Wisdom Teeth Removal in your area

What are wisdom teeth?

Third molars are commonly referred to as wisdom teeth. They are usually the last teeth to develop and are located in the back of your mouth, behind your second molars. Their development is usually completed between the middle teenage years and early twenties.

Oral examination for extraction of wisdom teeth

With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, Dr. Broadbent, Dr. Chandler, Dr. Hall, and Dr. McCormick can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there are present or future potential 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. Our Board Certified doctors are trained, licensed, and highly experienced in providing various types of anesthesia for patients.

Why should I have my wisdom teeth removed?

If you do not have enough room in your mouth for your third molars to fully erupt, a number of problems can happen. Impacted wisdom teeth should be removed before their root structure is fully developed. In some patients it is as early as 12 or 13, and in others it may not be until the early twenties. Problems tend to occur with increasing frequency after the age of 30. Some of the possible problems related to not removing your wisdom teeth include:

Infection

The most frequent clinical problem we see is pericoronitis, (a localized gum infection). Without enough room for total eruption, the gum tissue around the wisdom tooth can become irritated and infected, resulting in recurrent pain, swelling, and problems with chewing and/or swallowing.

Cyst formation

Non-infectious diseases may also arise in association with an impacted wisdom tooth. Cysts are fluid-filled “balloons” inside the jaw bone that develop as a result of impacted teeth and slowly expand destroying adjacent jaw bone and occasionally teeth. They can be very difficult to treat if your wisdom teeth are not removed in your teenage years. Although rare, tumors can be associated with the delayed removal of wisdom teeth.

Possible crowding

Impacted wisdom teeth may contribute to crowding of your teeth. This is most noticeable with the front teeth, primarily the lower front teeth and is most commonly seen after a patient has had braces. There are a number of factors that cause teeth to crowd after braces or in early adulthood. Retained, impacted wisdom teeth may be a contributing factor. Unless you have an active problem when you see the oral surgeon, the reason for removal is primarily to prevent long-term damage to your teeth, gums and jaw bone.

Damage to adjacent teeth

If there is inadequate room to clean around the wisdom tooth, the tooth directly in front, the second molar, can be adversely affected resulting in gum disease, bone loss around the tooth, and/or decay.

What if I don’t have my wisdom teeth removed as a teenager or young adult?

As wisdom teeth develop, the roots become longer and the jaw bone more dense. When it is necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth in your thirties, forties or beyond, the post-operative course can be prolonged and there is a higher complication rate. Treating these complications is often more difficult and less predictable than with a younger patient. Healing may be slower and the chance of infection may increase. In general you will heal faster more predictably and have fewer complications if treated in your teens or early twenties.

What happens on the day wisdom teeth are removed?

You will be provided with appropriate anesthesia options at your consultation.

On the day of your procedure, we ask that a parent or responsible adult accompanies you to the office and plans to stay with you the rest of the day. The average procedure will take about 30 to 60 minutes. You and your escort should plan on being in our office for about 90 minutes in total. Recent advances in medicine and technology allow patients to undergo wisdom tooth removal in a manner which promotes rapid healing and minimal post-operative discomfort. State-of-the-art sterilization and infection control techniques are used at all times.

On the morning or afternoon of your surgery, it is essential that you have nothing to eat or drink (speak with our doctors about taking prescribed medications prior to surgery) for at least 8 hours. Having anything in your stomach can increase the risk for serious anesthetic complications, including nausea and vomiting. Your procedure will be rescheduled if you have not heeded these guidelines. When you are seated in the surgical room, we will make every effort to make you as comfortable as possible. If you are going to be sedated, we will administer the anesthesia through an IV. This is a quick and nearly painless procedure that ensures optimal delivery of your medication. Once you are sedated, local anesthesia is used to numb the extraction sites to ensure your comfort during and after the procedure. You will be sleepy for a significant portion of the day. Upon leaving our office, you will be instructed to take medications to help minimize post-operative pain and swelling.

The day of treatment

Be sure to have an adult with you at the time of removal. Make plans to have a parent or responsible adult stay with you for the rest of the day following wisdom tooth removal.

