Wisdom Teeth and the Removal Process

Many patients have questions about when and if they need to remove their wisdom teeth. There’s no clear cut answer that applies to everyone and decisions are made on a case by case basis. With that said, here is some general information about wisdom teeth and the removal process. Overview Wisdom teeth are the third molars that appear in the back of the mouth at approximately 18-21 years of age. As long as wisdom teeth fully break through the surface of the gums and do not overly crowd the mouth, they can remain and function just as any other teeth. Problems occur when wisdom teeth remain partly covered by gum tissue or are poorly aligned.  In these cases, it may be best to remove the wisdom teeth to avoid infection and large cavities from forming. Treatment Treatment options vary on a case by case basis. Some wisdom teeth are removed early as a preventative measure, while others are allowed to remain in the mouth until symptoms arise. Routine treatment can be performed in our office. Patients who wish to be fully asleep during the procedure, or have a more complicated case may be referred to a specialist. Procedure The procedure can be performed with a local anesthetic or under mild sedation.  When the local anesthetic is complete pressure will be applied to the gums with a blunt instrument to ensure numbness.  The teeth will be removed with as little pressure as possible, and all areas will be stitched for ease of healing.  Some pain, oozing, swelling and even bruising is normal; patients will be sent home with gauze sponges, antibiotics and pain killers.  Patients should expect to be able to return to work after 2-3 days. What Can I Expect After Surgery?            You will be sent home with gauze sponges along with a prescription for pain killers and antibiotics. Bite on the gauze for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off to stop any residual bleeding. A warm, moist tea bag works great to help stop bleeding due to the tannic acid. Some oozing is considered normal. If you are concerned please call our office. It’s normal to expect some pain, swelling and even bruising after surgery. Pain and swelling are most noticeable on the second day. After that, the area will heal and the pain will diminish. Bruising will take up to a week to subside. Older individuals are more prone to bleeding, and may heal slower. Two to three days are normally required for recovery after which you’ll be able to return to work or school. If you have any questions or concerns about wisdom teeth call us today at (905) 303-9355, or click here to request an appointment.

New Cheaper, Faster Whitening Procedure

At Forman Dental, we’re introducing a brand new in-office whitening procedure called IVERI Whitening. The new procedure is available to all patients, and saves you both time and money. Due to a drastically reduced time requirement, the treatment is far less expensive and can be competed in just 30-40 minutes. The time may increase if more than one treatment is required for your case. After we apply the whitening gel to your teeth, you can relax in the comfort of our new whitening room, which is complete with a heated massage chair and TV. When your session is over your whitening is complete and you don’t need to worry about any additional whitening at home. For best results, we recommend that you avoid food and beverages that could stain your teeth for at least 2 days while your saliva recoats your teeth. Whitening is one of the most effective ways to enhance your smile and it is certainly the most affordable. Regardless of which procedure you choose, compliance is the key to success. The better you execute the instructions given, the better your results will be. Whether you are using the over the counter, professional at home or professional in office whitening, it’s important that you minimize the ingestion of substances that can stain your teeth. This includes wine, coffee, tea, soya sauce, etc. The pores of the teeth will be open temporarily during the whitening process, and the teeth are more susceptible to staining. Saliva will eventually coat, and re-seal the pores in time. Whitening doesn’t damage the teeth at all, but can cause temporary sensitivity for 2 or 3 days following treatment. Sensitivity is very difficult to predict and is most common with professional at home teeth whitening. Our professional in-office whitening can effectively manage sensitivity in most cases. Remember to touch up your whitening every 3 to 6 months to maintain your bright smile and minimize staining. Ask us how you can earn a free whitening treatment! To make an appointment, you can use our appointment booking tool, or call us at (905) 303-9355.