If you are dealing with tooth pain, gum disease, crowding, infection, or decay, your wisdom teeth could be to blame. These are all signs you need to have your wisdom teeth removed. If you do have any of these symptoms, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible. The dentist can examine your wisdom teeth and determine if extraction is needed. At Frederick Dental Group, Dr. Dave Verma and Dr. Arpana Verma are your dentists for oral surgery in Frederick, MD.

Reasons for Removing Wisdom Teeth

One of the primary reasons wisdom teeth are removed is pain. Impacted or crowded wisdom teeth can cause extensive pain and discomfort. Extracting those teeth ultimately alleviates the pain and discomfort. Other reasons for removing wisdom teeth include:

• The wisdom teeth erupt only partially and are considered impacted.
• Crowding occurs following the eruption of the wisdom teeth due to insufficient space.
• The wisdom teeth become infected or develop areas of decay.
• Extensive pain and discomfort develop following full or partial eruption of the wisdom teeth.

Removal of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth can be removed by a dentist who performs oral surgery in Frederick. The procedure is performed in the dental office. Patients are usually given a sedative and/or local anesthetic to minimize pain during the procedure. The procedure can take a few hours, depending on whether some or all of the wisdom teeth are being removed.

Following extraction of the wisdom teeth, it is best to recover at home for a few days prior to resuming normal activities. Either over-the-counter or prescription pain medications can alleviate pain or discomfort, while applying an ice pack to the cheeks helps minimize bruising and swelling. Gauze pads can be used for any bleeding that occurs. In addition to pain medications, ice packs, and gauze pads, rinsing the mouth with salt water multiples per day is also helpful.

Signs you need to have your wisdom teeth removed include experiencing pain or discomfort following eruption, or developing crowding, infection, gum disease, or decay. To find out if your wisdom teeth require extraction, schedule an exam with either Drs. Dave and Arapana Verma by calling Frederick Dental Group, your center for oral surgery in Frederick, MD, at (301) 624-1001.