Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Fort Worth, TX
Trusted Fort Worth Dentist for Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Most of the time, your Fort Worth dentist at Fort Dental works to help you keep all of your natural teeth in place for a lifetime when possible. However, there are instances when removing teeth is the better option. One primary example of this is wisdom teeth extraction. These large teeth are located at the very back of the mouth beyond your molars. Whether they have erupted or are impacted, wisdom teeth can initiate problems for teeth nearby as well as your overall oral health. Therefore, wisdom tooth extractions from our Fort Worth, TX dentist are often the recommended course of treatment.
The History of Wisdom Teeth
These teeth weren’t always a problem. In fact, at one time during human history they were quite useful and necessary. Our prehistoric ancestors required these large teeth in order to chew and digest a diet of tough meats, seeds, roots and plants. Since then, the human diet has softened significantly, making these teeth obsolete. As a result, our mouths have adapted and gotten smaller.
Specific Reasons for Extracting Wisdom Teeth
Because our mouths are smaller, most people simply do not have room along the jaw for large wisdom teeth. This is the main reason for extracting them. Left in place, wisdom teeth often press on adjacent teeth, thereby causing discomfort and threatening tooth alignment. Therefore, extraction can be particularly important after undergoing orthodontics to straighten teeth. Other reasons for extracting wisdom teeth include:
- Wisdom teeth increase the risk of infection, tooth decay and gum disease
- Cysts can develop below the gum line around wisdom teeth, which can lead to bone damage
- They come in crooked or facing the wrong direction
Sedation Dentistry for Wisdom Tooth Extraction
At Fort Dental, our dentists are certified to provide oral sedation. We’ll give you a prescription for an oral medication that you’ll take before coming to our dental office. Oral sedation requires you to have an adult drive you to and from your appointment. The sedative, in combination with a local anesthetic, allows the doctor to perform one or more extractions while you are relaxed and comfortable.
Types of Tooth Extraction
In some cases when a wisdom tooth has erupted—meaning it has broken through the gum tissue—the dentist uses forceps to remove the tooth. If a wisdom tooth is impacted, then the dentist makes an incision in the gums and removes a small amount of bone in order to expose the tooth. The tooth is removed in sections and the site is sutured closed.
Get the care you need from a dental office you can trust. Call today to schedule your appointment for wisdom teeth extraction with Dr. Cheng, Dr. Thorburn, Dr. Luk, or Dr. Cox. Our dental office in Fort Worth is conveniently located for our patients in Burleson, Crowley, Granbury, and surrounding areas.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions FAQs
Is wisdom tooth removal painful?
Whether we’re removing one molar or all four of them, you don’t have to worry because the first step of the procedure is always the same: to numb your mouth thoroughly. As a result, you won’t feel any pain during your time in the treatment chair. Plus, we will provide you with aftercare instructions while you recover from your wisdom tooth extraction to help you stay comfortable (i.e., taking OTC pain medication as directed, brushing carefully around the extraction site, and using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time).
How soon can I eat after wisdom teeth removal?
You need to wait at least an hour. There are a few reasons that we recommend this, starting with the fact that the gauze needs to remain in place to slow down the healing. You also shouldn’t eat anything until you’ve regained full sensation in your mouth because, if you don’t, you could sustain a serious soft tissue injury and not even realize it.
Important reminder: Even after you’re given the green light to eat, you need to stick to extremely soft foods, like plain yogurt and applesauce.
Are wisdom tooth extractions covered by insurance?
Oftentimes, yes! So, if you are interested in using your dental insurance to cover some of the cost of your wisdom tooth extraction, you shouldn’t hesitate to provide us with your membership information. From there, we can review the fine print on your plan, discuss your available benefits, and provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses.
If you don’t have dental insurance, we can discuss the other financial solutions that are available, like CareCredit! This trusted third-party financier offers convenient payment plans, so you don’t have to pay for the entire sum at once. Instead, you can break it up into smaller monthly chunks that fit comfortably within your budget.
Why are wisdom teeth called that?
Since wisdom teeth often grow in at odd angles, cause chronic jaw pain, and increase the risk of cysts developing, you might be wondering how they earned their nickname. The prevailing theory is that it’s due to when they emerge (usually in the late teens or early twenties). Since wisdom comes with age, and they are the last molars to make an appearance, they were deemed “wisdom teeth.”
Does everyone have wisdom teeth?
Surprisingly, no! In fact, one article from the Dental Research Journal estimated that upwards of 37% of people are missing at least one of their wisdom teeth. That’s why it’s so important for our team at Fort Dental to take X-rays annually. These give us insight into what’s going on underneath the surface, including whether the wisdom teeth you have are growing in sideways.