Now that summer is here, if you have a high school graduate they are likely preparing for college or trade school in the fall. Before they start this exciting new state of their life, we recommend bringing them in for a wisdom tooth extraction! In today’s blog, Viva Dental Family Dentistry talks about removing wisdom teeth in Richardson, TX.
When Teens Need Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Our wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, tend to erupt in our late teens and early 20s. When they arrive, there is often little room to accommodate them, so they may only be able to partially erupt, creating a painful impaction that is linked to misalignment, infection, and even damaged teeth. This can change the appearance of the smile and even undergo orthodontic results! This is particularly terrible if your child has just finished wearing braces. So, to avoid these complications, we can remove the wisdom teeth before they erupt, and in the summer before their first semester of college, we can ensure they start the fall with a healthy and comfortable smile!
Planning Care and Ensuring Comfort
To begin, we will conduct a detailed examination of your teen’s smile with digital x-rays, so we can assess the position of the wisdom teeth and the potential risks to the smile. We then decide if they need to be treated, and if so, we can plan the process in detail, so we avoid any contact with blood vessels, nerve tissues, and sinus cavities. Our team will also offer treatment to help ensure your child’s comfort during the procedure, such as a local anesthesia to numb the outer surfaces and sedation to help people enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, often with no memory of the procedure at all.
The Wisdom Tooth Extraction Process
Once we have planned the process in detail, we will numb and sedate your teen and begin the extraction. Our team will gently open the gums above the wisdom teeth so we can access and remove them with a pair of forceps. We then suture the area closed. We will remove sutures in a follow-up visit, and kids can usually return to their normal routine after a day or two of rest. We will provide detailed aftercare instructions to ensure the area can heal properly and quickly and will also have prescriptions for medications to aid in the process and keep your teeth comfortable!
If you have any questions about wisdom tooth extraction, then please reach out to our team today!
Your Richardson, TX, Dentist Provides Care for Your Family
We want to help your teens start a new stage of life with their best possible smile. For more information on family dentistry, then please schedule a consultation by calling the Viva Dental Family Dentistry office nearest you at (214) 337-7800 (Dallas) or (972) 437-6000 (Richardson).
