Wisdom teeth removal
For wisdom teeth that are stuck, sore, crowding the tooth in front, or impossible to keep clean.
Wisdom teeth come out when they are wedged in the jaw, infected more than once, unreachable with a brush, or pushing the tooth in front out of line. Dr. Malik holds a residency in oral surgery, so they are taken out in this office instead of at a specialist across town.
Any of these sound familiar?
- The gum behind your last molar is sore and swollen and keeps flaring up.
- An X-ray shows a wisdom tooth lying sideways or pressing on the tooth in front.
- Food packs behind the last tooth and you cannot clean it however you try.
- A wisdom tooth has partly come through and the gum over it catches when you bite.
- Your orthodontist wants them out before braces, or to stop teeth crowding again after.
Start to finish.
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01
Exam and X-ray
Dr. Malik looks at the tooth and takes an X-ray to see the roots and the bone around them. He tells you whether the tooth can be saved, and what removing it would involve.
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02
Plan the gap
If the tooth will need replacing, we talk about an implant, bridge or denture now, so the estimate covers the whole job and you can plan.
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03
The extraction
A simple extraction loosens the tooth and lifts it out; a stuck wisdom tooth may need a small opening in the gum, or the tooth divided into pieces. Dr. Malik did a residency in oral surgery, so an impacted wisdom tooth does not become a referral.
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04
Home with instructions
You leave with written aftercare and a prescription if you need one. Bite on the gauze, rest for the day, and eat soft food for a few days while the socket heals.
What it costs, and who pays.
Most extractions take one visit. The cost depends on whether the tooth comes out simply or needs surgery, and the estimate spells out which. Most dental plans cover part of a wisdom tooth removal, and pay more towards an impacted one because it is billed as surgery.
Ask for a written estimateWisdom teeth removal, answered.
Does getting a tooth pulled hurt?
Once the area is fully numb you feel pushing and pressure, not sharp pain, and we check before we start. The area is sore for a few days afterwards; the pain relief we recommend usually keeps it manageable.
What can I eat after a tooth extraction?
Soft, cool food for the first two or three days: yogurt, eggs, mashed potatoes, soup that is not hot, smoothies eaten with a spoon. Skip straws, hot drinks, alcohol and smoking, which can dislodge the clot that protects the socket.
Do all wisdom teeth need to come out?
No. If they come through straight and you can keep them clean, they can stay. Dr. Malik removes them when they are stuck, infected, decayed or damaging the tooth in front.
When should I call after an extraction?
Call 647.479.3151 if bleeding has not slowed after a few hours of steady pressure on gauze, if pain gets worse after day three instead of better, or if you have spreading swelling, fever or a bad taste that will not rinse away. These can be signs of infection or a dry socket.
