Why Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?

Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, but they all need to be checked by your dentist or an oral surgeon or orthodontist. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum and even remain trapped beneath the gum buried in the bone. Impacted wisdom teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to erupt successfully.

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These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the tooth is difficult to clean. Food trapped beneath the gums will quickly lead to painful inflammation will eventually cause an infection. An acute infection arises quickly and results in fever, painful swelling, difficulty chewing and limited opening. A long term chronic infection is gum disease. This results in significant recession of the gum and bone around the back teeth that could lead to the loss of not only the wisdom teeth but the second molars next to them as well. The pressure from the erupting wisdom tooth may move other teeth causing crowding of the anterior teeth. This can disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of the front teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy adjacent teeth. Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure. In general terms, patients bounce back from such surgical procedures much quicker at a young age (teenage years) than as middle age or elderly adults. Also medical problems arise as we age, which can limit the options available to be used to remove these teeth such as IV anesthesia.

Oral Examination

With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, your doctor can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there may be present or future problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in the mid-teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

All outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. All board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons have the training, license and experience to provide various types of anesthesia for patients to select the best alternative suited for their individual needs and desires.

Surgical Procedure For Removing Wisdom Teeth

In most cases, your wisdom teeth will be removed in your doctor’s office. There are three basic options available for to provide for your comfort during the removal of wisdom teeth: local anesthesia alone, laughing gas (nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia) with local anesthesia or IV anesthesia with local anesthesia. On rare occasion, your procedure will need to be performed as an outpatient at the Memorial Hospital in North Conway, NH. This would be due to your individual medical history or the complexity of your wisdom tooth surgery. These options as well as the surgical risks (i.e. sensory nerve damage, sinus complications) will be discussed with you at your pre-operative consultation. Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured and gauze is placed in your mouth to bite on to control bleeding. You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge, your post-operative kit will include post-operative instructions, a prescription for pain medication, and a follow-up appointment in one week for suture removal. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 603-356-9755.

Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes modern monitoring equipment and staff that are experienced in anesthesia techniques.

Pre-Operative Instructions

Wisdom Teeth Post-Operative Instructions