Wisdom Teeth Extraction South Pasadena, CA
Wisdom teeth extraction can help to relieve pain in a patient's teeth that results from the wisdom teeth causing crowding issues or growing incorrectly. There are many different reasons you may need to extract your wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth extraction removes the third set of molars in the back of your mouth.
Wisdom teeth extraction is available at Huntington Dental Excellence in South Pasadena and the surrounding area. Most patients who need wisdom teeth extraction are in the stages of young adulthood. Call us today at (626) 657-6335 to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Reasons for Wisdom Teeth Extractions
Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars and permanent teeth that emerge in the back of the mouth. They generally erupt between the ages of 17 and 21, granting them the name "wisdom teeth." However, in some cases, they never come out at all. Since they are the last teeth on each arch and have no security between them, wisdom teeth can erupt at any angle.
Wisdom teeth are often removed for preventive purposes, as they can cause pain and oral health problems later in life, even if there is no present pain. Extraction becomes necessary when the wisdom tooth or teeth are damaging the other teeth or the jaw, causing sinus issues, inflamed gums and cavities, or are impacting teeth alignment. These more serious problems can result in various oral conditions as the patient gets older.
“Extraction becomes necessary when the wisdom tooth or teeth are causing damage to other teeth or the jaw, causing sinus issues, inflamed gums and cavities, or are impacting teeth alignment.”
Potential Risks
Although wisdom teeth extraction is a common and safe procedure, there are a variety of potential risks involved with extracting any tooth. However, these complications are often associated with patients who are at high-risk because of other conditions. We conduct a thorough examination and discussion of each patient's medical and dental history to determine whether they would be a good candidate for extraction.
Some of the risks associated with wisdom tooth extraction include:
- Painful dry socket, or exposure of bone when the post-surgical blood clot is lost from the site of the surgical wound
- Infection in the socket from bacteria or trapped food particles
- Damage to nearby teeth, nerves, jawbone, or sinuses
“Although wisdom teeth extraction is common and safe, there are a variety of potential risks involved with extracting any tooth.”
Preparing for Wisdom Teeth Extraction
The first step to wisdom teeth extraction begins with an initial consultation. During this time, patients should be open and honest with their doctor about their entire medical history. This includes but is not limited to sharing any health problems they may have, any medications and supplements they may take regularly, and any lifestyle choices that may influence the success of the surgery. The consultation is also a good time for patients to assuage their anxieties by asking any questions about the procedure.
“The first step to wisdom teeth extraction begins with an initial consultation.”
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What to Expect During Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Generally, wisdom teeth extraction begins with the doctor injecting the patient with a local anesthetic to numb them to the pain of the procedure. The doctor will then cut into the gum tissue to expose the tooth and bone, making sure to remove any bone blocking access to the tooth root. Depending on how severely impacted the tooth is, the tooth may be divided into sections to be removed little by little.
After extracting the tooth, the doctor will clean the extraction site of any debris. Afterward, the wound may or may not need stitches, and the doctor will pack gauze over the extraction site to control bleeding and to aid in the formation of a blood clot.
“After extracting the tooth, the doctor will clean the extraction site of any debris.”
Questions Answered on This Page
Q. How do I begin preparing for wisdom teeth extraction?
Q. What are the reasons for wisdom teeth extraction?
Q. What are the potential risks of wisdom teeth extraction?
People Also Ask
Q. What happens during a tooth extraction?
Aftercare for Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Patients should expect to rest for the remainder of the day following their wisdom teeth extraction. Though regular activities can be resumed as soon as the day after, patients should refrain from any strenuous activity for at least a week following their procedure. Otherwise, they run the risk of overexertion and dislodging the blood clot. Our team will provide patients with a customized recovery plan for their specific procedures.
Complications following wisdom teeth extraction are rare as long as patients follow this plan. However, patients should contact us immediately if they are experiencing any of the following:
- Blood or pus in nasal discharge
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Excessive bleeding
- Fever
- Foul taste in the mouth
- Persistent numbness or loss of feeling
- Pus in or oozing from the socket
- Severe pain that does not subside
- Swelling that does not subside after two or three days
“Though regular activities can be resumed as soon as the day after, patients should refrain from any strenuous activity for at least a week following their procedure.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the average age of patients who remove their wisdom teeth?
A. Wisdom teeth generally erupt between the ages of 17 and 21 but can also come out later in life. We like to examine all patients from the age of 17 onwards to monitor their tooth development and detect wisdom teeth eruption as soon as it occurs.
Q. How do I know if my extraction site is healing correctly?
A. Recovery time after an extraction is between three to five days, wherein the socket should begin to close in. It could take about a month or two for the entire site to close. However, if the gums look and feel normal (no swelling or redness), the site should be healing correctly. We like to schedule follow-ups after an extraction to make sure the site is healing properly.
Q. How can I detect dry socket if I do not have pain?
A. In most cases, patients will experience pain from a dry socket. They may also experience a foul smell or notice exposed bone. A dry socket occurs when a blood clot was dislodged earlier than necessary or did not form at all, exposing the bone underneath. Therefore, if a blood clot is not present, a dry socket is very likely.
Q. Can I drive myself back home after wisdom teeth extraction?
A. Patients undergoing a simple extraction with local anesthesia can drive back home as they will only feel numb in the mouth. However, surgical extractions with general or IV anesthesia will need to be driven back after the procedure as they will not be fully alert. We will discuss this during the consultation appointment prior to the procedure.
Q. Can I remove all four wisdom teeth in the same visit?
A. Patients that need all of their wisdom teeth removed can have them all removed in one visit. We may also recommend extracting two on the same side during each visit as the entire area will be numbed anyway. This will reduce the cost, recovery time, and discomfort associated with each extraction.
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Dental Terminology
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2025
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2025
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2025
About our business, license, and website security
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