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My Teenager is Getting Their Wisdom Teeth Removed. What Should I Know?

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During the teen years, many people get their wisdom teeth removed. If your child’s dentist in Scottsdale, AZ, has recommended wisdom tooth removal for your teenager, you may have questions about how you can help your child through this procedure.

The first thing to know is that wisdom tooth removal is common and that dentists know how to do this procedure with minimal discomfort for patients. Below are some of the things you should do to prepare for your child’s wisdom tooth removal.

What should I do to prepare in advance?

There are many things you can do to prepare in advance for your child’s wisdom tooth removal. Plan for your child to fast for the 8 hours before the procedure. You may need to help your child plan for this by ensuring that your child gets a sufficient meal before the fasting period.

Once your child comes home, they’ll need to avoid certain foods. It’s best if your child starts off after their procedure by drinking only. When they’re ready to eat, they should eat foods like oatmeal, mashed potatoes, ice cream, milkshakes, yogurt, and smoothies. Have these foods on hand, so your child will have something to eat when the time comes.

Will it hurt?

Most patients don’t feel discomfort during the procedure. When the procedure is over, your child’s dentist may recommend over-the-counter pain medication or prescription pain medication. You may need to pick up the prescription for your child. Follow the dentist’s recommendations to manage the pain. If the discomfort becomes worse, talk to the dentist.

How long does the procedure take?

The dental procedure may take only 20 to 30 minutes if your child has just one tooth removed. If the dentist is removing all four teeth, the procedure may take 45 minutes or more.

Do you have questions about wisdom teeth removal in Scottsdale, AZ? The dentist can help. To get started with your child’s wisdom teeth removal, call today to make an appointment. We can help you understand the procedure and can give you more information about how to prepare for your child’s wisdom teeth removal.

Do My Teenager’s Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

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Are your child’s wisdom teeth growing? If so, now may be a good time to take them to the dentist in Scottsdale, AZ. Your child’s dentist can help you decide if wisdom teeth removal is appropriate for your child. Below are some of the things you need to know about wisdom teeth and how removal may benefit your child.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

The wisdom teeth are the third set of molars to grow in the mouth. Wisdom teeth usually erupt from the gums around the time that a person reaches adulthood.

Do Wisdom Teeth Serve a Purpose?

Wisdom teeth can provide support for the teeth at the back of the jaw while also stimulating the jaw itself. However, most people don’t actually need their wisdom teeth in order to maintain healthy teeth, gums, and jaw.

Should My Teenager’s Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?

The decision to remove your child’s wisdom teeth depends on the teeth and how they’re affecting other teeth when they come in. Some people never need their wisdom teeth removed. Often, wisdom teeth are unable to fully erupt. This can cause tooth decay and pain or even a dental infection. Sometimes, wisdom teeth are able to fully erupt, but when this happens, they cause other teeth to become misaligned.

Your child’s dentist can anticipate some of these problems by watching the progress of your child’s wisdom teeth through X-rays and regular checkups. If your child’s dentist recommends wisdom tooth removal, it is either because the dentist wants to be cautious and protect your child’s other teeth or because the dentist can see the wisdom creating problems in your child’s mouth.

Signs Wisdom Teeth Should Come Out

Some signs that your child’s wisdom teeth should come out include:

  • Pain in the jaw, neck, and head
  • Dental decay in the back of the mouth
  • Bad breath that won’t go away
  • Teeth in the front are becoming crooked

If your child’s dentist recommends wisdom tooth extraction in Scottsdale, AZ, talk to the dentist to learn more about that recommendation. Working together with the dentist, you should be able to make the right decision for your child.

Do Your Wisdom Teeth Need Removal If They’re Not Impacted?

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It’s a common practice for dentists in Scottsdale, AZ, to remove wisdom teeth from their patients, though it’s important for everyone to know the reasons behind the removal. If the wisdom teeth are impacted (meaning they have not fully emerged from the gum line), this can not only be painful for the patient, but it can also push on the other teeth, causing them to crowd together.

In the case of extreme pain or imminent danger, the path forward is pretty clear to both the patient and the dentist. Of course, this is not the whole story, as wisdom teeth can still be removed even if they’re not impacted. If you’re wondering why else a dentist will recommend the procedure, we’ll look at how a dentist typically evaluates the patient.

Key Indicators

The dentist typically looks at your mouth and considers the following indicators:

  • Spacing: Your wisdom teeth may come in at the wrong angle, which will cause anything from overcrowding to bite issues. It can even lead to pain if the wisdom teeth are bearing down on the adjacent teeth.
  • Cleaning: Cleaning your wisdom teeth is difficult, even if they come in perfectly. If it’s difficult to keep up with the regime, then a dentist may remove them to reduce the odds of decay and gum disease.
  • Jaw: Some people’s jaws are large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, but others will have smaller jaws that simply don’t have the space. In addition, there are wisdom teeth that can impact the health of your jaw. While rare, the dentist may recommend removal if there are any bone or nerve issues.

