Wisdom Teeth Surgery Made Easy in Pittsburgh
Play it Smart: get Wisdom Teeth out Early
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are commonly referred to as third molars, that are typically the last teeth to come in at the back of your mouth, behind your second molars. Third molars usually do not erupt correctly and completely in the mouth. They need to be removed early in teenagers and young adults. If these third molars are not removed, they can crowd other teeth, develop gum disease, inflammation, and result in bad breath, bone loss, and potential decay of front teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Management
If your dentist or orthodontist recommends removal, or if you are feeling pain (swelling, infection) or crowding, schedule an appointment for a consultation. Dr. Khan will do a thorough exam and take a special panoramic x-ray (panorex) to determine the level of crowding and the positioning of the incoming wisdom teeth.
The panorex x-ray will reveal the positioning of your wisdom teeth and the level of eruption:
- Soft tissue impaction: the wisdom tooth has come through some of the bone but is still submerged in the gum, and creates difficulty in cleaning
- Partial bony impaction: the wisdom tooth has partially erupted, but the majority is still submerged in the gum and in the jawbone, which could result in infection
- Complete bony impaction: there is NO place for the wisdom tooth to erupt, remaining embedded in the jawbone and requiring complex surgical techniques and IV sedation for removal.
Reasons to remove wisdom teeth:
- Infection: Bacteria and food can become trapped under the gum tissue, resulting in an infection. The infection can cause considerable pain, facial swelling, and danger involving potential facial spaces in the face and neck areas
- Damage to nearby teeth: Second molars (the teeth directly in front of the wisdom teeth) can be adversely affected by impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in tooth decay (cavities), periodontal disease (gum disease) and possible bone loss.
- Cyst Development: Although uncommon, cysts and tumors can occur in the areas surrounding impacted wisdom teeth, leading to destruction of the adjacent jawbone and teeth later in life.
Surgical Removal of Wisdom Teeth
While surgery may sound scary, it is very common and often less painful than the discomfort associated with impacted wisdom teeth. In fact, approximately 85 percent of wisdom teeth will eventually need to be removed.
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Wisdom Teeth Removal
How To Prepare for Wisdom Teeth Surgery
After your initial consultation and panorex x-rays, our office will review your insurance and payment options, and schedule an appointment for wisdom teeth removal. In most cases, patients undergo office IV sedation in a comfortable and easy process that minimizes pain. Our office staff has the training, licensing, and experience to provide several types of anesthesia.
You will be given pre-operative instructions to prepare you and your loved ones for the surgery:
- We will call you to confirm your surgery time one week before surgery and review pre-op instructions.
- It is very important to abstain from eating and drinking before surgery, typically for 8 hours before your scheduled time.
- In most cases, you can take your medications with a small sip of water early in the morning, to maintain your regular medication routine.
- You should wear loose clothing for a comfortable experience during the procedure.
- You will be informed of what medical clearances may be required (if any) in advance of the surgical procedure and IV sedation.
On the day of surgery:
- A patient or responsible adult must accompany you to our office and be available during the procedure and after the procedure for the remainder of the day to care for you after surgery.
- If you are being sedated, Dr. Khan and/or a trained anesthesia professional will place an IV in your arm in a relatively painless manner.
- The procedure in most cases takes approximately 60 - 90 minutes.
- Following surgery, you will receive post-operative instructions and medications with your escort to ease your pain and accelerate your healing.
Our staff will follow up with you after the procedure to see how you are doing and to take care of any questions or concerns you may have. In most cases, it will be a relatively quick and easy process!
What to Expect after Wisdom Teeth Removal
Each patient has an individual reaction to the surgical procedure. In the majority of cases, after wisdom teeth removal, you may experience some minor discomfort, swelling and potential minimal bleeding. You should follow your post-operative instructions closely, and complete the course of medications prescribed. You should avoid driving, cigarettes, alcohol, and dairy products in the first week after surgery. You will want to limit your activities for a few days. You will need time to allow your body to heal before resuming an active schedule. Most patients are on the road to recovery in approximately 3 – 5 days.
