Protect Your Oral Health
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to grow in the mouth. The average mouth can only hold 28 adult teeth, which can lead to problems when an extra set of molars tries to squeeze in. Wisdom teeth need to be extracted early to prevent many health complications.Most dental professionals recommend having your wisdom teeth removed early on before they have a chance to fully develop. It’s very rare that a wisdom tooth will develop and erupt normally without causing any problems. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons Dr. Ben Johnson, Dr. Sohaib Soliman, Dr. Hwi Sean Moon, Dr. Kevin Huang, and Dr. Michael Baily regularly perform wisdom tooth extractions safely in all of our offices located just south of Seattle.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
When a wisdom tooth becomes trapped beneath the gum tissue and cannot erupt into the mouth, we consider it to be impacted. These teeth grow at an angle toward your other molars, potentially pushing them out of alignment. A partially erupted tooth can be difficult to clean around, leaving you prone to infections and the formation of cysts.
Many people think that if they can’t feel their wisdom teeth, they don’t need to have them removed. However, this is not the case. In most cases, wisdom teeth grow in undetected without the presence of pain, and patients only feel them after they’ve become impacted and begun to cause serious health problems. Here are the health problems that are most commonly seen with wisdom teeth:
- Tumors or cysts
- Infection
- Tooth decay
- Damage to adjacent teeth
- Tooth crowding or misalignment
- Gum disease
Removing wisdom teeth early protects your mouth from these issues. If you think it may be time to have your third molars extracted or would like an oral examination, please contact our office in Renton, WA.
The Wisdom Tooth Removal Procedure
We will outline your treatment during the consultation as well as discuss anesthesia options and take 3D scans of your mouth. Your next appointment will be your surgical appointment, at which your oral surgeon will perform your wisdom teeth removal. Before the procedure, we will make sure to answer any remaining questions that you have. Then, we will administer your chosen form of anesthesia.
In most cases, patients undergo intravenous sedation and sleep comfortably until the procedure is over. Your oral surgeon will first make an incision in the gum tissue. He will remove any bone blocking the path of removal and then remove the wisdom teeth. If necessary, he will break the molar into smaller pieces to make the removal process easier. He will then stitch the surgical sites to complete the procedure.
If you’ve undergone IV sedation, a responsible adult must drive you home and remain with you for 24 hours. Once you return home, it’s vital that you follow all post-operative instructions given to you to ensure you heal quickly and properly. Keeping your surgical sites clean will help prevent infection and dry socket.
Our practice offers a non-opioid option for pain relief after surgery. Ask your doctor about EXPAREL®.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost in Renton, WA
The cost of having your wisdom teeth removed depends on how many you need extracted, your choice of anesthesia, and the details of your dental insurance. We will discuss these with you during your first visit and provide a cost estimate upfront.
Types of Anesthesia
There are three main types of anesthesia that we use at our practice:
Hear From Wisdom Teeth Removal Patients
These patients can tell you about the firsthand experience undergoing wisdom teeth removal at our office.
Reviews From Our Wisdom Teeth Removal Patients
Myles
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Patient
"When I first walked in, I was welcomed by staff. They made me feel great—a very warm, welcoming feeling. My doctor, he was really one-on-one with me. He built a personal connection, asked me what I was into, what I'm interested in. It made the experience so much better. The procedure went really well. Everything turned out fine. The quality of my life has improved after this procedure. I would recommend Pacific Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons to a lot of my friends and family. I had a really great experience here, and I would recommend it to anybody."
Amanda
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Patient
"The staff was very team oriented, which could tell from the minute that I came in. They all were interacting with each other very nicely, just added to the comfortability factor. The doctors here made me feel really comfortable and answered all of my questions, which was really important to me. My procedure went amazing. My quality of life has definitely improved since having my wisdom teeth taken out. All around, this is the place that I will go to from now on for anything that I need oral procedure wise."
Ashley
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Patient
"The doctor made me feel very safe before and after my procedure and was very kind. The doctors put me at ease by telling me everything would be okay, and that it'd be a very quick procedure. My procedure went very well. My recovery was very easy. My quality of life has improved dramatically. My overall experience was wonderful. I would highly recommend this practice."
Jessica
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Patient
"I needed to get my wisdom teeth taken out, and I heard this was a good place to go, so I decided to come here. I was very nervous before coming in just because of the anesthesia, and after the experience, I realized it really wasn't scary at all. The staff was really nice because they would tell me everything they were doing, like when I was getting the IV put into my arm, she just talked me through the whole process, which actually made it really nice and calming for me. The surgery went very well. The healing process was really quick. I was never in a lot of pain, never had to take my actual pain pills or anything. Carl Johnson was a cool guy. I definitely had a good experience here. This was just the best place I think you could get your wisdom teeth taken out because it was just so easy and nice."
Arica
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Patient
"The office staff was wonderful. From the very beginning of check-in to the gals taking us back and just even updating and seeing how quick the procedure would be, and it was very quick, and I was able to go back and be with Ashley, and they were very helpful in just going over the at-home care. From our experience, I would highly recommend this practice to anyone with children needing to get their wisdom teeth out. It was a very successful, smooth, and informative practice. I highly recommend them."
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to recover from wisdom teeth being taken out?
You should rest the day of and day after your surgery. It can take up to 2 weeks to fully recover, but you can return to your normal routine several days after the procedure. Follow the diet and physical activity guidelines in your post-operative post-operative instructions to expedite the healing process.
When should I seek medical attention for wisdom teeth?
An impacted wisdom tooth can cause jaw and facial pain, especially if it becomes infected. You may notice lumps or tumors forming around the tooth or experience difficulty fully opening your mouth. You should schedule an appointment with a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible if you are experiencing pain due to wisdom teeth.
Is the third day the worst after wisdom teeth removal?
Swelling peaks around the third day post-surgery, but you can manage it with ice packs, rest, and over-the-counter pain medication. The instructions that we provide explain how long to use ice and which medications are best if you are experiencing discomfort. Stick to soft foods and practice good home care, and you will heal quickly and smoothly.
Should I get two or four wisdom teeth removed?
You should have all of your wisdom teeth extracted at the same time. It’s rare for a third molar to develop without causing problems, and eventually all of your wisdom teeth will likely need to be removed. We recommend having them all removed in the same procedure.
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