Wisdom Teeth Removal in St. Louis, MO

If you still have your wisdom teeth, you will more than likely need to have them removed. This is because wisdom teeth cause crowding issues and lead to a heightened risk of disease in the mouths of most people, which can in turn lead to further complications down the road. Here at West County Dental, Dr. Pete Spalitto and our trusted St. Louis, MO dental team proudly provide comprehensive wisdom teeth removal services for kids, teens, and adults across the region. Below, we’ve compiled a short guide for wisdom teeth and wisdom teeth removal. Read on to learn more, and contact our team at (314) 821-2712 today!

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the third and final molars on each side of the upper and lower jaws. They are also the final teeth to emerge (or “erupt”) in a person’s mouth, and typically do not do so until an individual’s teenage years at earliest. It is common for an individual to not have a complete set of 4, but instead only have 1-3 of their wisdom teeth.

Why Take Them Out?

Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars in the back of your mouth. Typically they come in between the ages of 17 and 25, and your Dentist can spot them on X-rays. You may need to have them removed for one of these reasons:

• They’re impacted. Because they’re so far back in your mouth, wisdom teeth may not come in normally. They can be trapped in your jawbone or gums, which can be painful.

• They come in at the wrong angle. This can cause pressure against your other teeth.

• Your mouth doesn’t have enough room. Your jaw has isn’t big enough for an extra set of molars.

• You have cavities or gum disease. You may not be able to reach your wisdom teeth when you brush your teeth or floss.

Your Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure: What to Expect

Once it has been determined by your dental care provider that your wisdom teeth need to be removed, you will set up an appointment for removal surgery at a trusted oral and maxillofacial surgeon’s office like West County Dental. Before surgery begins, our dental team will perform a comprehensive medical examination to identify any complications that may need to be addressed before surgery. On the day of your surgery, our dental team will administer local or general anesthesia via oral, inhaled, or intravenous medication to ensure that you feel absolutely no pain during surgery. During surgery, Dr. Spalitto will make small incisions in the gums to remove the wisdom teeth. He will then suture the wounds closed. Surgery itself takes under an hour.

Once surgery is completed, you will likely experience several symptoms, including immediate numbness followed by dull pain in the back of your mouth for several hours to days. You will also need to wear gauze over the incision regions to slow and eventually stop bleeding. In the days following your surgery, it’s important to eat only soft foods and avoid any activity that involves suction as this may lead to dry socket formation. Though swollen cheeks are normal, our dental team can prescribe you anti-inflammatory medication to mitigate swelling and symptoms of pain.

It can be very important for your oral health to have Wisdom Teeth removed at the right time. Please call West County Dental today for any questions or to schedule an appointment.