Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Wisdom tooth extractions are often one of the first encounters a person has with surgery of any kind. For many, the idea of surgery causes anxiety, but our team is here to ensure that having your wisdom teeth removed is nothing to worry about. If you're the type who wants to really understand the who, what, when, why and how of it all before scheduling your initial appointment, then you're in the right place.

Let's walk through the process together.

The Role of Wisdom Tooth Removal in Oral Health

Spoiler alert- not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. This is why our board-certified oral surgeon will review a panoramic x-ray of your full mouth and evaluate whether you have the space to accommodate your 3rd molars when they erupt. Many adults have the space to allow for all of their wisdom teeth to come in without issue- bit with extra teeth comes extra oral hygiene responsibility.

The reason most of us have our 3rd molars removed in adolescence is because we've simply evolved to adapt to a new diet that doesn't require those extra molars for mastication (chewing). Mouths are smaller than they once were, and with less space, we have to make room for your teeth, and many people consider it not cosmetically pleasing. About 80-95% of Americans have their wisdom teeth removed for this reason, or a few others, and the most common time is between the ages of 15 and 30. When you're young, your body is ablet o heal more quickly.

Why do I even Need...Section Image - Wisdom Tooth Service Page.jpg

In this panoramic x-ray, we can see two wisdom teeth that are what we call "fully impacted". This means that the entire tooth is below the gum and bone line and has either not yet erupted or cannot erupt properly. That's not unusual for a tooth that hasn't erupted, but what is important about this patient is that we can see that they don't have the space for all of those molars to move into place. The top molars would run into the crown of the 2nd molars if they were to come down, and the lower molars are "mispositioned", which means that they aren't in the proper position for a tooth in a 'well-aligned jaw'. Those lower molars will cause problems for teeth #18 and #32 (the teeth the 3rd molars are pushing into) by putting pressure on a part of the tooth that isn't suited for that kind of pressure, like the top-down force chewing puts on your teeth, for example.

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Common Reasons for Wisdom Tooth Removal

1

"Malposition"- wisdom teeth can be what dentists refer to as 'malposed', meaning that the tooth is positioned in such a way that isn't upright. It may be that it is erupting at an angle into the roots or crown of an adjacent tooth. When wisdom teeth are malposed and erupting, it can cause discomfort and damage to the neighboring molar. Being that wisdom teeth are impacted (refer to our x-ray above) before they erupt, it isn't possible for an orthodontist to fix the position of these teeth so that they aren't affecting other healthy teeth.

2

"Impaction"- before any tooth erupts it is covered by gum tissue and jawbone. For wisdom teeth this can lead to trouble when the teeth begin to push themselves through that tissue into your smile line. often, the mouth is too small to accommodate our third set of molars. Not having enough space to erupt will result in either a 'partial bony impaction' or a 'full bony impaction', of any or all of the wisdom teeth. Impacted teeth without room to move can lead to jaw pain, toothaches, pain when eating or brushing, swelling and infection

3

"Decay and / or Caries"- for some, wisdom teeth erupt perfectly well and can be relied upon to act as healthy teeth for any number of years; however, erupted wisdom teeth are susceptible to decay and caries. Thsoe third molars reside in the farthest corners of your mouth making them difficult to clean with even the best regular brushing habits. Lack of routine oral hygiene is the top cause of caries- cavities- followed secondly by diet. When you combine an adulthood of acidic coffees, office breakroom birthday cakes, and snack foods that like to cling to your enamel, like potato chips, it makes sense that adults find their way to the dental chair for wisdom tooth extractions even after decades of faithful service by those extra molars.

Your Wisdom Tooth Removal Experience

Wisdom tooth removal is typically a smooth and predictable process - click the arrows to learn more

STEP 1
Recognizing you need your wisdom teeth removed
There are three common ways you might come to realize your wisdom teeth need to be removed:

1. You're advised by your general dentist or dental specialist
2. You're experiencing pain associated with eruption
3. You know that most people have their wisdom teeth removed at some point
STEP 2
Schedule A Consultation with an Oral Surgeon
If you're unfamiliar with wisdom tooth removal treatment, i.e. surgical extraction, you should start with discussing your case with an oral surgeon. Every patient is just a little bit different when it comes to wisdom teeth. Factors like the number of wisdom teeth you have, the stage of eruption of each tooth, the position of each tooth, etc. will contribute to your treatment plan. These factors will also play a role in possible complications, though serious complications are rare.

