Wisdom Teeth Removal in Grand Rapids, MI

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

A wisdom tooth is one of three molars that exist in each quadrant of our mouths, which generally emerge from the rearmost area of the jaw. They are called wisdom teeth because they emerge later than most permanent teeth, usually in the late teens or early twenties. Despite their unfavorable reputation as unwanted and painful, many wisdom teeth appear natural and help you chew food.

What Is an Impacted Tooth?

The infamous problems caused by wisdom teeth occur when they don’t have enough room to emerge. Under these conditions, the wisdom tooth becomes impacted, meaning one of your other molars prevents it from emerging from the gums properly. There are four types of wisdom tooth impaction:

• Soft Tissue – the gums cover too much of the tooth, preventing adequate cleaning and allowing bacteria to form.
• Complete Bony – the tooth cannot emerge from the gums, and generally requires surgery to remove.
• Partial Bony – the tooth has not emerged completely, hindering your ability to bite and chew, which leads to problems elsewhere in the mouth.

When Is It Important to Remove Wisdom Teeth?

Severely impacted wisdom teeth may require removal to prevent permanent damage to the gums and surrounding teeth. As an impacted molar pushes against its neighbors, gaps can form that allow bacteria to thrive, which can lead to more serious wisdom teeth symptoms like gum disease, tooth decay, infection, and moderate to severe pain. The latter is generally the number one reason people elect to have their wisdom teeth removed since the pain of teeth pushing against each other can severely hinder your quality of life. These concerns can easily become more serious problems and will affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep, which in turn increases stress levels and negatively affects your personal and professional life.

The Benefits of Removing Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth removal carries the following benefits:

• The elimination of pain caused by wisdom tooth eruption
• Preventing infection caused by impacted wisdom teeth
• Avoiding bite malformation caused by crowding of the teeth
• Avoiding infections that lead to other oral maladies like cysts and gum disease
• Maintaining your smile and long-term oral health

The Wisdom Teeth Removal Process

Preliminary assessments for wisdom tooth removal involve physical examinations and x-rays to determine the best course of action. This course will take the shape of a treatment plan, which will be explained in detail so you understand each step from the initial consultation up to wisdom teeth removal recovery.

When it is time for the procedure, you do not need to restrict your eating and can go about life as normal before your appointment. Dr. Olszewski suggests that you have a light meal an hour or so before the appointment. The procedure itself is kept as painless as possible, using modern surgical tools. A wisdom tooth removal procedure usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour.

We will provide you with the means to manage pain afterward. Anesthesia effects can last for several hours after the surgery is completed, so any potentially harmful activities should be avoided until the following day, such as driving or operating machinery.

Contact Us for a Consultation Today

For more information about how we can help with extracting your wisdom teeth, contact us using the form on our contact page, or call us at (616) 949-1700. We’d be happy to walk you through the process and set up an in-person consultation to go over the details.