Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Staten Island, NY
The “Wise” Move for Your Oral Health
Wisdom tooth extractions in Staten Island are often seen as a sort of rite of passage for teens and young adults. If you still have your third molars, you may wonder if they really need to be removed. If they do, you might want to learn what is involved in the procedure. Read on below to learn some basic details about this treatment, and get in touch with us when you are ready to schedule a consultation with our team.
Why Choose Nu Dental Staten Island for Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
- Sedation Available
- Friendly & Compassionate Team
- Partnered with Local Specialists
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars at the back of the mouth. They usually develop when a person is in their teens, when they are older and “wiser” than they were when their other teeth erupted. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each quadrant of their mouth. However, some people have fewer or more. A small percentage of individuals never develop wisdom teeth at all.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
Wisdom teeth do not always need to be removed. Your dentist in Staten Island will determine whether they are a threat to your oral health and recommend that they be extracted only if it is truly necessary.
If wisdom teeth remain in the mouth for too long, they have the potential to cause the following problems:
- Cysts
- Infections
- Decay of wisdom teeth and nearby molars (if the wisdom teeth trap food in hard-to-clean areas of your mouth)
- Misalignment (if the teeth push on nearby dentition)
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
If your wisdom teeth have already erupted beyond your gumline, removing them should be pretty straightforward. We will use an elevator to lift them, then grip them with forceps in order to wiggle them free of their sockets.
If a wisdom tooth is impacted (stuck beneath the gumline) the removal process is more complex. We may refer you to a local specialist, who might have to create incisions in your gums or break the tooth into pieces in order to remove it.
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Here are some guidelines that we usually give our patients to help them enjoy a smooth recovery following wisdom tooth removal:
- Do not spit, smoke, or use a drinking straw
- Use gauze to control any bleeding
- Take pain medications to manage discomfort
- Avoid hard and crunchy foods — instead, eat no-chew or fork-tender items
- Elevate your head while you are sleeping
- Avoid strenuous physical activity
- Call us if you experience any severe pain or other unusual symptoms