Wisdom Teeth Removal in Markham

Wisdom teeth get the nickname ‘wisdom’ due to the fact that they usually erupt when the person is around 17 to 25 years old—the early adulthood. However, there’s no set rule about this.

Some people can have all four wisdom teeth erupt, and some others might not grow any wisdom teeth at all. There is still an ongoing debate of the cause. Some believe that it’s due to genetic mutation, some others believe it’s a proof of human evolution.

Nevertheless, with up to 85% of the population requiring wisdom tooth extraction, it is well accepted that wisdom teeth today is no longer a necessity, but an obsolete relic.

There are indeed cases where wisdom teeth can grow fully without any problem at all. In these cases, usually the person possesses a wider jaw and so more space on the gums to accommodate the wisdom teeth growth. However, this doesn’t happen to many people, as various studies have suggested that our jaws are getting smaller and smaller.

This is mainly caused by our diet, as in this modern age we eat much “easier” food than our ancestors, with less effort to chew, our jaws have adapted to become smaller. This is why the third set of molars—the wisdom teeth are losing their space to grow into, leading to various possible complications.

Here are various problems that can occur when a wisdom tooth can’t grow properly:

• Incomplete eruption - the tooth’s crown is not able to fully surface through the gums, and so the wounded area on the gums are left open. This area is now more exposed to infection and inflammation, causing discomfort and pain.
• Impacted teeth - ‘impacted’ wisdom teeth are, in a nutshell, wisdom teeth that grow in an angle, pressing the adjacent tooth or angling towards the back of the mouth. Impacted teeth are more prone to infection, and can cause severe pain. In many cases, the condition might push the adjacent tooth and cause misalignment, requiring cosmetic and restorative treatments.
• Recurring pain - there are cases where even when the tooth is fully grown without any issue, it can cause pain that keeps resurfacing for years. This is usually caused by gums that are not properly healed or misalignment, creating an exposed area of the gums that are prone to damage.
• Pericoronitis - the soft tissues of the gums can experience inflammation due to the incomplete eruption of wisdom tooth, and this can develop into cysts and even tumorous growth. The wisdom tooth, in this case, must be extracted to reduce the pressure on the surrounding gum tissue, encouraging healing to optimal health.
• Infection - the wisdom teeth, positioned at the very back of the mouth, are more prone to infection because they are harder to clean. During improper growth, spaces between the wisdom tooth and the adjacent tooth can cause bacterial buildup as food debris collects and develop plaque and tartar.

Your wisdom tooth or teeth must be extracted in two main cases: First, is when the tooth is already causing pain, discomfort, or worse, when it’s already infected and no other treatment is possible. The second is if the tooth might risk complications in the future.

Consult one of our dentists at Markham Smile Centre to discuss your options, and whether you can keep the wisdom tooth without any future risks.

Impaction — when the tooth grows at an angle or even sideways, is the most common cause of wisdom tooth extraction.

Impaction, and improper eruption through the gums, can increase the risks of decay, inflammation, and infection, and can also affect the condition of the surrounding teeth and gum tissue.

Impacted wisdom teeth might not cause any immediate issue at first, aside from mild to moderate pain and discomfort. However, it can lead to further complications in the future.

Here are some common symptoms from an impacted wisdom tooth:

• Swollen and inflamed gums
• Unpleasant, metallic taste in the mouth
• Bad breath due to foul odor coming from the area surrounding the tooth
• Difficulty chewing, unpleasant bite
• Mild to severe pain and/or discomfort when opening (and closing) the mouth

The wisdom teeth can become impacted mainly due to the lack of available space to grow. Since the third molars are the last adult teeth to erupt, often there is only enough space for the existing teeth.

On the other hand, the wisdom tooth is naturally programmed to find space to grow and push through the gums, even if it means pushing against the adjacent tooth or growing in the wrong direction to the back of the mouth. This, cause sideway growth.

Due to the smaller, narrower jaw of modern humans (as discussed above), the wisdom tooth can grow at an angle or completely sideways. When the wisdom tooth’s crown is pressed against the adjacent tooth, it is creating a condition we refer to as ‘impacted’. The wisdom tooth is constantly pressing against the other tooth, surrounding gum tissue, and even the jawbone, causing misalignment, malocclusion, decay, pain, and ultimately, infections.

While we can speculate whether you’ve got an impacted tooth via the symptoms, the best way to confirm your condition is by taking an x-ray.

At Markham Smile Centre, our professional dentists can help diagnose your condition, perform an x-ray, and plan the necessary treatments if you currently suffer from impacted wisdom teeth.

It is very common for patients to have a problematic wisdom tooth, but not ready to have it extracted.

The thing is, the risks of complications and issues we have discussed above won’t disappear with time, but the wisdom teeth-related issues might develop further as we age.

Consult our dentists at Markham Smile Centre to discuss your options if you decide not to pull out the wisdom tooth or teeth. We can provide all the necessary information and especially how you should take care of the wisdom tooth to prevent further damage and complications in the future.

When you decide against extracting the tooth, proper cleaning and taking care of the tooth must be maintained to prevent the risks of tooth decay, inflammation, and infection.

In the cases of impacted wisdom teeth, leaving the impacted tooth as it is for too long might cause misalignment of the surrounding teeth, overcrowding, and crooked teeth. In these cases, unless it’s absolutely impossible, extraction is always preferred.

Not only impacted wisdom tooth can cause various cosmetic and aesthetic issues, the change in adjacent tooth’s position can cause malocclusion, impacting the strength and alignment of your bite, and increasing the risks of decay and infection. Misalignment might cause some areas of your teeth to be inaccessible to conventional oral cleaning methods (brushing and flossing), increasing the risks of bacterial buildups.