Wisdom Teeth Removal in Scottsdale

If you’re interested in wisdom teeth removal in Scottsdale, AZ, the dentist will want to look at your general oral health before evaluating the next steps. If you’re older, it’s worth noting that complications are more likely. If you’re more at risk for tooth decay and gum disease, removal may be your best option. At Dr. Pete N. Mellas, DMD, you’ll work with a staff that can answer your questions so you can feel comfortable about whatever decision you make.

When Wisdom Teeth Require Oral Surgery

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Are you thinking about wisdom tooth removal surgery? If you’re experiencing jaw pain, sinus pain, swelling around the jaw, or generalized discomfort, it’s time to book an exam with your periodontist in Scottsdale, AZ. Wisdom teeth could be to blame.

Wisdom teeth are your very back molars that usually erupt during the teenage or young adult years, and they also happen to be the largest teeth humans can grow. The angle at which they erupt may become problematic. If left for too long, the effects of crooked or crowded wisdom teeth may cause gum disease, inflamed gums, tooth decay, and more. But this is easily fixed with removal surgery.

Impacted or Erupted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted or erupted wisdom teeth can cause quite a few issues, including:

  • Crowding of teeth: The teeth have shifted around, closer than they should be to one another.
  • Misalignment of teeth: As the wisdom tooth grows, it can shift all the other teeth out of line with each other.
  • Infection and gum disease: Partially erupted wisdom teeth can create pockets around gum tissue, creating space for bacteria to build up. This can lead to infections, inflammation, and gum disease.
  • Chronic pain: Pain and discomfort stemming from wisdom teeth is important to address, as it can affect your quality of life.

Oral surgery is often recommended to extract problematic wisdom teeth, reducing the risk of infections and preserving the health and appearance of your smile.

What to Know About Wisdom Tooth Surgery

It’s important to consider wisdom tooth extractions for your overall oral health. Regular dental check-ups and X-rays help identify problematic wisdom teeth early on for preventative care. During tooth extraction surgery, the patient is sedated, so it isn’t painful, and recovery usually takes one to two weeks.

If you or someone you know is experiencing pain swelling or requires wisdom tooth removal in Scottsdale, AZ, we’ve got you covered. At Dr. Pete Mellas Periodontist, we offer wisdom tooth removal services that will alleviate pain, discomfort, and other symptoms caused by impacted or erupted wisdom teeth. Additionally, we offer dental implants, bone and soft tissue grafting, implant-supported dentures, and more. Call today to schedule an appointment with a member of our experienced and professional team.

Should You or Shouldn’t You Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?

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Every dentist in Scottsdale, AZ, is different. Some will recommend removing your wisdom teeth regardless of whether they might cause you problems now or going forward. Dentists make this recommendation to ensure you don’t ever have any issues caused by your wisdom teeth. However, every case is different. So let’s go over when you might want to have your wisdom teeth removed and when it might be OK to leave them alone.

When You Should Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

If you have impacted wisdom teeth with any of the following signs and symptoms, your dentist will probably recommend a wisdom tooth removal in Scottsdale, AZ.

  • Tooth pain.
  • Repeated oral infections in the wisdom tooth area.
  • Gum cysts.
  • Damage to other teeth.
  • Inflamed gums.
  • Cavities.
  • Jaw damage.
  • Sinus issues.
  • Tooth alignment issues.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth without Symptoms

Your periodontist in Scottsdale, AZ, will perform a dental exam and dental X-rays to determine if you have impacted wisdom teeth. They will look for the following signs that you might have an impacted wisdom tooth, even if you don’t have any symptoms.

  • Swollen gums around your jaw.
  • Jaw pain.
  • Bad breath.
  • Bleeding gums.
  • Difficulty opening your mouth.
  • Bad taste in your mouth.

The Different Types of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

There are six different types of impacted wisdom teeth. Mesial, vertical, horizontal, distal, bony, or soft tissue impaction. So your periodontist will examine your teeth and then talk with you about which of these impactions relate to your situation. They will then discuss with you what needs to be done to correct it.

When Wisdom Teeth Might Not Need to Be Removed

Some dentists believe that if your wisdom teeth aren’t causing you any problems or are not likely to cause problems in the future, they don’t need to be removed.

However, before deciding, your dentist will look to see if your wisdom teeth are healthy, if they have grown in completely (erupted), if they are positioned properly, aren’t currently causing any bite problems, and if they are in a position to where they can be easily cleaned. If all these things check out, you might not need to have your wisdom teeth removed.

Do You Need a Dentist in Scottsdale, AZ?

If you need a dentist in Scottsdale, AZ, please Contact Dr. Pete Mellas Periodontist, today. We employ a standard of excellence that starts with building a foundation of trust with our patients and then providing them with a relaxing and positive experience.