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Wisdom Teeth Removal Medicine Hat

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that emerge, usually during your late teens to early twenties. For some people, the wisdom teeth emerge through the gums and have enough room to grow naturally. For others, wisdom teeth often cause problems as they are trying to protrude through the gums which requires wisdom tooth removal. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, the tooth is coming in at an angle and not straight through the gum line. This can cause pain, the tooth can come in unevenly, or the tooth may only emerge partially. We provide wisdom tooth extraction in Medicine Hat for fully or partially impacted wisdom teeth. 

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause structural damage to the jaw and other teeth. They can also provide a place for bacteria to gather since they are hard to reach and clean. These potential problems make it necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth so that larger problems do not arise. Routine x-rays during a dental exam can reveal if you will need to have your wisdom teeth removed.

Wisdom teeth extractions are a fairly common procedure. When a wisdom tooth only emerges partially a flap of skin, called an operculum, may form over the tooth. This can make the tooth hard to clean, and pieces of food may be caught under the skin. This makes it easy for an infection, called pericoronitis, to develop. It will usually go away on its own, but it causes swelling and pain in the area.  Impacted teeth and wisdom teeth that can potentially cause problems, like infections, need to be removed. Extractions can range from a single tooth, to removing all four wisdom teeth at once. Based on the preference of the doctor and/or the patient, a local anesthetic could be used to numb the areas where the teeth will be extracted. Others will prefer to go under a general anesthetic so that they will be sedated during the procedure.  The gum tissue around the wisdom tooth is cut open to reveal the tooth. The tooth is loosened by gripping it tightly and wiggling it back and forth until it can be lifted out of the gums. Sometimes a tooth may be impacted so tightly that it cannot be simply lifted out of the gums. In cases like this the tooth will be broken up into pieces first before being removed. Depending on the incision and extraction site, sutures may be needed to close the area. Soluble sutures are the best option, which will dissolve on their own. 

Click here for instructions after wisdom tooth removal.


Unsure about your wisdom teeth? Call Vista Dental in Medicine Hat today at 403.548.7077 to schedule a consultation with the dentist.

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Vista Dental Regular Office Hours

Monday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-3:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed