Tooth Extractions - Dental Clinic in Calgary - Dentist in Calgary

Wisdom teeth are the third molars that can be found at the very back of your mouth. They are the last teeth to erupt and usually show up around the ages of 18 to 25 years old.

Wisdom teeth can become impacted when they fail to erupt properly. This can happen because there isn’t enough room in your mouth to accommodate them. As a result, they can grow out sideways, which can  place pressure and damage adjacent teeth. During your exam, we will use digital X-rays to get an in-depth look inside your mouth and see whether a wisdom tooth needs to be removed.

To clarify, if there is sufficient space in your mouth to accommodate the wisdom tooth and if it isn’t causing any problems, a wisdom tooth doesn’t have to be removed. But in most cases, wisdom teeth do cause problems, such as severe pain, swelling, cysts, and infection. It also increases the risks of gum disease since they are often more difficult to clean due to their position and angle.

We will go over all of your options before deciding if a tooth needs to be removed. If a wisdom tooth is causing problems, it should be removed by the time the patient is 25 years of age. This is because our bone tissues harden the older we get, making the tooth more difficult and riskier to remove. However, rest assured, you’ll be given a sedative and anesthetic to ensure your complete comfort during surgery.

What to do following your surgery :

• For the first 48 hours following your surgery, refrain from spitting out blood or saliva, smoking, or drinking liquid from a straw. This ensures that the blood clot is protected and can heal.
• Use a cold compress to reduce swelling throughout the day for the first couple of days.
• Your jaw may feel stiff or experience pain which can last for several weeks. However, it does improve over time, so please chew slowly and use the front two-thirds of your teeth. Chewing sugar-free gum will help.
• You will likely feel some numbness for a few hours after surgery; however, this will go away. If your mouth feels numb for more than 24 hours, please contact us.
• We recommend consuming a liquid diet with lots of mineral and vitamins to expedite your recovery period. This also makes it easier to swallow and allows your mouth to heal quicker.