Wisdom Tooth Extractions—Westerville, OH

Allowing Smiles to Age Wisely

Mom with teen son

For many teens and young adults, they never give their wisdom teeth a second thought until they start to notice them causing some kind of discomfort. At Tzagournis Dental Group of Westerville, our team cannot only comfortably remove these problem teeth, but we’ll also work with you and your family to ensure this is done before serious issues pop up. To learn more about wisdom tooth extractions in Westerville and whether or not it’s time for yours (or your child’s) to come out, keep reading.

Why Choose Tzagournis Dental Group of Westerville for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Multiple Dentists with Decades of Experience
Able to Treat Both Adults & Teens
IV Dental Sedation Available

What are Wisdom Teeth?

The final set of molars are called the “wisdom teeth” because they typically appear between the ages of 16-25, when a person is “wiser” compared to when the rest of their teeth erupted.

The prevailing thought is that they helped our caveman ancestors eat the raw vegetables and uncooked meats that made up their rough diets. But as cooking methods and easier-to-chew foods have become more available, they are no longer needed.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

Dental assistant going over X-ray with patient

Wisdom tooth removal is necessary for about 85% of patients. Why? Because there simply isn’t enough room in the mouth for them. That means they can cause pain, press on the neighboring teeth and move them out of alignment, or become stuck (impacted). All of these factors can cause quite a bit of discomfort while also making someone more likely to develop cavities, gum disease, and even cysts.

What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure

Patient receiving wisdom tooth extraction

One of our dentists will examine a patient’s wisdom teeth at each routine checkup. That way, if there are signs of trouble, they can recommend an extraction ahead of any pain or misalignment.

Once it’s time for them to come out, the procedure can go one of two ways:

Simple: If the wisdom teeth have mostly erupted above the gum line, the dentist will numb the area and wiggle each tooth until it gently slips out.
Surgical: To extract teeth that haven’t fully come in yet, the dentist will make a small incision in the gums and clear away any bone so they can access the tooth. From there, they’ll remove it in pieces (this allows for a smaller incision and leads to a faster recovery).

Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction

In the first 24 hours following a wisdom tooth extraction, it’s important that a patient does NOT drink with a straw, smoke, spit, try to clean the surgical site, or engage in rigorous physical activity. All of these can interfere with healing by preventing the formation of a blood clot, which protects the tissues from infection.

Gauze will be placed over the treatment area and should be replaced every few hours. Also, the patient should stick to a soft food diet for at least a few days. So, it’s wise to stock up on items like soup, eggs, pudding, and yogurt ahead of the procedure itself. In most cases, the patient’s mouth should be mostly back to normal within a week.