Wisdom Teeth Alternatives

Before we begin Before we remove your wisdom teeth, we’ll thoroughly examine your mouth and teeth, and we’ll also take X-rays of the teeth we’re going to remove so we can evaluate their roots and the bone that surrounds them. Be sure to tell us about any medical conditions you may have, or problems you’ve had with previous extractions. You’ll also need to tell us about any medications or supplements you’re taking, including aspirin, ibuprofen, herbal supplements and any other over-the-counter medicines. If you take oral contraceptives, we’ll need to know about that, too, as you could be prone to more problems with healing.

You may feel a bit groggy after the procedure, so you should arrange to have someone pick you up when you’re done. Then, to minimize problems after your tooth is removed, you ll need to follow our post-operative instructions carefully, especially for the first 24 hours. These instructions will tell you how to control bleeding, how to relieve pain and minimize swelling, how to prevent dry socket, and what to eat and not eat. We ‘ll also give you a prescription for a pain reliever, which will help to keep you comfortable. We may also prescribe an antibiotic; be sure to follow the directions precisely.

An appointment to have all four of your wisdom teeth removed usually takes only an hour or two. Before we begin, we’ll use anesthetic to numb the entire area around the teeth so you’ll be comfortable throughout the procedure.

If your wisdom teeth haven’t yet erupted (grown in) above the gum line, we’ll remove them through a small incision in your gums. To remove the wisdom teeth, we’ll use either forceps or an instrument called an “elevator.” Elevators are placed next to your tooth, and are used to gently roll it out of its socket. Forceps carefully grip the tooth so we can remove it.

As the tooth is removed, you’ll feel pressure, but not pain. If you feel any discomfort beyond just a sensation of pressure, be sure to let us know. We’ll stop immediately and give you more anesthetic.

Sometimes, if your tooth’s roots are curved or are tightly held in the socket, we might need to cut the tooth into sections and remove them one at a time. This is a very common practice, that can significantly reduce the amount of time and effort needed to remove an impacted wisdom tooth. Once the tooth is removed, if an incision was necessary we’ll close it with a couple of stitches.