Often, when our wisdom teeth come in, there is simply not enough room and they become impacted. Impacted teeth are not able to fully enter the mouth or break through the gums. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause crowding, tooth misalignment or infection.
Wisdom tooth extraction is usually recommended when there are:
Wisdom tooth extraction is usually recommended when there are:
- infections and/or periodontal disease;
- cavities that cannot be restored;
- pathologies such as cysts, and tumors, and
- damage to neighboring teeth.
What to Expect:
According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) :
If your dentist or healthcare professional recommends that your wisdom teeth be removed, you will most likely be referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for the procedure. Before surgery, your oral surgeon will discuss the procedure with you and tell you what to expect. This is a good time to ask questions. Also talk to your surgeon about any concerns you have. Be sure to let your doctor know about any illness you have and medications you are taking.
There are several conditions that affect how easy it will be to remove a wisdom tooth. These conditions include how the tooth is positioned and the stage of root development. If the wisdom teeth are impacted the surgery might be more complicated.
Most of the time third molars can be removed with little or no pain. Usually they can be extracted at the oral and maxillofacial surgery office. Patients are given either local anesthesia, intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Your surgeon will recommend the anesthetic option that is right for you.
Contact us to schedule a consultation for a wisdom tooth extraction procedure.
