Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to develop and appear in your mouth. They come in between the ages of 17 and 25, a time of life that has been called the “Age of Wisdom.” Many people in their late teens and early twenties have their wisdom teeth removed, but not everyone needs to do so.

Wisdom teeth often do not have enough room to grow into the mouth and can cause a number of issues and should be removed in the following instances:

• Infections and/or periodontal diseases
• Cavities that cannot be restored
• Pathologies such as cysts, and tumors
• Damage to neighboring teeth
• Grow at an angle toward the back of the mouth

Wisdom teeth that are completely erupted and functional, painless, cavity-free, in a hygienic environment with healthy gum tissue, and are disease-free may not require extraction. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons does however, strongly recommend that third molars be evaluated by an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons by the time a patient is a young adult, in order to assess their disease status, and to suggest management options ranging from removal to a monitored retention plan to ensure optimal patient-specific outcomes.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure

At Olney Center For Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery initial visit will be a consultation with Dr. Tebyanian.
He will perform a thorough examination, and review the patient’s medical history and X-rays or 3D scans. Then all risks, benefits and alternatives will be discussed in detail. Finally, the anesthesia option will be discussed.
Patient can choose between local anesthesia vs. intravenous sedation

Local anesthesia

Local anesthesia is applied directly to the surgical area. Patient will remain fully conscious throughout the procedure but will not feel any discomfort. Local anesthesia is used in all oral surgery procedures, often along with other forms of anesthesia.

Intravenous (IV) sedation

In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under intravenous sedation. With this type of anesthesia, you will enter a twilight sleep state with no awareness of the procedure as it occurs. You must not have anything to eat or drink (excluding prescription medications with a sip of water) for at least six hours before receiving IV sedation, and a responsible adult should drive you home to recover.

What is Dry Socket?

Alveolar osteitis, commonly called “dry socket,” is a painful dental condition that can occur after having a tooth extracted. A dry socket happens when a blood clot is dislodged from the site of a tooth extraction, exposing bone and nerves that can result in significant pain.
After receiving surgery to remove wisdom teeth, it can be easy to forget some of the keys to recovery – many of which are based around keeping blood clots secure in the site of the extracted teeth. Here are some dry socket symptoms and how to prevent the condition:

Dry Socket Symptoms

While some pain is to be expected following the removal of any teeth, dry socket symptoms typically include severe pain within a few days after a tooth extraction. Other symptoms include:

• Pain radiating from the socket outward, toward the eye, ear, neck or temple on that side of the face.
• Visible bone in the socket
• Bad breath or a foul smell or taste in the mouth

If patients experience any of these symptoms, they should contact their oral and maxillofacial surgeon as soon as possible to avoid further complications.

How to Minimize the Risk of Dry Socket:

In order to properly recover from a tooth extraction, it is essential to follow Dr. Tebyanian’s post operative instructions, from what to do before surgery to what to eat during recovery from wisdom tooth extraction.

To lower the risk of dry socket and avoiding those painful dry socket symptoms:

• Stop smoking before the extraction and avoid tobacco use during recovery.
  Avoid vigorously rinsing the mouth, and avoid brushing around the extraction site for at least 24 hours.
• Avoid using straws during recovery, as the sucking motion can dislodge a clot.
• Discuss any medications with Dr. Tebyanian to account for any that might interfere with clotting.
  

Although dry socket is a common worry of patients having impacted wisdom teeth removed, these steps should be followed after any tooth extraction to avoid dry socket.