Despite their lofty name, wisdom teeth are often the source of trouble when it comes to your dental health. As the last teeth to come in, wisdom teeth often find themselves with nowhere to go and become impacted or only partially erupt, forcing you to have them removed. Luckily, extraction is no longer the daunting procedure it once was. Equipped with state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic tools, Dr. Andrew Geller and his team at Geller Family Dental can remove these troublesome teeth quickly and painlessly. If you’re in the Bronxville, New York area, call or book an appointment online.
Wisdom Teeth Q & A
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come in, typically between the ages of 18 and 20. In purely anatomical terms, wisdom teeth are the last of three molars on each side of your upper and lower jawbones, numbering four in total.
Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?
In an ideal world, your wisdom teeth come in smoothly, taking their place at the back of your upper and lower jaws to help with chewing. All too often, however, wisdom teeth cause problems because of their late arrival.
By the time your wisdom teeth erupt, their predecessors may not have left any room on your jaw, or your wisdom teeth may start to come in at an angle, threatening neighboring teeth.
If your wisdom teeth aren’t able to erupt properly, they may become impacted, leading to a painful infection as bacteria invade the area.
In these cases, removal is often the best option as the threat they pose far outweighs their potential usefulness.
At Geller Family Dental, the team uses sophisticated imaging equipment that helps Dr. Geller track your wisdom teeth as they begin to come in and predict whether they’ll cause a problem. That helps prevent a lot of pain and frustration early on.
How are wisdom teeth removed?
Relying on digital scans and 3D imaging, Dr. Geller can pinpoint the problem tooth in its entirety and extract it with precision, without damaging your jawline or neighboring teeth. Thanks to anesthesia, the procedure itself is quick and painless.
Afterward, however, you may experience pain, tenderness, swelling, and bruising. These side effects are not uncommon and typically go away after a few days. During that time, Dr. Geller supplies you with at-home care instructions and treatments that include:
- Icing
- Over-the-counter pain relief
- Prescription pain medication, if applicable
- Gauze compresses
- Soft foods
The discomfort after an extraction is short lived and is far preferable to the pain an impacted wisdom tooth causes.
To find out whether you should have your wisdom teeth removed, call Geller Family Dental, or schedule a visit using the online booking tool.
