Because there is not enough room for an extra set of molars, wisdom teeth may only partially erupt through the gums. Some wisdom teeth remain fully trapped beneath gums. These teeth are considered to be impacted, and an impacted wisdom tooth must be surgically removed. If left untreated, impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infections, dental overcrowding, and cause discomfort.
It is rare for a wisdom tooth to develop without causing any issue. Your dentist will check for wisdom teeth during routine visits and refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for treatment. Even if you are not in any discomfort, your wisdom teeth can still cause many health problems that require treatment. Untreated wisdom teeth can lead to:
These problems are avoidable by having wisdom teeth removed as soon as possible. If your wisdom teeth have already started causing problems or if you’d like an evaluation, contact Arizona Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Our oral surgeons in Tucson, AZ, have experience performing wisdom tooth removal at any stage of the growth process.
Most wisdom teeth begin developing during the late teens or early twenties. Dental professionals recommend having them removed before they fully develop. This is usually between the ages of 17 and 24. Early extraction when these teeth are not yet fully developed makes for a smoother surgical procedure and faster recovery.
During your consultation, we will take 3D scans of your teeth, outline the details of your treatment, and answer any questions. Most patients undergo IV sedation for this procedure, but we will outline all of your anesthesia and sedation options. We often combine this with a local anesthetic to ensure you do not feel any pain. Your surgeon will also give you pre-operative instructions to help you prepare for your procedure.
Once the local anesthesia and IV sedation are administered, your oral surgeon will make a small incision in the gum tissue. Your surgeon will remove the tooth whole or section it into smaller pieces, depending on its size. Once each tooth is removed, the surgical area will be sutured to promote faster healing. These sutures are usually dissolvable, so you won’t need to return to have them removed. You will rest in our office until your anesthesia wears off, then your driver will bring you home to recover. This person should monitor you for 24 hours.
Recovery is different for everyone, but patients are often back to their normal schedules within just a few days. The surgical sites will need to be kept clean for a couple of weeks until the empty tooth sockets heal fully. Do not smoke after surgery, as the suction could dislodge the blood clot forming within the sockets. This can cause a painful condition known as dry socket.
A soft food diet is required for the first few days. As you get more comfortable, you can begin incorporating harder foods back into your diet. Your surgeon will provide you with post-operative instructions to guide you throughout the recovery process.
The cost of having wisdom teeth removed varies for each patient. The total cost will depend on the number of wisdom teeth, dental insurance, anesthesia, and the overall complexity of the procedure. Our staff will provide you with the cost of your wisdom teeth removal during your first visit to our office.
Meet DanielleMarch 2017Danielle Reviews Her Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure Watch Review
"I came to Arizona Oral Surgeons because I had another friend who went here before, and he had a really good experience with it, so it made the process easier. I needed to get my wisdom teeth taken out, and so I had all four of them that needed to be removed. When I found out I needed to have them taken out, I was really nervous because I had never had any other type of surgery or anything like that before, so it was really scary for me at first. They were really, really welcoming when I came in, and they walked me through it and explained everything that was going to happen, and my mom was able to come back with me too, so it just all made it really simple. My procedure went really well. I don't really remember a whole lot after it, but when I was going in, I was really scared and they gave me a blanket, and they sat there with me and were very calm about it. My recovery was pretty good. Dr. Wood was really awesome because he called a few times and saw how I was doing. I would definitely recommend Arizona Oral Surgeons. It was a really good experience for me, and I don't think it could have gone any better."
Meet AmandaJanuary 2017Amanda Reviews Her Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure Watch Review
"I came to Arizona Oral Surgeons to get my wisdom teeth pulled. It was time for them to be taken out because they were growing in, so they needed to get rid of them so they won't bug me later on. I was very nervous indeed. I've never been knocked out/put under anesthetic/put to sleep before, so I was very concerned about how it was going to be and what was going to happen afterwards because everyone reacts differently. It went really well! I was actually really happy that it went well instead of chaos, and they were being so nice, and they didn't act like it was their job. They treated me like a friend, not just a patient. My recovery was actually really good. I was fine, I was awake, I wasn't groggy or anything. Dr. Coles was a really, really nice guy. I had fun. "
Meet CynthiaNovember 2016Cynthia Reviews Her Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure Watch Review
"I was referred by my dentist, so I just decided to try it. I had had kind of a traumatic extraction. I was really fearful, and I really wanted to get it done, and I wanted somebody to help me. I can truly say I did not feel a moment of anxiety or pain. I couldn't believe how easy it was, and I didn't ever think I'd ever say the word "easy" associated with a dental procedure. They called me and asked me how I was doing, and I didn't think doctors still did that. I really felt like Dr. Wood and his staff gave me a standard of what to expect from medical care, and I will forever compare everything else to how I was treated in his practice. I think he set a very high level of compassion, and that's what I want in medical care. I want not only the expertise but the compassion."
Meet JerryApril 2016Jerry Reviews His Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure Watch Review
"I had a problem with a wisdom tooth that I needed pulled, and it was a molar next to it that it was having problems with. So, I came to Dr. Wood just to check it out. First of all, I needed that wisdom tooth pulled out, so he pulled that out, and then we talked a little bit about the other tooth, and he said, "Well, let me take a look at it." So he took some extra film, and he goes, "No problem with that. We'll go ahead and reconstruct it." So he did that for me as well, which I was very grateful because I didn't want to lose that molar. Dr. Wood and his staff are very, very nice. They calm you down; they talk to you, they walk you through the procedure, and very gentle. And "Let me know if there's any pain; we'll go ahead and fix it." I would recommend Dr. Wood to anyone. Yeah, good people. All his staff especially. They do good work here."
Meet SydneyApril 2016Sydney Reviews Her Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure Watch Review
"I started having issues with my wisdom teeth at a golf tournament in Florida, and I didn't tell my parents because I didn't want them to freak out. It was just major pain; my cheek started swelling up because of the infection that was coming about. Dr. Wood made the procedure very easy for me. I was very pleased with how he treated me. Once I was done with my procedure, he called me that night. He also called me the next day just to make sure everything was going well. Coming to Dr. Wood was probably the best decision I made because they're so welcoming; it's almost as though they were part of the family or really close friends for a while. I would definitely recommend Arizona Oral Surgeons because of the family feel that you get and how welcoming and easy it is to get along with everyone."