Your oral surgeon will evaluate these factors using a panoramic radiograph, or PAN. Panoramic x-rays are two-dimensional images of the full upper and lower jaws. These images capture all of the detail of each tooth from crown to root tip, their position relative to one another, bone density, and proximity to important structures like facial nerves and arteries. Having an accurate picture of your mouth allows your surgeon to most carefully plan the extraction of each wisdom tooth in the least risky traumatic method possible.

After reviewing your x-ray with you, your surgeon will diagnose each third molar as erupted, partially impacted or fully impacted. These diagnosis codes are used to generate a treatment plan that outlines your recommended procedure.
STEP 3
Schedule Surgery
Depending on the reason you consulted to have your wisdom teeth removed, you may be eager to schedule surgery or you may be inclined to wait until a time that is better suited to you financially, medically, or otherwise. In most cases, surgery isn't so urgent unless directed expressly by your surgeon you should feel comfortable taking your time deciding when you're ready for surgery.

The extraction of each tooth will depend on the level of impaction, but to keep things simple, click the button below to see a step-by-step overview of surgeries completed with IV sedation- this is the most common approach for extracting all four wisdom teeth in a single surgery
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Understanding Potential Risks

Serious complications following wisdom tooth surgery are rare, but some minor post-operative issues can occur:

Dry Socket
Excessive Bleeding
Impacted Food, Debris
Generalized Discomfort

If you've searched "wisdom tooth removal near me," you've probably seen just how many choices there are- but not all providers offer the same level of expertise. The key difference comes down to training. Oral surgeons specialize in surgical procedures like wisdom tooth removal and have advanced training in managing complex cases, such as impacted teeth or those positioned near nerves or sinuses. While many general dentists perform extractions, they often refer patients to an oral surgeon when the case requires a higher level of precision of care. Choosing a specialist ensures you're in the best hands for a smooth, safe experience.

Don't let troublesome wisdom teeth hold you back. At New Albany Oral and Facial Surgery, we're here to make your experience as smooth and painless as possible, regardless of age. The expertise of our surgeon, cutting-edge technology, and gentle care ensure you'll be back to your best self in no time.

New Albany Oral and Facial Surgery offers the most advanced surgical techniques and integrative medical procedures, providing the ultimate patient experience. Outside of the surgical suite, the NAOMS team focuses on the following pillars of care:

Why Patients Trust NAOS

Say Goodbye to Wisdom Teeth | in 3 Steps

STEP 1
Understand Your Case
Our administrative team supports our surgeons in ensuring that you understand your treatment options prior to considering surgery. This begins with capturing the best x-ray imaging to diagnose and plan your surgical care. Your surgeon and patient care coordinator are experts, so be sure to use your consultation as an opportunity to ask any questions you may have after the surgeon completes his exam, Successful surgeries with understanding your case.
STEP 2
Plan A Financially Comfortable Treatment Plan
From the diagnosis, your patient care coordinator will develop a treatment plan estimate to outline the cost o fall treatment options you discussed with your surgeon. prior to your visit, our team verified any dental insurance policy you provided when you scheduled. Those benefits will be carefully applied to your treatment plan to give you an estimated out-of-pocket obligation for those services not covered in part or in full by your insurance provider.
If the out-of-pocket cost of your treatment plan is prohibitive, your patient care coordinator is able to discuss a number of financing options that may work for you. There may also be an opportunity to adjust the timeline of your treatment to "phase" care in more financially feasible increments.
Since payment is due at time of service, our team does everything possible to ensure all foreseeable costs are detailed up front. We are proud that we can be among the few medical providers with whom you don't have to blindly commit to recommended treatment only to be surprised with bills 2-4 weeks later. Our team takes the up front approach to discussing a financially comfortable treatment plan.
STEP 3
Smile Again
If successful surgeries start with understanding your case, then they certainly conclude with understanding your post-operative care. Our clinical team works with your surgeon to provide the most detailed pre- and post-operative care instructions so that healing from surgery isn't holding you back from returning to daily life. Dental treatment, especially oral surgery, can unexpectedly put a stop to your routines and comfort. Completing surgery with New Albany Oral and Facial Surgery mean that you'll be back to smiling again in no time.