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
Salena
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Patient
"I needed to have my wisdom teeth taken out, and that's why I came to see Dr. Johnson. When I first came in, I was just kind of nervous, but then, right when I walked into the place, they were so nice, and so it just kind of went away, and then I realized, "Yeah, I should probably get these taken out." My recovery? It took me about three days to be recovered because then I was back on the court coaching basketball. All my friends had talked about it, and they were in so much pain, and I was kind of scared to get them taken out, but then, once I went through with it, it was really easy, and it went by in, like, no time. I would recommend Dr. Johnson to everybody."
Joy
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Patient
"Pacific Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons inspires confidence. I have been very pleased to bring my children here and have excellent care for them. My daughter had her wisdom teeth out. My son with special needs was treated very respectfully and carefully, and it all went very well. I really trust the doctors here. I was very appreciative of how everything was handled at every stage. My kids feel great. I would very definitely bring my children back if they needed any further oral surgery. If any parents are looking for a great place to bring their children for oral surgery, I would highly recommend Pacific Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons."
Mike
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Patient
"I came to Pacific Northwest Oral Surgeons to get a total restoration. I think Carl Johnson is very easy to talk to. He had a full staff of people — there was four people that were involved one way or another, Carl being the principal person. You trust him; I guess you trust him in the fact you know that he’s going to tell you the way it is. I like Mike Johnson a lot. He’s very sensitive to how you want your finished teeth to look like. They’re so natural now that I’m not really conscious of it until somebody says, “Wow, I like your teeth.” Dental implants are definitely the way to go. I wouldn’t have done anything differently. The finished product is everything I expected. Anybody in the Kent area that was looking for any kind of dental work like I went through, I would highly recommend Pacific Northwest Oral Surgeons."
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."
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."
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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