the gum line or we are not able to pull the tooth free, surgical removal may be necessary. This can be as simple as cutting away a small amount of connective soft tissue or a much more complex procedure that requires us to break the tooth into numerous smaller pieces before cutting it away from the supportive bone and gum tissue.

What to Expect Following Tooth Extraction

Following wisdom tooth extraction, you may have some swelling, light bleeding, and discomfort. However, using pain relieving medications and ice packs as directed should allow you to maintain comfort as your extraction site heals. If you experience severe pain or sensitivity or your discomfort increases, you may be experiencing dry socket, infection, or other complications. Contact our team right away. We can walk you through first aid and pain management over the phone and schedule an appointment to see you in our dental office.