Wisdom Teeth Extractions – Kerrville, TX

What are Wisdom Teeth?

These late-arrivals usually show up behind your farthest molars between the ages of 17 and 25 years old. Most people have four of them; one for each quadrant of their mouth. However, some people are born with 1, 2, or 3, and others may never grow any at all.

It’s believed that our ancestors developed them to compensate for damaged or dislodged molars as they approached adulthood. Their rough diet of raw meat, nuts, and berries likely required these additional teeth for survival if others had been injured. Today, they’re considered a vestigial feature because they’re unnecessary when we have access to modern dental care, cooked food, and utensils.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

Humans today have smaller, rounder mouths than our ancient ancestors, so wisdom teeth don’t have the same space to push through the gum line as they once did. They can contribute to a variety of oral issues, such as:

• Impaction. If they are trapped beneath your gumline or in your jawbone, you may develop aches in addition to a bite misalignment.
• Infection. Bacteria can penetrate your buried tooth and cause inflammation or infection that can spread if left unaddressed.
• Discomfort. You can develop aches in your teeth, jaw, head, neck, and face if they grow in at an inappropriate angle.
• Overcrowding. Neighboring teeth may be pushed out of the way in their attempt to clear your gums.
• Dental disease. Partially erupted molars are difficult to keep clean, so you’re more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease.

What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure

If your wisdom teeth have fully erupted from your connective tissues, Dr. Butler might be able to perform a simple extraction. First, our team will numb the area with a local anesthetic and provide sedatives as needed, like nitrous oxide, to keep you comfortable. Then, Dr. Butler will gently lift the tooth from its socket using a special dental elevator before grasping it gently with forceps and wiggling it free.

However, many wisdom teeth are impacted or haven’t fully cleared your gums and require a surgical extraction. For this procedure, we’ll numb and sedate you appropriately. Then, Dr. Butler will create a small incision to access the troublesome tooth. It may need to be broken into smaller pieces before it can be successfully removed from your jawbone.

Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction

After your appointment, it’s imperative that your mouth forms a blood clot over the extraction site to protect the underlying nerves and bone tissue. If it’s damaged or dislodged, you could develop a potentially painful complication known as dry socket.

For a smooth recovery, we recommend:

• Wait to brush. You can rinse with warm salt water in the first 24 hours to gently remove germs and particles that might cause an infection. You can usually resume brushing and flossing after 2 to 3 days, as long as you’re careful around the surgical site.
• Drink plenty of fluids. You need water to support your immune system and flush your mouth, but avoid straws because the force of suction can dislodge your blood clot.
• Stick to soft foods. To avoid injuring your tender teeth or gums, stick to easy-to-eat options like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, yogurt, and ice cream.
• Take medications. If you were prescribed pain meds or antibiotics, take them as directed. Otherwise, it’s usually safe to take Tylenol and ibuprofen to address discomfort.