Wisdom Teeth

• The Problem with Wisdom Teeth
• The Best Time to Have Them Removed
• Anesthesia
• Wisdom Teeth FAQs

The Problem with Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth can pose a variety of problems due to their late eruption and potential misalignment. Common issues include:

1. Overcrowding: Wisdom teeth may cause crowding in the mouth, leading to discomfort, misalignment of other teeth, and difficulty with proper oral hygiene.

2. Impaction: If there’s not enough space for wisdom teeth to fully emerge, they can become impacted, causing pain, swelling, and infection.

3. Misalignment: Wisdom teeth may emerge at odd angles, leading to misalignment and bite problems.

4. Gum issues: Partially erupted wisdom teeth can create pockets where bacteria can accumulate, increasing the risk of gum disease and infection.

5. Cysts and tumors: In rare cases, wisdom teeth can lead to the development of cysts or tumors in the jawbone.

Due to these potential complications, many individuals opt to have their wisdom teeth removed preventatively to avoid future problems and maintain optimal oral health.

The Best Time to Have Them Removed

It is generally recommended to consider removal during the late teenage years or early adulthood, typically between the ages of 17 and 25, before the roots fully develop and complications become more likely. Early removal may be advisable to prevent potential problems such as overcrowding, impaction, and misalignment. Additionally, younger individuals tend to experience faster healing and fewer complications after the procedure.

Examination for Extraction of Wisdom Teeth

An examination is required prior to extraction of wisdom teeth to assess your specific circumstances surrounding the teeth and overall oral health while minimizing risks and complications. Here’s why:

1. Evaluation: The examination allows us to assess the position, development, and alignment of the wisdom teeth. This helps determine if extraction is necessary and if so, the best approach for removal.

2. Identification of Potential Complications: An examination helps identify any potential complications associated with the wisdom teeth, such as impaction, crowding, or infection. Understanding these factors helps us plan the extraction procedure accordingly.

3. Assessment of Oral Health: The examination also involves evaluating the patient’s overall oral health, including the condition of surrounding teeth, gums, and jawbone. This information helps ensure that the extraction procedure can be performed safely and effectively.

4. Tailored Treatment Plan: Based on the findings from the examination, we will develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific needs and concerns. 

We do not perform same-day extractions except in the case of doctor declared emergency, so will get your surgery appointment scheduled at this appointment.

Anesthesia

Dr. Haynie has extensive experience in anesthesia. We are able to provide safe and comfortable anesthesia for patients of all ages. Almost all of our wisdom teeth patients choose IVS sedation to undergo the procedure safely and comfortably. Benefits of IVS sedation for wisdom teeth extraction include: 

• Comfort: IVS induces a deep state of relaxation, ensuring patients are comfortable and free from pain during the procedure.

• Anxiety reduction: Many individuals experience anxiety or fear related to dental procedures. IVS can help alleviate these feelings, allowing patients to undergo treatment with ease.

• Faster recovery: IVS typically has a shorter recovery time compared to general anesthesia, allowing patients to resume normal activities more quickly after the procedure.

• Safety: IVS is administered and monitored by trained professionals to ensure the patient’s safety and well-being throughout the entire process.

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 decide to wait?

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 can be increased. If your impacted wisdom teeth are not removed in your teenage years or early in your twenties and they are completely impacted in bone, it may be advisable to wait until a localized problem (such as cyst formation or localized gum disease and bone loss) develops. 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?

The morning of your surgery, you cannot have anything to eat or drink 8-12 hours prior to your surgery. You can take small sips of water to take your medications, but should only drink as much as is necessary to take the medications.  You will also need a responsible adult to drive you home after. 

As you arrive in office, we will ensure that there hasn’t been any changes to your health history, that you haven’t eaten, and that you have your driver with you. As long as everything is up-to-date and correct, we will promptly get you to your surgery room. 

We have a theater room for your driver to enjoy snacks, drinks, a massage chair, and Netflix as they wait. Most patients are surprised to learn that wisdom teeth in our office only takes about 30 minutes (compared to an hour or more in other offices) so you won’t be waiting long. 

As the patient is led to their surgery room by one of our surgical assistants, we will ask a few last minute questions and then immediately take your vitals and start the IV. Once the IV is started, Dr. Haynie will be in within a few minutes to start the medications that put you to sleep. From this point, you will be completely asleep for the rest of the procedure and likely won’t remember anything from the time he entered until you are with your guest again. We will track your vitals through the whole procedure and take all of the necessary precautions to ensure that you are safe, as this is our #1 priority. This ensures that your procedure is pain-free,  anxiety-free, and that you and your guest will leave feeling relaxed and well taken care of. 

Click here for Post-Operative instructions. 

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.

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.

Wisdom Teeth FAQs

What does “impacted” mean?

• An impacted tooth is one that is unable to erupt through the gums. It is very common. In fact, 9 out of 10 people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth requiring removal.

How long does the surgery take?

• Wisdom teeth extraction typically takes about 30 minutes.

Does wisdom teeth extraction hurt?

• The surgery itself doesn’t hurt as you will be asleep for the procedure. However, you will probably have some soreness as the anesthesia wears off, lasting for a few days. We will develop a medication plan with you prior to surgery to minimize discomfort.

If your child is between the ages of 17 and 25, please call our friendly, fun team to schedule a wisdom teeth consultation. We will make sure that your wisdom tooth experience is a great one! Coeur D'Alene Office Phone Number 208-664-0844