Campbell Dental Care offers wisdom teeth removal in Campbell, California, to prevent and halt problems that occur when your wisdom teeth, or third molars, begin to protrude through the gums. Wisdom teeth removals are a fairly common procedure. When you visit our practice, our dentist goes the extra mile to ensure that you are comfortable during your procedure. Please call us at 408-364-1122 to learn more about wisdom teeth extractions and schedule your appointment with Dr. Catalina Phan.
Wisdom teeth frequently cause problems as they begin to erupt. They are often impacted, meaning that the tooth or teeth come in at an angle, rather than straight through the gum line, causing pain, an uneven eruption, or the tooth to only partially emerge. In addition, wisdom teeth can cause crowding and misalignment to the other teeth.
When your wisdom teeth are impacted and only emerge partially, a flap of skin called an operculum may form over the tooth. This makes the tooth difficult to clean, and pieces of food may become caught under the skin, leading to infection, swelling, and pain in that area. When your wisdom teeth, or other teeth, are impacted, they need to be removed.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure
Our dentist can perform extractions on both individual teeth as well as removing all four of your wisdom teeth at once. Based on your needs and the preferences of the doctor and patient, several sedation options may be offered. You could receive a local anesthetic to numb the area of the extraction, or you could be sedated using a general anesthetic so that you will be asleep during your procedure.
When our dentist performs your wisdom teeth extraction, she will cut open the gum tissue around the area to reveal the tooth. The tooth will then be loosed by gripping it tightly and wiggling it back and forth until it can be lifted out of the gums. If the tooth is too tightly impacted to be simply lifted out of the gums, our dentist will break the tooth into pieces before removing it. If you need sutures to close the area, we will use soluble sutures, which will dissolve on their own.
Post-Op Care
Following your wisdom teeth removal surgery you will need to rest. As you will have received anesthesia, you will need to be driven home after your procedure. Bring a friend or family member with you to your appointment.
You can expect the extraction site to bleed for a little while following surgery. Gauze will be applied at the completion of your surgery, and you will need to change it when it becomes soaked. If you continue to bleed for more than 24 hours, call our dentist immediately.
When you arrive home, rest, but do not lie flat. This could prolong the bleeding. If you are lying down, prop your head up on a pillow.
If our dentist prescribes pain medication, please use it as directed. We may also recommend a cleaning solution to clean the extraction site. Ice packs are also a good way to manage pain and discomfort.
For the first few days following your surgery, eat only soft foods. Examples include:
- Gelatin
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Ice cream
- Thin soups
- Foods you can eat without chewing
While drinking, do NOT use a straw. The sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow down the clotting process, making it more difficult for you to heal. Smoking has the same effects.
If you experience prolonged pain, bleeding, or irritation, or if you feel that the extraction site is not healing properly, please contact our dentist immediately for a follow-up.
For more information about wisdom teeth removal and to schedule a consultation with Dr. Catalina Phan, please contact our office today.
