Wisdom Teeth Extractions
Wisdom Teeth Removal and Care
Most people’s mouths only have enough room for 28 teeth. When your wisdom teeth start to come in, that’s four additional teeth trying to cram their way in. In the majority of situations, this creates a litany of problems, including crowding, soreness, risk of infection, and the need for extraction. Since your wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in through your gums, they come to the party a little late. All your other teeth have settled into their places. With x-rays and inspections, we can determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted and need to be removed. Since wisdom teeth rarely come in straight and even with the rest of your smile, we have years of experience analyzing them and extracting them at Waco Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Wisdom teeth can also come in sideways, causing even more issues for you if we don’t act. If you or your child is approaching the age of 18, it’s crucial to bring them in for an examination for their wisdom teeth. Call us today to schedule your appointment for a wisdom teeth analysis or extraction in the Waco area.
The Extraction Process
In most extractions, we believe it is easier on the patient to perform the surgery under anesthesia. We first administer laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, to the patient for relaxation. Then, we deliver a general anesthesia, so the patient is unconscious throughout the operation. We keep a close watch on you while you’re under, making sure to extract your teeth safely while you stay sedated. After we remove the teeth and roots, we suture the gum, closing the wound and preventing infection. We place gauze into the incision points to control bleeding. After the surgery, we allow you to rest under our supervision until you’re able to be taken home. Our team will provide you with a post-op kit, which includes care instructions, prescriptions for pain medications, antibiotics, and a follow-up appointment for removing your sutures.
Wisdom Teeth Extractions in Waco, TX Area
Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, are the final teeth to erupt within your mouth, with most patients seeing their appearance in their late teens or early twenties. When these teeth erupt properly, there is no reason to remove them. However, often, they do not and can cause many other dental issues. In these cases, the team at Waco Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery can perform wisdom teeth extractions for Waco Area patients. Our team can begin evaluating your wisdom teeth before they even start to erupt, keeping an eye on their formation and progress using x-rays. If we believe the teeth are putting you at risk for oral complications, we’ll suggest removing them and can perform the surgery in our office. Please contact us today if you’d like to learn more about this process.
Wisdom Teeth: Impacted
Wisdom Teeth: Patient Safety
Wisdom Teeth: Impacted or Crowding
Wisdom Teeth: Pain or No Pain
Having Third Molar Surgery
Why Do I Need to Remove My Wisdom Teeth?
Though some patients may not require the removal of their wisdom teeth, most often, it’s needed to protect your overall oral health. Wisdom teeth can begin to grow in sideways, only partially erupt, or even get stuck beneath the gum and bone. Known as impacted teeth, those that get stuck may resort to shifting position as the try to find a pathway for eruption. When wisdom teeth don’t erupt through the gumline properly, they can create severe problems for the patient, including:
- Risk of infection in tissues surrounding the tooth
- Disruption to the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth
- Formation of tumors or cysts around impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in jawbone or tooth destruction.
We’ll Start With an Oral Examination
In order to evaluate the state of your wisdom teeth, we’ll first do a thorough examination and take x-rays of your mouth. This will help us determine if your wisdom teeth pose a current or future threat to your oral health. Early detection of issues results in better outcomes for our patients, so we recommend the first evaluation be completed in a patient’s mid-teenage years.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Before the procedure, we’ll discuss the various forms of anesthesia we may use during your procedure as well as any risks involved. Our primary goal is to ensure your comfort. We also want our patients to be as informed as possible, so there are no surprises. The qualified dentists at Waco Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery will surgically remove your wisdom teeth and suture the gum. We’ll then allow you to rest under our supervision. Once we determine that you’re safe to go home, we’ll send you on your way with post-op instructions as well as any necessary prescriptions. You’ll need to return to your follow-up appointment so we can check on your healing progress.
Call Us Today to Schedule Your Appointment
We take pride in making the entire process as streamlined as possible. The longer you wait to extract impacted wisdom teeth, the more discomfort they can cause, and the more difficult the procedure becomes. Contact our office today for a wisdom teeth consultation.