St Paul Dentist: How & Why Wisdom Teeth Are Removed

St. Paul, MN based Chalet Dental Care has published a blog post that explores the topic of wisdom teeth removal in some detail. While patients are always encouraged to schedule a consultation and speak with their dentist directly, this article may help settle some concerns. The practice also hopes the article will help people understand that it is a routine procedure, and modern techniques can both minimize pain as well as speed up recovery.

“Wisdom teeth removal is a surgery aimed at removing one or more wisdom teeth,” explains the article. “Wisdom teeth or third molars are the four permanent teeth in adults positioned at the top and bottom back corners of your mouth. An impacted wisdom tooth does not have room to grow. This condition can result in infections, pain and other dental issues.” Most people will experience no issue with their wisdom teeth, and they will emerge when the individual is between 17-25 years old. Unfortunately, some will find that their mouths do not have enough room for these teeth to emerge properly, a process the practice says is called ‘tooth eruption.’ In such situations, the wisdom teeth may erupt incompletely — or fail to erupt at all.

As an accomplished dentist in St. Paul, Chalet Dental Care has worked with countless patients, and they have found that wisdom teeth removal is easiest to perform before the patient reaches age 20. This does not mean that older patients cannot have their wisdom teeth removed, but they are more likely to present with additional complications. The practice says this is due to the fact that older people have more developed tooth roots, and extracting a tooth is a simpler process when its roots are less entrenched (they grow longer and curve inside the tissue).

The article says, “During your routine dental appointments, your dentist monitors the development of your wisdom teeth with the help of dental X-rays. If they have become impacted or have the potential to cause health issues, the doctor might recommend a tooth extraction.” This is necessary because impacted teeth can cause a host of other issues if left untreated, such as damage to other teeth, tooth decay or loss, bone degradation, infection, gum diseases and so on. Certain patients may also find that an extraction is recommended even if they do not present with any symptoms. While it may not be medically necessary at that moment, an early extraction would still serve an important purpose in that it can prevent potential issues before they begin, saving the patient a great deal of pain and misery.

There are certain steps a patient can take to prepare for their wisdom teeth removal procedure. At Chalet Dental Care, patients are encouraged to ask their oral surgeon for more information if they have any remaining concerns, and they will be advised on what they must do (or avoid doing) as the date of the surgery approaches. Since recovery is an important aspect of any procedure, the surgeon will also help them develop a plan that takes their needs into account.

For instance, a patient may stock up on liquid-based soft foods that are easy to eat before their procedure. They can then focus on recovery and have sustenance on hand when they go home. In the article, Chalet Dental Care says patients generally prefer, “yogurt, oatmeal, applesauce, smoothies and other foods that do not require chewing.”

They add, “Follow your surgeon’s instructions for drinking and eating before wisdom tooth removal surgery. The directions may change depending on the type of sedation utilized. If you are getting anesthesia via an IV, you will be unable to drink or eat anything after midnight the night before the surgery. This is so your stomach is empty.” The article offers other tips as well, including what patients should wear, which medications they may have to temporarily discontinue, what typically happens during surgery and so on.

Notably, given that patients are placed under anesthesia for wisdom teeth removal, it is important for them to know where their oral surgeon’s or dentist’s office is located (especially with respect to their home). For ease of reference, Chalet Dental Care can be found across the street from Elmhurst Cemetery. The surgeon will also discuss the type of anesthesia that will be used and help the patient understand how it may make them feel after the procedure.

The article offers many more details and insights on wisdom teeth removal, and patients can find it on the clinic’s official website. They are also welcome to reach out to Chalet Dental Care at any time to schedule a consultation where they can have all their concerns addressed in full by a professional.