Dental News

5 Things to Know About Wisdom Teeth Extractions

August 18, 2017

5 Things to Know About Wisdom Teeth Extractions

By the time they need to have their own wisdom teeth extracted, most people have heard all sorts of stories about the experiences of others. At California Dental Group, we know that our patients can become nervous or even scared when they hear that it’s their turn. That’s why we wanted to present you with some clear, simple information about the process. Read it and then call us at (800) 407-0161 with any questions or to set up an appointment.

  1. Wisdom teeth extractions are common
  2. About 85% of Americans will have their wisdom teeth removed at some point in their lives. In fact, wisdom tooth extraction is one of the most commonly dental surgical procedures. At California Dental Group, we have done this many times before and though we’ll treat you with the care and respect you’d get if you were our only patient, this is not an unusual procedure.

  3. Most people have wisdom teeth – but not everyone
  4. If you’ve never had your wisdom teeth out and are afraid to go to your dentist for a cleaning or exam because you don’t want to have them pulled, then there might be good news for you: You may not have wisdom teeth at all. While most people do, some don’t – and others have wisdom teeth in their skull that never break through and never cause them problems.

  5. The reason we have wisdom teeth might surprise you
  6. Older versions of man didn’t have wisdom teeth. What scientists posit is that one of the reasons we have them is because of our large brain size. When our brains were smaller, all of our teeth could fit from the start. When our brains started taking up so much space, it was necessary for the jaw to be narrow. However, the narrower jaw didn’t allow wisdom teeth to grow in until we’re older.

  7. It’s probably not as complicated as you think
  8. Is it more complicated to get your wisdom teeth extracted than it is to get a general cleaning? Of course! But it’s not as bad as you may think. Depending on your situation, it may take us as little as 45 minutes. Of course, impacts (when the tooth hasn’t come through the gum) may take longer but you’d likely be surprised by how many of these procedures are actually relatively quick.

  9. It won’t hurt as much as you think it does
  10. Most people are most afraid of the pain they’ll experience when they have their wisdom teeth extracted. While it’s true that there’s bound to be some type of pain when any tooth is extracted, we will work to make it as painless as possible. In most cases, you’ll get local anesthesia, though more complex, compacted, or infected wisdom teeth may require general anesthesia. Either way, you won’t feel anything during the procedure and we’ll prescribe appropriate medication for pain management.

Remember that it’s never too late to get your wisdom teeth taken care of, but the sooner you see the dentist about issues with them, the easier they will be to treat. Reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 today to make an appointment.

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