At Phinney Ridge Dental, we believe in preserving your oral health, even if that means removing a wisdom tooth. The emergence of wisdom teeth can be problematic because the mouth is too narrow to accommodate these third molars.
Many people often feel nervous about wisdom tooth extractions, but they’re entirely painless. Our caring and gentle team of dental professionals are highly skilled in performing pain-free procedures at our Seattle dental office.
Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?
With age comes wisdom, and often, wisdom teeth. Many moons ago, our ancestors used their molars, including wisdom teeth, to bite and chew raw, coarse, or uncooked foods necessary for survival.
However, people no longer use their wisdom teeth because our food is cooked, processed, and chewed more easily. Now, wisdom teeth can crowd our mouths and narrow our jaws.
Who Has Wisdom Teeth?
Throughout our lives, our mouth undergoes many changes. One of our significant milestones is the appearance of third molars or wisdom teeth. This usually happens between the ages of 17 and 21, according to the American Dental Association. However, anyone at nearly any age can have wisdom teeth, while others may not have any at all. Even if you have healthy wisdom teeth, they can still harbor disease or lead to dental health or hygiene issues down the road.
Reasons for Wisdom Tooth Removal
Wisdom teeth extractions may be necessary if any of the following things occur or are at high risk of occurring:
- Pain
- Infection
- Cysts
- Tumors
- Damage to neighboring teeth
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay
- Impaction
Healthy, aligned, and well-positioned wisdom teeth may not pose an immediate threat to one’s oral health. However, if wisdom teeth ever cause discomfort or pain, you must see your dentist right away.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Seattle
If you are looking for a skilled and gentle dentist who performs tooth extractions in Seattle, you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Micah Bickel at Phinney Ridge Dental has several years of experience successfully and painlessly removing wisdom teeth in patients.
Before performing the procedure, Dr. Bickel and our team numb the area and administer anesthesia to avoid any pain or discomfort. We then disinfect the area, gently remove the tooth, and prepare the gum tissue for healing.
Healing may take up to two weeks. Your dentist will provide you with detailed information on proper care, dietary restrictions, risks, pain management, and more so you have a complete and speedy recovery.
Contact us today to learn more about wisdom tooth extractions at our Seattle dental practice.