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Common Questions Our Patients Ask About Impacted Tooth Extraction
If you’re experiencing pain, swelling, or persistent discomfort in your jaw, you might be dealing with an impacted tooth (most commonly a wisdom tooth). At Freedom Dental in Fairfield, California, Dr. Cheng Zhu helps patients find relief through expert evaluation and safe, comfortable tooth extraction services, including IV sedation. Below, we answer five questions patients often ask when they suspect they have an impacted tooth that may need removal.
How do I know if I have an impacted tooth?
An impacted tooth fails to fully erupt through the gums, often because there isn’t enough space in the mouth. Common signs include swelling around the gums, jaw pain, difficulty opening your mouth, and bad breath. Wisdom teeth are especially prone to becoming impacted. Dr. Zhu uses digital imaging and an oral exam to determine if an impaction is present and whether extraction is necessary.
Can an impacted tooth cause other dental problems?
Yes. If left untreated, impacted teeth can lead to serious issues like gum infections, cyst formation, nearby teeth damage, and even misaligning your bite. Impacted wisdom teeth, in particular, are known to cause chronic inflammation or pressure-related discomfort. Prompt evaluation and removal when necessary can help you avoid more extensive—and expensive—dental problems.
Will I be awake or in pain during the extraction?
At Freedom Dental, your comfort is always our top priority. Dr. Zhu offers IV sedation, ideal for surgical extractions like impacted teeth. With IV sedation, you remain conscious but deeply relaxed and often have little or no memory of the procedure. Local anesthesia is also used to ensure the area is completely numb. Most patients are surprised by how easy and stress-free the process feels.
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New Patients: (707) 416-0626 | Existing Patients: (707) 422-2236 True Dental Emergency: (707) 301-0338
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What does recovery look like after the extraction?
Most patients recover from impacted tooth extraction within a few days to a week. Some swelling, soreness, and mild bleeding are normal for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Dr. Zhu will provide detailed aftercare instructions to ensure a smooth recovery, including how to manage pain, what to eat, and how to keep the extraction site clean. In most cases, over-the-counter pain medication is all that’s needed.
Is it better to remove an impacted tooth early?
In many cases, yes. Removing an impacted tooth before it causes complications is often the smartest action. Younger patients tend to heal faster and experience fewer side effects. Even if you’re not in pain now, an exam with Dr. Zhu can determine whether a preventive extraction might save you from future discomfort and more invasive procedures later on.
Worried About an Impacted Tooth? We’re Here to Help.
If you suspect you may have an impacted tooth, don’t wait for the problem to worsen. Dr. Cheng Zhu at Freedom Dental in Fairfield, CA, offers expert diagnosis and gentle extractions.
Call us at (707) 416-0626 to schedule your consultation. Relief is just one appointment away!
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Dr. Cheng Zhu - Freedom Dental
Cheng Zhu, DMD, leads Fairfield Dental and offers safe and effective services that support optimal comfort, healing, and an exceptional patient experience.Whether you need a crown, emergency care, implants, an impacted wisdom tooth extraction, or full-mouth rehabilitation, Dr. Zhu can help. A former pharmacist who can support your oral and overall health, he is one of the few dentists licensed in California to provide intravenous sedation to ease dental anxiety.
Dr. Zhu is trained and equipped to provide many advanced surgical options, eliminating the need to refer patients to other experts. Fairfield, California, patients trust the caring, compassionate, and affordable family dental care the team offers.