If your surgery requires stitches, these are usually the type that dissolve in 3 to 5 days and do not require removal. You may also notice a sensation of your gums feeling swollen and pulling away from your teeth. This is all part of the normal recovery, and will subside in several days. To help prevent opioid overdose and addiction, we will recommend non-narcotic medications to be taken as prescribed. Please refer to our post operative instructions for more details. If you are given antibiotics and you take birth control pills, please be aware that the birth control pills might become ineffective and take appropriate precautions.

What does wisdom tooth removal cost and is it covered by insurance?

The fee for your treatment is determined by a number of factors; these may include the difficulty involved in removing your teeth and which type of anesthesia is best for you. During your consultation appointment, the surgeon will need to review your x-rays, complete an examination and determine the best option for anesthesia, before an accurate estimate can be provided. Every insurance company has a different policy regarding the extent of coverage for a given surgical procedure. Our office staff will help you obtain maximum insurance coverage for your treatment. We recognize that your insurance may help you pay for part of your care. Your insurance coverage is a contract between you and your insurance carrier. As a courtesy, we will bill services provided in our office to your insurance carrier with the complete information you have provided. Visit our Insurance Frequently Asked Questions. An initial payment is often required at the time of service depending on your insurance benefit and coverage. To help alleviate unexpected financial obligations, we recommend that you contact your insurance company to verify your treatment plan for your procedure. Also, if you require monthly payment options, we recommend PatientFi. They offer quick acceptance and low monthly patient options.

What if I have questions before surgery?

At the time of your consultation, your specific situation will be discussed in greater detail. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have. If new questions arise after your consultation, please call our office at 801-779-0506 to speak to one of our patient care coordinators.

The day of treatment

Please do not eat or drink anything 8 hours prior to your surgery. Having anything in your stomach can increase the risk for serious anesthetic complications.

Although most people develop and grow 32 permanent adult teeth, many times their jaws are too small to accommodate the four wisdom teeth. When inadequate space prevents the teeth from erupting they are called impacted wisdom teeth. This indicates their inability to erupt into the proper position for chewing and cleaning.

During your consultation appointment, one of our doctors will review your current x-ray to determine the position and the level of impaction of your wisdom teeth.

• Soft Tissue Impaction: An insufficient amount of room to allow the gum tissue to retract for adequate cleaning of the tooth.
• Partial Bony Impaction: Enough space to allow the wisdom tooth to partially erupt is available. However, the tooth cannot function properly in the chewing process and creates cleaning problems, among others.
• Complete Bony Impaction: Due to the lack of space, the tooth remains embedded in the jaw bone. Even if the tooth is partially visible, the impacted tooth requires complex surgical techniques for removal. The impacted wisdom tooth may also be in an unusual position and difficult to remove. This situation can also arise when the shape or size of the jaw bone and other facial structures make removal of this tooth significantly more complex.

Soft Tissue

Partial Bony

Complete Bony

In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under local anesthesia, laughing gas (nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia), or general anesthesia. These options, as well as the surgical risks (i.e., sensory nerve damage, sinus complications), will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed. Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured. To help control bleeding bite down on the gauze placed in your mouth. You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge your postoperative kit will include postoperative instructions. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at Bountiful Office Phone Number 801-779-0506.

Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety. We utilize modern monitoring equipment and our staff are experienced in anesthesia techniques.

What will I feel like after wisdom teeth removal surgery?

On the first day after wisdom teeth removal surgery, you may experience some minor bleeding and pain. A variable amount of swelling can be expected following the surgery. This swelling usually peaks on the second day and should begin resolving on the third day. You can limit the amount of swelling you will have by using ice for the entire first day. The more ice you use the first day, the less swelling you are likely to have on the second day. Please remember to put ice on the first day even if it is somewhat uncomfortable to have the cold next to your skin. On the third day, you will notice that your jaw muscles are stiff, and it is difficult to open your mouth normally. You can apply moist heat to your face on the second and third day allowing your muscles to relax more and open wider. Most of the time you will want to limit your activities for a few days. We ask that you follow your post-operative instructions closely. Doing so will make you as comfortable as possible during the first few days following your procedure. Please allow time for your body to begin healing before resuming an active social or athletic schedule.

