Wisdom teeth assessment
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Guelph
Wisdom teeth assessment and removal at York Road Dental in Guelph, including impacted wisdom teeth. Open Saturdays. Direct billing and CDCP.
Book an assessment online or call (519) 824-7333.
Do Your Wisdom Teeth Need to Come Out?
Not every wisdom tooth has to come out. Wisdom teeth are the last molars at the back of your mouth. Your dentist decides with an exam and X-rays whether wisdom tooth extraction is right for you.
Signs that a wisdom tooth needs attention include a dull ache at the back of the jaw, a sore or swollen gum behind the last molar, a bad taste, trouble opening wide and pain when you chew.
Why remove wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are removed when they cause problems or are likely to. Common reasons are:
Wisdom tooth pain or swelling
An impacted tooth that cannot come through
Crowding of the teeth beside them
Decay or gum infection that is hard to clean
If your wisdom teeth are healthy, in a good position and easy to clean, you may keep them and have them checked regularly. Do wisdom teeth need to be removed? The honest answer is sometimes, and only an exam can tell.
The American Dental Association's MouthHealthy wisdom teeth page says wisdom teeth may need to be removed for pain, infection, damage to neighbouring teeth, gum disease or decay, and to see your dentist if you have pain.
What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
Impacted wisdom teeth are teeth that are stuck in the jaw or the gum and cannot come through properly. They may lie sideways, press on the next tooth, or stay partly covered by gum, where food and bacteria collect.
An impacted wisdom tooth can cause pain, swelling, a bad taste and infection. Impacted wisdom teeth removal is often a surgical extraction, where the dentist makes a small opening in the gum and removes the tooth in pieces if needed. Read about tooth extractions for how simple and surgical removal differ.
Wisdom teeth often become impacted because the jaw has too little room for them. They come in last, after the other teeth have settled, so they have nowhere to go. Impacted wisdom teeth may need treatment even before they hurt, if X-rays show they could harm the next tooth.
What Happens at a Wisdom Tooth Assessment and Removal?
You start with an assessment, and removal follows when it is needed. A wisdom tooth can sometimes be taken out the same day as the exam. These are the steps:
Tell us about your health history, medications and allergies when you book. A first visit also lets you ask about timing, comfort and cost.
Before the visit, eat as you normally would unless we tell you otherwise, bring a list of your medications and wear comfortable clothing.
Dr. Natasha Kaushal has been registered with the RCDSO as a general dentist since 8 June 2018. Our team speaks English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu, so you can ask your questions in the language you prefer.
A first visit includes your health history, digital X-rays, an exam, a talk about treatment options and help with your insurance coverage.
How Will You Stay Comfortable During Removal?
You stay comfortable with numbing. The area is numbed with local anesthetic first. We use numbing gel, offer breaks, music or TV, and blankets, and you can use a stop signal at any time.
Sedation and general anesthetic are not offered. We cannot promise a painless visit, but we explain each step and slow down when you ask. Read about care for dental anxiety.
Your dentist tells you what to expect afterwards, including how to look after the area for the first hours.
Tell us at the booking call or in the chair what worries you most, whether that is the needle, the sound or the thought of the surgery itself. We plan the visit around it, allow extra time and explain each step before it happens.
Wisdom teeth that sit deep or at an angle can take longer to remove, and your dentist explains this at the assessment so that nothing comes as a surprise on the day. You are welcome to ask as many questions as you like before you decide.
How Do You Recover from Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Some swelling and tenderness are common during wisdom teeth removal recovery. These steps help you heal:
Bite on the gauze as shown
Use a cold pack on your cheek
Eat soft, cool foods
Skip straws, hard rinsing and smoking
Keep your mouth clean, gently
Dry socket happens when the blood clot is lost from the socket. It causes pain, and it is a reason to call us. Call us too if pain gets worse instead of better or if swelling grows.
If you have severe swelling, trouble breathing or bleeding that will not stop, go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 911.
The American Dental Association's MouthHealthy extractions page suggests a cold cloth or ice bag for swelling, no drinking through a straw for a day, gentle rinsing only in the first days and no smoking, and its dry socket page says to notify your dentist.
Take any pain relief as your dentist advises, and keep your follow-up visit so that we can check the healing.
When Is a Good Time to Have Them Out?
A good time is one that leaves you a few quiet days to rest. Students can ask about timing around classes. The University of Guelph is only 3 minutes from the clinic.
If you work, plan to rest for the first days, and book early in the week if your job is physical. If you have pain now, do not wait for a quiet time: call for same-day care for wisdom tooth pain.
How Do You Pay for Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Wisdom teeth removal cost depends on how many teeth come out, how hard each one is to reach so we do not list one price here. Ask our team about your cost, and about in-house payment plans.
All major insurers can be direct-billed, and CDCP claims are billed directly to the plan. Student plans of the University of Guelph are direct-billed too. See fees and insurance.
Co-payments and other charges may apply, so ask our team about costs before treatment. The Government of Canada describes the plan on its Canadian Dental Care Plan page.
Questions About Wisdom Teeth Removal
Do I need all four out at once?
Not always. York Road Dental can plan one side at a time or all four together, depending on the teeth, your health and your schedule.
Can I drive after wisdom teeth removal?
York Road Dental tells you what to expect afterwards, including advice on rest and driving.
Is wisdom tooth removal painful?
York Road Dental numbs the area first, and soreness afterwards is common. We cannot promise a painless visit.
Book Your Wisdom Teeth Assessment in Guelph
Book an assessment at York Road Dental and your online booking goes straight into our calendar, and a wisdom tooth that hurts now is a reason to call about pain.