EXTRACTION IN THE OFFICE
Wisdom Teeth
Removal here in Oak Ridge, under local anesthetic, with nitrous oxide available if you want to feel more relaxed.
Chapter 01
Why a wisdom tooth becomes a problem
Wisdom teeth are the last molars to come in, usually somewhere between the late teens and early twenties, and plenty of jaws just don't have the room for them. A tooth that gets stuck under the gum or leans into its neighbor is called impacted. It can sit there without hurting, which is exactly why people miss it until something flares up.
The trouble usually comes in one of three forms. Crowding can push the teeth in front of it out of line. A tooth that only partly breaks through the gum traps food and bacteria under the flap, and that flap swells and gets infected. And the back surface of the second molar, the one you can't reach with a brush, can start to decay against a tooth that's tilted into it.
We recommend removing potentially problematic wisdom teeth by the age of 18, before the roots are fully formed and the bone around them gets dense. If you're in Oak Ridge and aren't sure whether yours qualify, Dr. Lee at Premier Dental can look at how they're sitting and tell you plainly whether they can stay or should go.
Illustration of a calm treatment room with a dental chair beside a tall window
What removal looks like in the office
The extraction is done right here in the office under local anesthetic, so the area is numb and you're awake but comfortable. If the thought of it makes your stomach tighten, nitrous oxide is available to take the edge off. You'll feel pressure as the tooth is loosened and lifted out, but you shouldn't feel pain, and you can raise a hand any time you need a pause.
Generally the procedure can be completed in 20 minutes or less, though that depends on how many teeth are coming out and how they're positioned. A tooth that has fully erupted often comes out quickly. One tucked under the gum or bone takes more time and a little more care. Dr. Lee will tell you which kind you have before anyone picks up an instrument.
Plan to take the rest of the day easy and bring a ride if you'd feel better not driving. Tell us about your medications and any allergies when you call to schedule, and eat something light beforehand unless we've told you otherwise. Small details like these keep the appointment smooth and the afternoon calm.
Chapter 03
Recovery, and when to pick up the phone
Most people are back to normal in 5 to 7 days, and the gum itself is healed in 3 to 4 weeks. The first two days are the tender ones. Stick to soft, cool food, skip straws and smoking so the blood clot in the socket stays put, and skip rinsing for the first day, then rinse gently with warm salt water. Brush the rest of your mouth as usual.
Some swelling and light oozing are normal. Call us if bleeding keeps soaking gauze after an hour of steady pressure, if swelling or pain gets worse after the third day instead of easing, if you run a fever, or if you notice a bad taste that won't go away. Numbness that hasn't faded by the next day is also worth a call.
The number at Premier Dental in Oak Ridge is (865) 483-1323, and we'd much rather hear from you about something small than have you wait it out at home. If you ever have trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling spreading toward your eye or throat, that's a 911 call, not a call to us.
Premier Dental Associates, 201 Bus Terminal Rd, Oak Ridge. 5.0 on Google from 523 reviews. Call (865) 483-1323.