Are there any problems after the extraction of wisdom teeth?

As with any medical procedure, there can be complications or an unanticipated result. Some complications that patients undergoing wisdom tooth extraction may experience include:

• damage to the sensory nerve that supplies sensation to the lips and tongue
• sinus communication
• infections
• dry sockets

Dr. Broadbent, Dr. Chandler, Dr. Hall, and Dr. McCormick will review relevant post-operative events with you and answer any questions during your office visit.

Damage to sensory nerve

A primary concern is a nerve within the lower jaw bone that supplies feeling to the lower lip, chin, and tongue. This nerve is frequently very close to the roots of the lower wisdom teeth. Having these teeth out between the ages of 12 and 18 usually provides shorter roots so that the nerve is not so close to the roots of these teeth. Occasionally, when the teeth are removed, and especially in older patients, the nerve can become injured. When local anesthesia wears off, you may experience a tingling or numbing sensation in the lower lip, chin, or tongue. Should this occur, it is usually temporary and will resolve gradually over a period of weeks or months. On rare occasions it can result in a permanent alteration of sensation similar to having local anesthesia. We feel that you should be aware of this possibility before consenting to surgery.

Sinus communication

The upper wisdom teeth are situated close to your sinuses, and their removal can result in an opening between your mouth and the sinus. Once again, if the teeth are removed at an early age, the root formation is minimal, and this complication is very unlikely. However, if it does occur, it will usually close spontaneously, but we may give you special instructions to follow, such as avoid blowing your nose for two or three days following the surgery. You can wipe your nose, but don’t blow your nose. If you have to sneeze, you should sneeze with an open mouth into a tissue. Pressure should not be created in the sinus area, which may dislodge the healing blood clot. If you sense this condition occurring after the surgery, please contact the office. An additional procedure may RARELY be necessary to close the opening.

Dry sockets

Dry sockets continue to be the most common problem people experience following dental surgery. They arise due to premature loss of a blood clot in the empty tooth socket. This seems to occur with greater frequency in people who smoke or are taking birth control pills. While both jaws can be affected, they usually occur in the lower jaw on the third to fifth day. They cause a deep, dull, continuous aching on the affected side(s). Patients may first notice the pain starting in the ear radiating down towards the chin. The symptoms frequently begin in the middle of the night, and your pain medication regimen may not help. Treatment can involve changing your prescription. Occasionally it is helpful to place a medicated dressing in the empty tooth socket. This will help decrease the pain and protect the socket from food particles. The effectiveness in alleviating the pain lasts for 24-48 hours and may require dressing changes every day or two, for five to seven days. Dressings usually are removed when you have been pain free for 2 to 3 days. The dressing doesn’t aid in healing. The only reason to place a dressing is for pain control. If medication is controlling the pain, the socket will heal without a dressing. Following removal of the dressing, an irrigation device may be provided to help you to keep food particles from lodging in the extraction site.

Infection

Occasionally, post-operative infections occur. This usually requires an office visit and clinical examination. Many times, just placing you on an antibiotic for one week will take care of the infection. If it persists, the area will have to be drained and cleaned. Other temporary problems you may experience in the post-operative period include stiffness of the jaws, chafing around the corners of your lips, facial bruising, and blood oozing from the extraction sites. The post-operative instruction sheet we will provide should answer many of the questions related to these more common concerns. If not, don’t hesitate to call the office at 801-779-0506.

The opioid crisis is becoming of utmost concern to healthcare providers across the board. The role of the oral surgeon in this crisis is something we take seriously. It is thought oftentimes that patients who are intimidated by narcotics and stay away, receive the medications for legitimate reasons, use them responsibly, but in later years are less afraid to try these drugs recreationally. This can lead to addiction. We have therefore embraced the use of Exparel — an injectable form of liposomal bupivacaine, to inject directly in to the surgical site. Exparel provides postoperative pain relief that lasts for days.

When it comes to surgery for your child, you’ve got lots of questions. We understand, and we hope that the guide we’ve created below will provide you with the answers you’re looking for and calm any anxiety you may have. Rest assured, your teenager is in expert hands at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Utah, and we take your faith in us and our expertise very seriously.