412-366-2090

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Pittsburgh, PA

Gentle Wisdom Tooth Extraction

The average mouth is built to hold 28 teeth, each tooth with its own specific function. However, we have four additional teeth that usually erupt during our teenage years. These are known as third molars or wisdom teeth.

Though wisdom teeth may erupt without any issues for some patients, this is rare. Most mouths can’t hold 32 teeth, leading to pain and other issues. That’s why we recommend having your wisdom teeth removed before they impact your health.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

An impacted wisdom tooth is the result of insufficient room in the mouth for the tooth to develop and erupt properly. In some cases, the tooth is only partially impacted—meaning that part of the tooth was able to emerge from the gums.

If a tooth is fully impacted, it may have grown in at an angle. The angled growth causes the tooth to push on it’s neighboring tooth, or even grow at a right angle to other teeth. It’s also possible for fully impacted wisdom teeth to grow at a proper angle but remain dangerously lodged in the jawbone.

Complications from impacted wisdom teeth may include damage to nearby teeth or the jawbone, tooth decay, gum disease, and the formation of cysts. The best treatment for an impacted wisdom tooth is removal.

Types of Impactions

When wisdom teeth don’t erupt properly in your gums, they become impacted. There are several different types of impacted wisdom teeth, some of which include:

Mesial — the crown of the wisdom tooth is angled towards the front of your mouth with the roots pressed against a neighboring tooth
Distal — the crown of the wisdom tooth is angled towards the back of your mouth with the roots pressed against a neighboring tooth
Horizontal — the wisdom tooth is on its side with the crown pressed against an adjacent tooth
Soft-Tissue — most or all of the wisdom tooth is trapped beneath your gum tissue
Hard-Tissue (Bony Impaction)—most or all of the wisdom tooth is trapped in the jawbone. If it is completely encased in the jawbone it may not need to be removed

Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to a variety of debilitating health problems, including severe pain, oral infections, a misaligned bite, and more. That’s why we recommend having them removed before any issues develop.

asian woman painfully grasping cheek in need of TMJ treatment

Symptoms of an Impacted Wisdom Tooth

Common symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth include:

Pain in the jaw or face
Bleeding gums
Numbness
Headaches
Difficulty opening the jaw
Bad breath
Swollen glands in the neck

Bi-annual dental examinations and yearly X-rays are the best way to prevent the pain and health complications that impacted wisdom teeth can cause. Consistent check-ups allow our dentists to identify potential issues and treat them proactively.

Our Wisdom Tooth Removal Process

Before your procedure begins, we’ll administer local or general anesthesia to ensure you don’t feel any pain. While you’re anesthetized, one of our dentists will gently remove your wisdom teeth and then stitch up your gum tissue. We’ll also provide a pad of gauze to bite down on, minimizing the bleeding.

We highly encourage you to make transportation arrangements prior to your operation as you may still feel the effects of the anesthesia for a period of time afterward. While you recover, you’ll be under the expert care of our dental team until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off enough for you to head home safely.

We’ll send you home with a post-op kit that will include care instructions, antibiotics, and a prescription for pain medication. To ensure the extraction went smoothly, we’ll also recommend that you schedule a follow-up appointment for the next week.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

After the procedure, the extraction site will be more vulnerable to infection so it’s vital to take proper care of your mouth. We’ll provide you with detailed instructions during your visit, but in general, we suggest the following guidelines:

Changing the gauze pad as needed
Taking pain medications as prescribed
Resting for 24 hours following the procedure
Avoiding the use of straws
Avoiding rinsing, spitting, or sucking on anything for 24 hours
Avoiding smoking and drinking
Avoiding the extraction site while brushing and flossing

Generally, wisdom teeth extractions go without complications, however, you should be on the lookout for one condition following your procedure—dry socket.

Surgical Instructions For Post Wisdom Teeth Care

Following the extraction, a blood clot will form to protect the empty socket from food debris and bacteria. The underlying bone is exposed and it becomes easier for infections to set in. Although rare, sometimes the blood clot can become dislodged. If, when you look inside your mouth, you see whitish bone instead of the clot, it’s best to make an appointment with us so that we can clean and fill the socket with a medicated dressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best age to have my wisdom teeth removed?

Does everybody need to have their wisdom teeth removed?

What is the best age to have my wisdom teeth removed?

For most people, the third molars erupt during their late teenage years or the early twenties. The majority of our patients have their wisdom teeth extracted when they’re in high school, shortly after the teeth have erupted.

While it’s possible to have wisdom teeth removed at a later stage, patients who postpone extraction may increase their risk of further problems. This may include infection, damage to surrounding teeth, and even nerve damage.

Does everybody need to have their wisdom teeth removed?

No—not everybody needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, fully erupted, not impacting surrounding teeth, and you can clean them properly with normal dental hygiene, you may never need to have them removed.

However, if you have impacted wisdom teeth, you’ll want them to be removed as soon as possible. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced dentists by calling (412) 366-2090 and we’ll have you on the road to recovery in no time.

Visit Dr. Dugan & Dr. Sweeney for Wisdom Teeth Removal

If you have impacted wisdom teeth, it’s essential to get them removed as soon as possible. Both of our dentists are experienced oral surgeons who will ensure you receive comfortable treatment that delivers dependable results.

Call our Pittsburge office at (412) 366-2090 and schedule your consultation today— we look forward to helping you.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Pittsburgh, PA

Gentle Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Questions / Comments

Types of Impactions

Symptoms of an Impacted Wisdom Tooth

Our Wisdom Tooth Removal Process

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

Surgical Instructions For Post Wisdom Teeth Care

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best age to have my wisdom teeth removed?

Does everybody need to have their wisdom teeth removed?

Visit Dr. Dugan & Dr. Sweeney for Wisdom Teeth Removal

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