Since 1972, our expert dentists have pulled a few teeth a week – that’s a few thousand teeth pulled a year over the 45 years time that we have been offering dental care. Call Carson & Carson, DDS today 1-805-983-0717 to schedule a wisdom tooth removal from some of the most experienced dentists in all of Oxnard & California. Our offices are fitted with state of the art dental CT Scan and digital radiography equipment; so we are properly equipped to detect and remove wisdom teeth before they become a problem.
At Carson & Carson, DDS, we understand that having a wisdom tooth removed can be a stressful experience. Both of our dentists are board certified in IV & IM Sedation so we are able provide our patients a stress free option for those who want to sleep through this type of procedure. For more information on the removal of non wisdom teeth, visit our tooth extractions page.
Reasons for Removing Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are not a problem for everyone, but can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort for some unlucky individuals. Your wisdom teeth are a 3rd set of molars that grow in at the back of your mouth and issues with your other teeth. The main reasons for having your wisdom teeth removed are:
- There is not enough space in your mouth for a 3rd set of molars. Your jaw needs ample space to house an additional, 3rd set of molars, and many people simply don’t have the space for their wisdom teeth.
- The wisdom teeth have become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can grow in improperly because they are so far back in your mouth and deep in your jaw. They can grow into the jawbone and become impacted or trapped beneath the gum which can cause pain and complications leading to dental infection.
- Your wisdom teeth can grow in at the wrong angle. Wisdom teeth can grow in at odd angles which can cause them to grow into other teeth and bring about excruciating pain. These wisdom teeth can severely damage other teeth and cause infections inside of your gums.
- The inaccessibility and spacing of wisdom teeth can cause them to decay. Because many wisdom teeth have little space to grow and come in at odd angles, they can be extremely hard to reach with a toothbrush or flossing and can decay as a result.
- Wisdom teeth that are not removed and do not erupt from the gums can develop cancerous growth. According to some studies, there is a 25% chance that wisdom teeth that never erupt, but are left in the mouth can develop cancerous growth in the epithelial lining around the wisdom tooth.
Although it can be an expensive procedure, the complications from not having your wisdom teeth removed can be life threatening. More often than not, wisdom teeth become a harmful entity to the neighboring teeth in your mouth and your well-being as a whole.
Request an AppointmentWhen to Get Wisdom Teeth Removed
The removal of wisdom teeth is becoming necessary more often than it used to because many modern diets lack an appropriate amount of vitamin K2, which allows for the full development of the jaw and space created for wisdom teeth to grow in properly. In the 45 years that we have been a practicing dentistry in Oxnard, we have seen very few individuals whose wisdom teeth did not have be removed. There is also a small percentage of the population who never have to have to worry about wisdom teeth removal because they were luckily born without any wisdom teeth.
Impacted wisdom teeth are best removed before the formation of the root can occur. Since these teeth develop from the crown downward, it is possible to remove them before a root is formed resulting in a much easier surgery and recovery process. This time can be different for everyone, so it is best to check with your dentist to find the ideal time to get your wisdom teeth removed.
The largest factor to consider when thinking about getting your wisdom teeth removed is whether or not they are going to cause damage if they are not removed in the future. It can be a tricky job to predict the future spacial interaction between your teeth, almost always making it a safer option to simply have your wisdom teeth removed if there is even a slight chance that they will not grow in properly.
Typically, the sooner they are removed, the better. For many patients, the removal of wisdom teeth is mostly covered by dental insurance and can be done easily during the late teen years of age.
Oral Surgery for Wisdom Teeth Removal
At Carson & Carson, DDS, we are certified sleep dentists with over 60+ years of combined experience in oral surgery. We offer all of our patients the option of being numb or asleep during their wisdom tooth removal. This involves either a local anesthetic where just the area around your mouth is numbed, or a general anesthetic given through IV Sedation which will knock you out for the entirety of the surgery and will require you to be driven home afterward.
You can opt in for the option to receive a bone graft, a transplant of bone tissue, which can help your second molars avoid the sensitivity to cold and sugary drinks by giving them the support that is structural support that is otherwise removed with the wisdom teeth.
Tips for Recovery – Avoiding Infection & Dry Socket
The first 3 days after surgery can be rough depending on how difficult it was to extract your wisdom teeth. For most of the patients we’ve treated, the recovery time has been shorter than 1 week.
For a short and smooth recovery, remember to:
- Brush your teeth starting the second day after surgery. Be careful not to brush directly on the area where the blood clot has formed from the removal of a wisdom tooth.
- If you are in pain, take an over the counter or prescribed pain reliever. We offer many of our patients a stronger, prescription level pain reliever for wisdom tooth removal procedures.
- Stick to a diet of soft foods such as: pasta, rice, soup, Jell-O, pudding, and ice cream. Pair this diet with the intake of plenty of fluids, and you will be well on your way to recovering in a week’s time.
- Open and close your mouth gently. When chewing food or exercising your jaw, avoid clenching your teeth or biting down with excessive force within a week of having wisdom teeth removed.
- Call your dentist immediately if you are experiencing swelling, a fever, or pain that does not show signs of improving within a day.
Things to avoid during recovery:
- Straws and sucking in general. Sucking or drinking through a straw can loosen the blood clot that has developed in your mouth, and doing so can cause excessive bleeding and dry socket. Dry Socket is an uncomfortable condition that can develop when the blood clot is dislodged and the wound has not healed properly. It is seen in a small number (2-5%) of individuals who have a tooth removed and can be quite painful when left untreated. This condition usually develops within 2 days of the wisdom tooth extraction and is fairly easy to treat with professional help from your dentist.
- Avoid eating sticky, hard, or crunchy foods that can scratch or damage the wounds in your mouth.
- If you’re a smoker, then don’t smoke during the recovery process. Smoking can inhibit the proper healing of the wounds in your mouth and can cause complications that lead to infection.
For Affordable Wisdom Teeth Removal, Call the Oral Surgeons at Carson & Carson, DDS
For a quick and easy wisdom tooth removal, give us a call 1-805-983-0717 at Carson & Carson, DDS. Our two dentists have over 60+ years of combined experience performing oral surgery for various conditions and have treated thousands for the removal of wisdom teeth. Trust the premiere Oxnard dentist with over 4 decades of experience in the industry at Carson & Carson, DDS, serving all of Ventura County since 1972. IV Sedation is available so you can sleep through your entire surgery.
Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed Without Pain