English 
Spanish There are certain milestones that many of us reach, marking the journey into young adulthood. Maybe you can remember the first day your parents trusted you behind the wheel of the family car with your learner’s permit. How about watching your first R-rated movie? While those are exciting and notable memories, there’s another important life event that approximately 5 million Americans, many of them teens and young adults, undergo each year—wisdom tooth extraction.
While you may not look forward to this event as much as the others, wisdom tooth removal is often an important component of oral health care. With modern dental technology and our expert, caring staff, tooth extraction is a straightforward process. At Aspire Dental in Austin, TX, we understand the complexities and concerns associated with tooth removal. Dr. Hall, Dr. McNeil, and our entire staff are committed to providing comfortable and efficient care to all our patients.
Who Needs Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Wisdom tooth removal is a common procedure in dental offices today. During the procedure, we remove any problematic wisdom teeth—the “third molars” in the back corners of your mouth. These teeth usually emerge in your teens or early twenties, a period when you’re gaining more life experience and wisdom.
These four extra teeth were useful thousands of years ago when human diets consisted of much more raw meat, nuts, and vegetation. Over the course of history, our more refined diets, advanced cooking techniques, and even the use of utensils have made these teeth less necessary. As a result, our jaws have evolved, becoming slightly smaller. Unfortunately, this means that these additional molars often fail to fit with our modern dental structure.
If there isn’t enough space to grow properly, wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, or other dental problems, necessitating their removal. At Aspire Dental, we offer sedation dentistry options and local anesthetics to ensure comfort and minimize pain during the procedure.
Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed, but if you’re experiencing pain, swelling, or discomfort around the area of your wisdom teeth, it’s important to consult with Dr. Hall or Dr. McNeil. They can examine your mouth and take X-rays to determine if extraction is the best option for your dental health.
Reasons for Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Many Americans need to have their wisdom teeth removed, but the reason why isn’t always the same. Several factors can necessitate extraction, including:
- Tooth decay: Wisdom teeth are prone to decay because they are challenging to keep clean. Severe decay can irreparably damage teeth, leaving extraction as the best option.
- Gum disease: Plaque and bacteria are likely to build up around the wisdom teeth, leading to gum disease. Treating gum disease promptly is key to preserving your oral health. In some cases, extraction is the best solution for preventing the spread of infection.
- Trauma: Accidents causing significant damage may require tooth removal.
- Impaction: Wisdom teeth often become impacted (unable to break through the surface of the gums) due to insufficient space or poor alignment. Impacted teeth can cause pain, damage surrounding teeth, and trap food, plaque, and debris.
- Overcrowding: When there is too little space in the mouth, your teeth become overcrowded. Overcrowding can cause many oral health problems, from bite issues to increased risk of decay and gum disease.
Types of Tooth Extractions
There are two primary types of tooth extractions. Which one you need will depend on the tooth’s location, condition, and accessibility.
Simple Extractions
In cases where the tooth is visible and easily accessible, we can perform a simple extraction. This procedure involves local anesthesia and special dental tools to loosen and extract the tooth.
Surgical Extractions
More complex cases require more involved surgical techniques. A surgical extraction involves incisions in the gum to access the tooth and may include bone removal or tooth sectioning. For patients who are worried about undergoing this procedure, we offer several sedation options to relieve their anxiety.
Aftercare and Recovery
Post-extraction care is critical for proper healing. Everyone’s recovery time differs, but some soreness and sensitivity for the first few days are normal. You’ll receive specific instructions based on your procedure, but we advise all patients to use ice packs to reduce swelling, take prescribed medications, avoid using straws, eat soft foods, and avoid strenuous activities and smoking. Please call our office if pain, bleeding, or swelling persists.
Schedule Your Wisdom Tooth Extraction Today
Wisdom tooth extraction is a critical procedure for many individuals. At Aspire Dental in Austin, TX, we are dedicated to providing a comfortable, efficient, and safe extraction experience. If you or a loved one needs a wisdom tooth extracted, you can trust our skilled team to handle the procedure with exceptional care and compassion. Schedule your appointment today.
