Oral Surgery

Is an impacted wisdom tooth a problem?

It is common to see swelling, infection, pain of the impacted teeth and the gums. Damage commonly extends to the adjacent healthy teeth and the surrounding jawbones. Impacted teeth also develop into cysts, abscess, and tumors that may destroy a great area of one’s jawbones.

I do not feel any pain or suffering from any problems. Can we leave it alone?

Impacted wisdom teeth can be predictably removed with no discomfort. Our concern is that, on a regular basis, we do see the condition of the good tooth in front of an impacted wisdom tooth deteriorate due to the position of the wisdom tooth. If the wisdom tooth is deeply embedded, it may be possible to leave it and review with radiographs regularly. Occasionally, an asymptomatic deeply embedded wisdom tooth may turn into a cyst. That will require a bigger surgery to remove the tooth. It is very common to see an impacted wisdom tooth with no significant symptoms. It is impossible to predict when an impacted tooth may flare up and cause trouble. It is likely that it will cause trouble some point in its life. When it becomes symptomatic, the treatment will be more complicated. There are times that your medical condition may complicate treatment too. For example, a normal course of pregnancy will make caring for an infected wisdom tooth more problematic.

Can we straighten an impacted wisdom tooth?

No.

When should I have the impacted tooth removed?

Experts recommended wisdom teeth to be removed during teenage years or in the early 20s. People in this age group recover faster. Practically speaking, younger individuals can schedule their time easier than a working adult with a family, as less interruption is needed for younger individuals. You will never miss those problematic wisdom teeth!

Will I be able to chew after my wisdom teeth are out?

Modern human beings retain most of our teeth. As a result, wisdom teeth are usually non-functional. You will not suffering from lack of chewing ability because of wisdom teeth removal.

Would I be out of action after the procedure?

No. You will be back to normal life the same day! In rare circumstances, minor swelling may occur but you will be able to live a regular life with few restrictions in general. Taking the medication we prescribe is one of the keys to speedy recovery.

Are there any risks with wisdom teeth removal?

It is a safe procedure. Due to the location of the wisdom teeth, a rare complication is numbness of the tongue, lip or chin. This happens very rarely and when it does it is usually temporary. As doctors, we always do our best to perform procedures in a safe manner. Your welfare is our priority.

What should I do after my oral surgery (e.g. dental extraction or implant surgery)?

Right after the procedure, you are supposed to bite onto the gauze over the surgical site for one hour. Even though the bleeding has stopped when you are discharged, it is normal to taste blood. Do not spit out, rinse your mouth or brush your teeth for 24 hours. Swallow your saliva instead. Rinsing your mouth and spitting out may dislodge the blood clot and bleeding may start again. The surgical site usually stays numb for approximately two hours. Food and hot drinks should not be consumed until the sensation has recovered. After that, eat over the normal, un-treated area. It is crucial to take all the medication as prescribed and keep your follow-up appointment to ensure uneventful healing. You may contact our office during office hours or contact our emergency number after office hours.