How can we help you?
Having a clear understanding of all aspects of your dental care is essential, so we encourage you to be proactive about asking questions. You deserve to be fully informed, and we believe that no question is too small or unimportant. If a concern is important to you, it's important to us too.
We answer lots of questions for our patients, and some of those we hear most often are listed below. If you don’t see your specific question here or you would like more information, feel free to give our office a call!
Tooth Extraction
First, it's helpful to understand that wisdom teeth are the product of millennia of evolution.
Our ancestors needed a lot of chewing force to grind up the tough meats, grains, and vegetables that were a part of their diet. But today, with a diet of processed foods, wisdom teeth no longer serve any real purpose.
Problems That Can Be Caused By Wisdom Teeth
In fact, they often cause crowding and alignment problems because our jaws have gotten smaller. Also, they are the teeth farthest back in your mouth, which makes wisdom teeth difficult or impossible to clean properly. Since wisdom teeth don’t emerge until your late teens or early twenties, in some cases there isn’t enough room for them to erupt at all and they become impacted or stuck in your gums. This can cause pain, and the teeth will ultimately need to be removed.
Family dentist Dr. Kai Liang will recommend removal of wisdom teeth at our Johns Creek, GA dental office on a case-by-case basis. He will monitor the development and positioning of these teeth and let you know if extraction would be the healthiest solution for you.
Contact Our Alpharetta Dental Office
If your wisdom teeth are bothering you or you aren’t sure if they should be removed, please call us to arrange a consultation.
When you have a tooth extraction in Alpharetta, GA, there are some steps you can take to care for yourself afterward that will help you have a smooth recovery process. Our team will give you thorough instructions to guide you throughout your recovery step by step.
Sticking to soft foods the first couple days after a tooth extraction is best. Here are some ideas for your meals and snacks:
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Soup
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
Avoid spicy foods and extreme temperatures. Consuming your foods and beverages at room temperature keeps them from irritating your extraction site.
You can also take pain medication as needed during the first few days. You should continue your home care routine of brushing and flossing, just being careful and gentle around your extraction site.
Keeping your blood clot intact is essential to allow healing. Avoiding activities like smoking or drinking through a straw will help keep your blood clot in place and can prevent a painful condition called dry socket.
Your team at Alpharetta Creek Restorative Dentistry is here to support you throughout your tooth extraction and beyond into your recovery process.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Alpharetta dental office at (770) 777-2803.