Wisdom Tooth Removal in Danbury & New Fairfield, CT

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Wisdom tooth removal is a common dental procedure recommended when third molars do not have enough room to emerge properly or may cause future oral health concerns. Removing problematic wisdom teeth can help prevent infection, discomfort, crowding, and damage to surrounding teeth, supporting long-term oral health and comfort.

At Candlewood Dental Care, wisdom tooth evaluations are guided by the experience of Lorraine Burio, DMD, who has completed advanced dental training and maintains active memberships in nationally recognized dental and medical organizations. With decades of experience caring for patients in New Fairfield, Dr. Burio carefully assesses each case and coordinates referrals to trusted oral surgeons when wisdom tooth removal is recommended.

The Wisdom Tooth Removal Procedure

My Candlewood Dental refers Wisdom Tooth Extractions to a recommended oral surgeon.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon or your dentist can remove a wisdom tooth. The procedure often can be done in the dentist’s or surgeon’s office. You may have the surgery in the hospital, especially if you are having all your wisdom teeth pulled at one time or if you are at high risk for complications.

If you have any infections, surgery will usually be delayed until the infection has cleared up. Your doctor or dentist may have you take antibiotics to help heal the infection.

To remove the wisdom tooth, your dentist will open up the gum tissue over the tooth and take out any bone that is covering the tooth. He or she will separate the tissue connecting the tooth to the bone and then remove the tooth. Sometimes the dentist will cut the tooth into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove.

After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches. Some stitches dissolve over time and some have to be removed after a few days. Your dentist will tell you whether your stitches need to be removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed over the wound will help stop the bleeding.

In simple terms, wisdom tooth removal involves taking out one or more back teeth that may not be coming in correctly. These teeth can grow at awkward angles, become trapped beneath the gums, or be difficult to keep clean, increasing the risk of pain and infection. Removing wisdom teeth before complications develop can help protect nearby teeth and support overall oral health.

What To Expect After Wisdom Tooth Removal Surgery

In most cases, the recovery period lasts only a few days. Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon. The following tips will help speed your recovery.

Bite gently on the gauze pad periodically, and change pads as they become soaked with blood. Call your dentist or oral surgeon if you still have bleeding 24 hours after your surgery.

While your mouth is numb, be careful not to bite the inside of your cheek or lip, or your tongue.

Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop up your head with pillows.

Try using an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for the first 24 hours. You can use moist heat-such as a washcloth soaked in warm water and wrung out-for the following 2 or 3 days.

Relax after surgery. Physical activity may increase bleeding.

Eat soft foods, such as gelatin, pudding, or a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.

Do not use a straw for the first few days. Sucking on a straw can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.

After the first day, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain. You can make your own salt water by mixing 1 tsp (5 g) of salt in a medium-sized glass [8 fl oz (240 mL)] of warm water.

Do not smoke for at least 24 hours after your surgery. The sucking motion can loosen the clot and delay healing. Also, smoking decreases the blood supply and can bring germs and contaminants to the surgery area.

Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue or touching it with your fingers.

Continue to brush your teeth and tongue carefully.

Your dentist will remove the stitches after a few days, if needed.

Why It Is Done

A wisdom tooth is extracted to correct an actual problem or to prevent problems that may come up in the future. When wisdom teeth come in, a number of problems can occur:

Your jaw may not be large enough for them, and they may become impacted and unable to break through your gums.

Your wisdom teeth may break partway through your gums, causing a flap of gum tissue to grow over them. Food and germs can get trapped under the flap, causing your gums to become red, swollen, and painful. These are signs of infection.

More serious problems can develop from impacted teeth, such as infection, damage to other teeth and bone, or a cyst.

One or more of your wisdom teeth may come in at an awkward angle, with the top of the tooth facing forward, backward, or to either side.

How Well It Works

Wisdom tooth removal is effective in preventing:

Crowding of the back teeth.

A wisdom tooth from becoming stuck in the jaw (impacted), and breaking through the gums.

Red, swollen, and painful gums caused by a flap of skin around a wisdom tooth that has only partially come in.

Gum disease and tooth decay in the wisdom tooth, which may be harder to clean than other teeth, or in the teeth and jaw in the area of the wisdom tooth.