Also, we have to consider that if we choose to keep the wisdom tooth, and it ends up causing misalignments, the required treatment in the future to restore alignment will be significantly more expensive (and the wisdom tooth must be extracted to allow the treatment anyways).

In such cases, you might need to undergo expensive orthodontic treatments (i.e. wearing braces or dental implant) to restore the malocclusion and prevent further complications. The more you wait, you might need to pay more in the future.

Indeed, wisdom tooth extraction can be relatively expensive and painful. However, our dental professionals at Markham Smile Centre can help with affordable and effective extraction treatment, and provide all the necessary information to help you plan ahead. Our friendly dentists will prepare you before the process to ensure that you are comfortable with the treatment, including the recovery period.

This is probably the most common question asked by patients suffering from wisdom teeth-related issues.

First, we have to understand that there can be at least two different types of extractions: when the wisdom tooth is fully erupted (at least most of it), or when the wisdom tooth only partially erupts through the gum or fully hidden under the gum tissue.

In the first case, the extraction will be similar to a normal tooth extraction process, and no surgical procedure is necessary. In the latter case, we will need to make an incision on the gum tissue to expose the wisdom tooth before we can perform the extraction making it a minor surgical procedure.

In both alternatives, patients will be numbed with local anesthesia, so no pain should be experienced during the procedure, only slight pressure. You will feel mild pain during the anesthetic injection (typically Novocaine). If necessary, for example when the patient is very anxious, mild sedatives might be prescribed to calm the patient and make them as comfortable as possible during the procedure.

Our dental professionals at Markham Smile Centre are always committed to providing the most comfortable experience during and after the wisdom tooth extraction process. This will include proper planning and preparation of the procedure, the ideal dose of anesthetics, and service excellence during the procedure to ensure the patient is always relaxed and comfortable.

While the extraction process is in most cases totally painless, we should expect mild to moderate pain after the anesthetics wear off.

The painful sensation usually peaks during the first couple of days after the procedure, and we can expect mild pain, discomfort, and moderate swelling on the cheek and upper neck for up to two weeks after the extraction.

If necessary, the dentist might apply stitches to help with the closing of the wound of the gum tissue. In this case, you might need to return around a week after the procedure to remove the stitches.

Your dentist will usually prescribe over-the-counter painkillers to help relieve the pain during the recovery period, and in some cases, stronger painkillers might be prescribed.

During the recovery period, you might need to adjust your diet to softer foods. This is to prevent further injuries to the gum tissues and assist with the healing process. Pureed fruits, soups, mashed vegetables, and similar soft diet are usually recommended for this recovery period.

Here at Markham Smile Centre, we totally understand that a wisdom tooth extraction procedure doesn’t end with the extraction. Your dentist will assist you during the recovery period, will provide all the necessary information, and will be on standby if you experience any complications and prolonged pain. We are here to ensure your healing process is as fast and effective as possible.

Unfortunately, it’s possible that a patient might experience improper healing and recovery after a wisdom tooth extraction although it’s quite rare with the modern dental procedures and technology.

Poor healing usually occurs as a result of poor hygiene and care during the recovery period, so it’s advised to closely follow the dentist’s recommendation for the recovery process, and be aware of your condition whether you’ll need further assistance or follow-up treatment for complications.

Here are some signs and symptoms to pay attention to during the recovery period:

• Very severe pain (this will obviously depend on the individual’s pain tolerance), or prolonged pain after more than two weeks
• Severe sensitivity to hot and cold a few days after the procedure.
• Tenderness of the surrounding gum
• Appearance of pus
• Numbness on the area, tongue, chin, and lips
• Foul odor and bad breath
• Fever, sign of infection

This is not an all-inclusive list, but in general, if you have any prolonged symptoms after two weeks, you should call your dentist or make a visit immediately.

At Markham Smile Centre, we pay close attention to your recovery process after the wisdom tooth extraction to ensure a speedy recovery and prevent complications. Our professional, experienced dentists have treated countless wisdom tooth extraction procedures over the years and understood the importance of post-surgical assistance.

Financial issues are often the biggest reason for dental anxiety including going against a wisdom tooth extraction procedure. Knowing the cost will help you plan ahead for the surgical procedure.

In general, the standard cost of removing a single wisdom tooth can cost from $100 to $900 depending on the complexity of the case and whether a surgical procedure is necessary. If you need to remove all four wisdom teeth at once, it can cost you around $400 to $3,600.

Here at Markham Smile Centre, we are committed to providing a fair and competitive price for our wisdom tooth extraction procedures, with the goal to help you relieve your pain and prevent further complications without breaking the bank. We also offer various payment flexibility, so you can have the best possible convenience in choosing a payment method that suits your financial situations.

So, give a call, consult our dentist and discuss your possible options and find out the specific costs according to your conditions. We will hold your hand during the process to ensure you in getting the best possible option.

You probably stumbled upon this information because you currently suspect yourself—or someone you know—of experiencing wisdom teeth-related issues.

If you suspect that you are in need of a treatment or extraction, give us a call here at (905) 224-5636 and schedule a consultation. Our dentist will help diagnose your current condition and, together with you, plan the best possible course of action for your situation.

Markham Smile Centre offers a state-of-the-art, professional dental facilities and equipment, licensed and experienced dental professionals, and a culture that emphasizes on providing the best possible treatment for all of our patients to ensure safety, comfort, and effective healing process. We take pride in our experience over the years and the happiness of our patients after each successful procedure.

Don’t hesitate to let us be your partner in your oral healthcare and hygiene, contact us today and find out how we can help you with your wisdom teeth situation.