More often than not, the wisdom teeth will have to be removed. While it may not sound like good news to have this procedure, it is good news that you do not have to be referred out to another surgical center, given that we provide the facility and the doctor to perform this procedure in-house at Mountain Aire Dentistry. Here is how to care for your mouth after wisdom teeth removal. 

What are the Wisdom Teeth? 

As we get older, we also get smarter — even our smiles. Your mouth is constantly developing from birth until early adulthood. One major dental milestone occurs between the ages of 17 and 21 is having your third molars erupt. These third molars are also known as wisdom teeth. If they have enough room to come in, and come in correctly, there is no need to have them removed. 

When Wisdom Teeth Should be Removed 

The American Dental Association explains that wisdom teeth can lead to problems if there isn’t enough space for them to surface, or if they come in the wrong position. If you’re told that your wisdom teeth are impacted, it means that they are trapped beneath the gums and aren’t erupting. As you get to the age that wisdom teeth begin to appear, the ADA lists that your dentist will begin to monitor your mouth for signs of wisdom teeth that: 

• Aren’t in the right position, which can allow food to become trapped. This gives cavity-causing bacteria a place to grow. 
• Haven’t come in properly, which can make it difficult to properly flow and clean your teeth at the back of your mouth. 
• Have only partially come through, which can give bacteria a place to enter the gums and create a place for infection to occur. This can cause pain, swelling, and jaw stiffness.
• Don’t have room to come through and look as though they will crowd or damage nearby teeth.
• Is impacted, which can form a cut on or near the impacted tooth. This can damage the roots of nearby teeth or destroy the bone that supports the teeth. 

The Procedure

At Mountain Aire Dentistry, we provide an environment that is safe and comforting for all of our procedures — and wisdom teeth extraction is no different. We utilize modern technology and our highly trained team to monitor your safety and anesthesia administration. 

Here at our practice, we can use a local anesthetic, oral sedation, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), IV sedation, or general anesthesia. When you come in for your consultation, Dr. Chris Bockrath and our team will discuss your sedation options and what we recommend for you.

This is what the surgery typically entails: 

• Dr. Bockrath will make an incision in the gum tissue to expose the tooth and bone
• Removing the bone that blocks access to the tooth root
• Dividing the tooth into sections if it’s easier to remove in pieces 
• Removing the tooth
• Cleaning the site of the removed tooth of any debris from the tooth or bone 
• Stitching the wound closed to promote healing, though this isn’t always necessary
• Placing gauze over the extraction site to control bleeding and to help a blood clot form 

Caring For Your Smile After Wisdom Teeth Removal

After your wisdom teeth are removed, you will rest in our office for a short period of time before you can go home. Once you are discharged to go home, you will have to have a family member or friend drive you home. Before you leave our office, we will give you a postoperative kit to care for your mouth. This kit will give you all the things you need to care for your mouth. This will include care instructions, antibiotics, prescription pain medication if needed, and details for a follow up appointment that might be needed. 

Once you get home, you will probably be hungry. Our team will tell you when it’s best to have your first meal after surgery. It’s important to remember to only eat soft foods of mild temperatures. If you choose to have a smoothie or soup, remember NO straws for 48 hours. 

It is important to keep your mouth clean after wisdom teeth removal. Our team will show you how to best clean your mouth before you leave our office. 

Stay Wise with Mountain Aire Dentistry

Dr. Chris Bockrath at Mountain Aire Dentistry has performed over ten thousand successful wisdom teeth removal procedures so far in his dental career. In fact, if you ask him, he’ll say he thinks it’s his best skill. For more information on wisdom teeth removal or to make an appointment with us, call today at (303)-731-7755.