Oral Surgery is in the House!

Invisalign vs SureSmile vs Direct Mail vs Traditional Braces... What is right for me?? How Your Airway affects your Oral Health

In our never-ending quest to make optimal oral health accessible to our patients, we have recently partnered with Dr. Samer Elbatanouny to bring him on site at least one day a month. We are SO excited to say we can now help many of our patients in-house with:

• impacted wisdom tooth extractions

• Implant supported dentures

• IV conscious sedation

Since we see so many impacted or otherwise complicated wisdom teeth cases, we are especially stoked for that piece of this development. You may be asking:

What does it mean to have an impacted wisdom tooth?

Sometimes your wisdom tooth tries as hard as it can, but can’t make it all the way out of the gum tissue - be it due to a physical barrier, the wrong eruption angle, or just not enough room in the jaw. These teeth are called “impacted,” and can be unerupted (completely under gum/bone) or partially erupted. 

Impacted wisdom teeth may not present issues for you, but they do put you at higher risk for any of the following:

• Decay/Infection: leading to pain, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding
• Misalignment of your other teeth: the pressure against your other teeth can cause crowding or other alignment issue that require orthodontia to fix
• Damage to your other teeth: chipping, cracking, increased risk of infection to the adjacent molars
• Gum disease: difficulty in keeping this area clean can mean bacteria buildup that can lead to periodontitis if left unchecked

What do these extraction appointments entail?

All of Dr. Sam’s extraction appointments are performed under IV conscious sedation, otherwise known as “twilight sleep.” This is not general anesthesia, and so does not require large amounts of medications, but will numb sensation and sedate you enough to essentially eliminate recollection of the procedure. You will need someone with you for the duration of the procedure who can get you home afterwards. 

The extraction itself is a relatively straightforward procedure wherein the gum is opened up to allow access to the tooth, and the tooth is fully removed from the bone, including all roots. Sutures are placed as necessary to aid healing, and post-operative instructions/prescriptions are delivered to you and your companion after you are done.

Are there risks or side effects associated with wisdom tooth extraction?

While there are risks with any procedure, the risks associated with extracting wisdom teeth is low, especially if you follow your post-operative instructions diligently. To avoid potential complications such as uncontrolled bleeding, dry socket, or infection, it’s important to NOT:

• Smoke
• Drink through a straw
• Rinse your mouth vigorously by swishing
• Don’t expectorate
• Avoid strenuous physical activity for the first 24 hours.

Have you been told you need your wisdom teeth out but have been putting it off? Get in touch today and we can help you explore your options!