Seeing an Oral Surgeon for Wisdom Tooth Extractions
You might need an oral surgeon if you need to have one or more wisdom teeth removed. These are the last set of teeth to erupt and they are located at the back of the mouth. The removal of a wisdom tooth often requires oral surgery.
Why an oral surgeon might need to remove a wisdom tooth
A dentist might have to remove a wisdom tooth for a variety of reasons. For example, it might be because of a wisdom tooth that has become impacted, meaning it does not have the space it needs to erupt properly. This can lead to pain, an infection or a range of other dental problems.
The standard way to deal with a problematic wisdom tooth is by extracting it. Wisdom teeth are a relic of evolution and do not serve any essential purpose. When one becomes compromised, the dentist will usually opt to extract it instead of treating it. Dentists have this approach to wisdom teeth because they tend to be the most problematic set. They are more prone to decay and infection, and that poses more of a health risk as a person ages.
A wisdom tooth can be extracted by a dentist or an oral surgeon. Dentists usually perform simple extractions, while oral surgeons take care of more complicated surgical extractions. Here are some of the more common reasons why a wisdom tooth might be extracted.
1. Impacted tooth
A wisdom tooth is a tooth that has its growth impeded by obstacles in the mouth like surrounding teeth or bone tissue. It might:
- Grow at an awkward angle toward the back of the mouth
- It might grow at an odd angle toward another tooth
- It might erupt at a 90-degree angle toward other teeth as if it is lying down on the jaw
- It might be trapped inside the jaw
2. Tooth decay
A wisdom tooth might also be extracted because it has been damaged by tooth decay. Given how susceptible wisdom teeth are to decay, there is no point trying to restore the tooth with a root canal only to have to deal with decay again a few years down the road. An extraction provides a permanent fix to the decay problem that plagues wisdom teeth.
3. An infection
A wisdom tooth can be infected just like any other. The infection can spread to other areas of the body if not treated early and can also lead to excruciating pain. A surgeon can typically bring the infection to an end by removing the tooth. Depending on the severity of the infection, the patient might be prescribed afterward.
An extraction is not a big deal
If you are like most people, the idea of extracting a tooth probably frightens you a bit, especially when you hear the word surgery. The truth is extractions are rather easy, and anesthetics are used so you do not feel any pain during the treatment. When it is over, the problem that brought you to the clinic will be gone.
Request an appointment here: https://www.casasadobesdentistry.com or call Casas Adobes Dentistry at (520) 365-0559 for an appointment in our Tucson office.
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