Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Northbrook, Illinois
Your wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to come in, usually in the late teens or early twenties. Unfortunately, they are notorious for causing oral health problems, which is why they are often extracted. At Northbrook Family Dental, we strive to ensure your comfort and well-being at every step. Contact our Northbrook practice to schedule an evaluation today.
Our Treatments
Why Would You Need to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
For most patients, there isn’t enough room in the jaw to accommodate the third molars, leading to a range of oral health problems. At Northbrook Family Dental, we believe in a conservative approach, recommending extraction only for problematic teeth or for those that have the potential to cause complications.
The following are some reasons why we may recommend wisdom teeth removal:
- Crowding: If your jaw lacks sufficient space to accommodate your third molars, they may erupt at awkward angles, pushing neighboring teeth out of alignment.
- Partial Eruption: When a wisdom tooth emerges only partially, it may form a flap of gum tissue that can trap food particles and bacteria, leading to localized decay, infection, and a painful inflammatory condition known as pericoronitis.
- Impacted Teeth: Wisdom teeth are often trapped beneath the gumline or jawbone, leading to complications such as pain, infections, cysts, bone loss, and even damage to neighboring healthy teeth.
- Pain or Swelling: Chronic discomfort or tenderness at the very back of the mouth is a strong indicator that the teeth are putting pressure on nearby nerves or causing inflammation in the surrounding gum tissue.
- Decay and Infection: Because your wisdom teeth are located at the very back of your mouth, they are often challenging to clean effectively, making them susceptible to decay, gum disease, and infection.
Even if your wisdom teeth are not currently causing discomfort or problems, we may still recommend extraction if they pose a risk of causing future complications.
What About Other Problematic Teeth?
At Northbrook Family Dental, our priority is always to preserve your natural teeth. However, there are times when extraction is the only viable option, including the following:
- Irreparable Damage: When severe decay or trauma destroys too much of a tooth’s structure, removing it may be necessary to prevent further complications.
- Advanced Periodontal Disease: Advanced periodontal disease can destroy the underlying bone and tissues supporting your teeth, causing them to loosen to the point where they can no longer be saved.
- Tooth Fracture: Severe fractures caused by biting down on a hard candy or grinding and clenching your teeth may require extraction, especially if the crack extends vertically below the gumline.
- Crowded Teeth: In some cases, selective extractions are necessary during orthodontic treatment to create the space your remaining teeth need to shift into alignment.
What Is Socket Preservation?
Depending on the location of the extracted tooth, we may recommend a procedure known as socket preservation. This involves placing a bone grafting material in your extracted tooth’s socket immediately after removing it to prevent the bone deterioration and loss that naturally occur after tooth loss. This helps maintain the shape and volume of your jawbone and your natural contours, and prevents complications during healing. It also ensures the success of future tooth replacements, such as dental implants.
Aftercare Tips to Enhance Healing and Recovery
The following are some general guidelines to support healing and ensure a smooth recovery:
- Make sure to follow the aftercare instructions we provide.
- Avoid using straws, spitting, or smoking for the first 48 hours to prevent dislodging the clot forming in the tooth’s socket, which can lead to a painful complication known as dry socket.
- Stick to soft foods or drinks like smoothies, mashed potatoes, applesauce or yogurt for a few days.
- Avoid spicy or hot foods to prevent irritation at the extraction site.
- Use cold compresses as needed to manage swelling.
- Rinse gently with warm salt water starting the day after your extraction.
- Call us if pain or swelling seems to be getting worse instead of better.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction Near Me in Northbrook, IL
If you or your teen needs a wisdom tooth or another tooth extracted, contact Northbrook Family Dental to schedule a consultation. With our modern anesthetics, sedation dentistry options, and advanced techniques, you can count on us for care you can trust and a patient experience that exceeds your expectations.
We invite you to call us at (847) 498-5970 to schedule your appointment or request one online today!
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Whether you are looking for a new dental home for your family, exploring your options for dental implants, or just overdue for a cleaning, we are here and ready to help. Give us a call to schedule your first appointment.