Wisdom Teeth Removal in Greenville, SC

We recommend having a wisdom teeth evaluation and consult with a CT Scan here in our office around the age of 16. Dr. Daniel Nickles will show you on a monitor your wisdom teeth and their position.  Wisdom teeth are the final set of permanent molars that erupt through the gums during adulthood. You might get your wisdom teeth in your late teens or twenties. When properly aligned, wisdom teeth act as a great asset but very often they are poorly aligned and need removal. Wisdom teeth in most of the cases don't have enough room to accommodate themselves. This leads to their horizontal alignment that damages the nerves, adjacent teeth, and the surrounding jawbone. 

In many scenarios, wisdom teeth are impacted. They don't fully erupt through the gums and are enclosed beneath the soft tissues and the jawbone. This partial eruption creates an opening through the gums and allows bacteria to enter the gum tissue and cause infections. You should get your wisdom teeth removed because:

• Wisdom teeth cause crowding in the mouth and lead to shifting and drifting of other teeth. This misaligns the bite.
• Impacted teeth are hard to brush or floss and are more prone to decay and cavities. 
• A feeling of tightness and stiffness is experienced and jaw movement becomes difficult.
• You may also experience pain, swelling, redness or abscess formation. 

Removal of wisdom teeth should be done early when the roots have not fully formed and the surrounding bone is soft. Removing fully developed wisdom teeth is complicated and might damage the nerves.

What is the Procedure of Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Wisdom teeth removal is performed by Dr. Daniel Nickles. First, a CT Scan is done to evaluate the alignment of your wisdom teeth. You may get your teeth removed in any of the following ways:

Non-surgical Extraction

A wisdom tooth that has completely erupted from the gums is extracted without a surgical procedure. Under oral sedation, Dr. Daniel Nickles will numb the tooth and surrounding tissue.

Surgical Extraction

Wisdom teeth or Impacted teeth are removed via surgery. Under oral sedation Dr. Daniel Nickles will numb the tooth and surrounding tissue.

Wisdom Teeth: Aftercare

 Following the given aftercare tips will make your life easier and accelerate the healing procedure.

• In case of bleeding, bite on moist gauze for 45 minutes. For 24 hours after the extraction refrain from sucking through straws, forcefully spitting and vigorous rinsing to avoid dislodging the clot.
• Displacement of the clot leads to a dry socket which involves pain and unpleasant mouth odor.  
• Rinse your mouth with peridex and salt water for relaxing the treated area. 
• The region near the extraction site may experience swelling. Use ice packs (15 mins on and off) on the area to reduce it.
• Take the prescribed medications. 
• Follow a liquid diet until your anesthesia completely wears off. Have soft foods for a few days after the surgery. 
• Continue flossing and brushing but avoid touching the surgical site.

For further inqueries, visit us at www.nicklesdental.com or book an appointment with us at (864) 244-3211.