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Extractions & Wisdom Teeth
Your dentist may refer you to us for extraction of a tooth. This is usually because we have the specialized equipment that makes getting out broken, impacted, infected or otherwise difficult teeth much easier and less stressful. In conjunction with with a wider range of anesthetic options such as IV sedation or general anesthesia even very difficult teeth become uneventful.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third molars, and the last teeth to develop. It may take until your late teens or early twenties for them to mature and emerge from you gums. They are called 'Wisdom Teeth' because they develop at a time when you have made the transition from childhood to adulthood bringing with it wisdom - at least that's how the story goes. In many cases some or all of these teeth remain impacted, or trapped in the jaw bone and gums, usually because there is not enough room for them in your mouth. Due to advancements in dental care we no longer lose our first or second molars in childhood and therefore do not need these late developing teeth. In fact, wisdom teeth often do more harm than good; because of this, your dentist may recommend removing them and refer you to a specialist for care.
What Problems Can Wisdom Teeth Cause?
Most people have all four wisdom teeth, one in each corner of their mouth, but each tooth may be at a different stage of eruption or position of impaction. In some cases the wisdom teeth may push the other teeth forward like dominoes causing mal-alignment of the front teeth. Sometimes problem wisdom teeth can cause local pain and swelling usually due to food or debris getting trapped around the tooth with no way of cleaning the area or you may not feel any symptoms at all until considerable damage has been done. This can be the case when the wisdom teeth decay and cause the neighboring molar to decay as well. In rare situations the sac that surrounds a developing wisdom tooth can lead to the formation of a cyst or tumor which eats away at the surrounding jaw bone.
What is Involved in Removing Wisdom Teeth?
The process usually starts with a consultation where the Doctor will review your medical history, examine your mouth and evaluate your x-ray. A recent panoramic radiograph gives the best information on root size and position relative to other anatomic structures in the jaw bone. Your particular situation will be discussed in detail so that you understand any potential risks and benefits of surgery. Additionally, the Doctor will discuss various anesthesia options including local anesthesia (freezing), nitrous oxide (laughing gas), IV sedation (light sleep) or GA(deep sleep).
On the day of surgery you will be asked to come on an empty stomach if you are going to have a sedation or general anesthetic. You will also need to come with a responsible adult who will take you home and care for you while you are under the influence of the anesthetic medications. This procedure, which is usually done in our office, takes about an hour. Any stitches placed will dissolve on their own. We provide an environment of optimum safety and comfort. Our facilities are equipped with modern monitoring equipment and our surgical team is experienced and trained in anesthesia techniques.
