What is Wisdom Tooth Surgery?
The Procedure
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL?
Wisdom tooth removal is an extremely common outpatient procedure. You may benefit from extraction if your wisdom teeth:
- Have erupted in an abnormal position
- Are impacted below the gum line
- Have developed an infection
- Have caused jaw misalignment
It is best to remove impacted or un-erupted wisdom teeth between the ages of 15-25.Your surgeon will be able to determine if your wisdom teeth need to be removed following an oral and radiographic exam.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL
Wisdom tooth removal is generally performed under sedation with a local anesthetic. Your surgeon will begin by removing the gum tissue surrounding your wisdom teeth. If the teeth are impacted, an incision will be made into the gum tissue to access the tooth. A high-speed hand piece is sometimes necessary to drill through bone that may be covering impacted wisdom teeth.
Once your wisdom teeth are visible, your surgeon will gently loosen each tooth from its socket, using specialized tools. In some cases, your teeth will need to be extracted in small sections to minimize the amount of bone that needs to be removed. Following removal, dissolvable sutures will be used to close incisions.
AFTER YOUR WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL
For the first several days following surgery, you may experience some pain and facial swelling. Pain medication may be used to alleviate your discomfort. Normal dental hygiene routines can be resumed right away, but it is important to avoid brushing the treatment area. Most patients are able to participate in normal activities within a few days, but complete healing may take several months.
UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS OF WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL
All surgical procedures present a degree of risk and uncertainty. These risks will be discussed in depth during the consultation process. Some risks may include bleeding, infection, adverse reaction to anesthesia, dry socket and paresthesia (nerve damage).
IF YOU’RE READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Contact us to schedule a consultation for wisdom tooth removal. During your consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss details such as the cost and expected recovery time.
