Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Worcester, MA

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are also known as third molars and were once vital to the nutritional component of early civilizations. With broader jawbones and denser, coarser food options, these teeth were used to chew and gnaw through meat, creating a more positive and beneficial diet. However, as centuries passed, jawbones grew narrower, and diets no longer consist of meats quite as coarse as those consumed by our ancestors. Unfortunately, these teeth continue to erupt and often cause pain and damage to nearby healthy tooth structures.

When Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed

Although not all people need to have their wisdom teeth removed, it is often recommended in situations when the teeth are:

• Impacted and lie beneath the gumline. This can cause healthy tooth structures nearby to be affected, as the wisdom teeth can press against and cause shifting to occur.
• Partially erupted and creating oral health problems because they are difficult to clean.
• Damaging the jawbone and causing problems with oral function.
• Causing gum inflammation because of the increased swelling that can occur with these teeth and the inability to clean them properly.

What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure

Undergoing wisdom tooth extraction in Lowell requires receiving local anesthesia or IV sedation, which will be administered once you are comfortable in our treatment chair. We will then make one or more small incisions in your gums if necessary. If the tooth has fully erupted, we may be able to remove it just like we would a regular tooth, using specialized dental instruments to detach it from its socket.

However, if the tooth is impacted or partially erupted, a small incision in the gum tissue is made to grant full access to the tooth. We will then begin to gently extract it in sections so that we do not remove more bone than is necessary.

Recovering from Wisdom Tooth Extraction

After your wisdom teeth procedure is complete, you can expect there to be soreness and minor discomfort for the next several days. Once the anesthesia or sedation wears off, you’ll need to take an over-the-counter pain reliever to better manage the achiness.

You’ll also need to keep clean gauze over the areas to encourage clotting. A cold compress can help alleviate swelling, but you’ll need to abide by the 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off routine. You can also rinse with warm salt water to keep the areas clean and encourage quicker healing.

In the first few days, you’ll need to stick to soft foods to avoid placing additional pressure on your surgical sites, and you’ll need to be careful while brushing and flossing – a practice you’ll need to maintain throughout recovery to avoid a potential infection.