Wisdom Teeth Removal in Nottingham, MD

Third molars often develop between the ages of 17 and 21. These molars, more commonly known as wisdom teeth, can cause a number of oral health problems if they are left untreated. At Akeso Oral, Facial & Dental Implant Surgery, we perform wisdom tooth removal in the comfort of our office so you can protect your oral health. Our oral surgeons will design a custom care plan for you or your child. Contact our office in Nottingham, MD, today to schedule a consultation and see if it's time to have your wisdom teeth extracted.

Why Remove Wisdom Teeth?

The last set of molars to erupt are known as wisdom teeth, and they develop at the back of the mouth behind the second molars. Some people develop all four wisdom teeth, while others develop less than four, none at all, or, in rare cases, more than four. Extra molars trying to squeeze in may cause serious oral health problems, such as gum disease, pain, swelling, infection, cysts or tumors, and impaction. By having wisdom teeth extracted, you prevent these issues from having the chance to arise.

Most people have their wisdom teeth removed when they first develop because the surgical procedure is easier and younger patients tend to recover faster. However, we can extract wisdom teeth for adults of any age.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

When a tooth is blocked from erupting into the dental arch, it is considered to be impacted. A wisdom tooth may be partially impacted, where part of it has erupted, or fully impacted, where it is completely trapped beneath the gums and is not visible in the mouth. Impacted wisdom teeth pose a great risk to your oral health because they grow at odd angles. They can damage adjacent teeth and their roots, and because they cannot be properly cleaned, impacted teeth increase your risk of infection or gum disease. Impacted teeth cannot erupt on their own and require surgical removal, which is performed by an oral surgeon.

Wisdom Teeth Symptoms

Not all wisdom teeth cause pain or noticeable symptoms. Some people don't know they have wisdom teeth until years later, when their wisdom teeth have already caused significant damage. This is why it's important to attend regular dental appointments. Your dentist will take X-rays of your mouth and refer you to an oral surgeon when wisdom teeth are detected. If you experience any of these symptoms, it may be time to have your wisdom teeth removed:

• Pain
• Swollen or red gums
• Gums that easily bleed
• Swelling around the jaw
• Chronic bad breath
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth

Schedule a consultation today if you suspect the presence of third molars. Proactively having them removed, even if they are not causing issues now, can protect your long-term oral health.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure

Our offices at Akeso Oral, Facial & Dental Implant Surgery are equipped with state-of-the-art 3d imaging technology that allows our team to see the exact size and location of third molars. We use this data to create a custom treatment plan for every patient, which we will explain prior to your procedure. Our surgeons offer local anesthesia, IV sedation, laughing gas, and general anesthesia to choose from and will help you select the right anesthesia option for your needs.

During the procedure, your surgeon will make an incision in the gum tissue to access any impacted wisdom teeth. If the wisdom teeth have erupted through the gums, we can simply extract them using forceps. Large teeth may be broken into smaller pieces to make extraction easier. Dissolvable sutures are placed as needed around the extraction sites and if you underwent IV sedation—which is the common choice for this procedure—a responsible adult must drive you home.

We provide post-operative instructions to aid in your recovery. These instructions will include soft food recommendations, how to manage discomfort with pain medications, when to rinse and brush your teeth, and more. If you have questions at any point, contact our office and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.

Wisdom Teeth Removal in Nottingham, MD

At Akeso Oral, Facial & Dental Implant Surgery, we make the oral and maxillofacial surgery process a comfortable and positive experience for our patients and their families. To find out if it's time for you or your child to have wisdom teeth removed, contact our office in Nottingham, MD, to schedule a consultation with our oral surgeons.