Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to erupt in the mouth. Occasionally, they contribute positively to one’s oral health, but in most cases wisdom teeth are misaligned and require removal.
Problems which can occur with wisdom teeth eruption and thus necessitate removal include crowding of adjacent teeth, recurring infections, decay on adjacent teeth, and even development of cyst and subsequent weakening of the jawbone.
The presence and position of wisdom teeth is best diagnosed by your general dentist and/or oral surgeon with the aid of a panoramic x-ray. This type of x-ray permits the dentist and oral surgeon to properly evaluate the development and eruption of the wisdom teeth. In selective cases, the three-dimensional CT scan may be necessary to discern the proper position of the wisdom teeth in your jaw.
In order to safely and painlessly remove your wisdom teeth our Doctors highly recommend all wisdom teeth extractions be done under general anesthesia. Once you are “asleep” a long acting anesthetic is administered to provide up to 6 hours of pain relief after surgery. Since you will be under general anesthesia it is required you have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery and a responsible adult to drive you to the office, stay there, and drive you home.
Most healthy young individuals recover from wisdom teeth removal without any significant problems. A few days of rest and following our instructions will go a long way toward an uneventful recovery. Common concerns related to your post-op recovery are covered in you post-op instructions. We will go over them in detail with your ride before your discharge.
Lastly, most dental and/or medical insurances will cover part or the entire fee for removal of the wisdom teeth. Please check with your policy to determine if wisdom teeth removal with anesthesia is a covered procedure of your policy and whether or not our office participates in the insurance plan.