Menu
Your third molars, known as wisdom teeth, typically begin to erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. Unfortunately, rather than being a rite of passage into adulthood, wisdom teeth are more often a nuisance that threaten the rest of your adult teeth.
Because of a limited amount of space on your dental ridges – the part of your gums where your teeth sit – wisdom teeth often become impacted by existing molars, unable to erupt properly from the gums and jawbone, and require routine surgical wisdom tooth removal.
When your wisdom teeth don’t or won’t erupt properly for a simple extraction – grasping it and loosening it from its socket – surgical extraction may be necessary.
During wisdom teeth extraction surgery, your oral surgeon will carefully access the impacted tooth structure underneath your gums or jawbone and remove the tooth structure and its root. This is because impacted wisdom teeth may not display any structure above the gumline. The entire oral surgery usually takes about an hour, and you can go home with a trusted family member or friend almost immediately afterward.
To make your wisdom tooth removal experience as painless and stress-free as possible, your oral surgeon may recommend IV sedation. However, this level of sedation isn’t always necessary.
To find out if you’re a candidate for IV-sedated wisdom teeth extraction, request a consultation at Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City.
What are wisdom teeth, anyway?
Wisdom teeth are your third molars that erupt from your gums, ideally behind all your other teeth.
If my wisdom teeth erupted, why do I need to have wisdom tooth removal?
If your wisdom teeth erupted from your gums, and your mouth has enough room to accommodate them, removing your wisdom teeth is not necessary. However, this is very rare. For most people, their wisdom teeth require extraction because they are interfering with the stability and placement of other pre-existing teeth, or because they are impacted – stuck in the gums.
What happens after wisdom tooth removal?
After your wisdom teeth are extracted, you will rest and recover at our office for about 30 minutes, particularly if you underwent wisdom tooth removal with IV sedation. Then, someone you trust may drive you home. Your dentist or oral surgeon will provide care instructions to keep your sockets clean and may recommend that you avoid certain foods or activities for a period of time to ensure proper healing. If you have questions after your wisdom teeth removal, call our office.
Our downtown Kansas City oral surgeons can help you with simple wisdom tooth removal or surgical extraction. To learn more, schedule a consultation online or by calling us at (816) 208-8751.
2101 Charlotte Street
Suite 330
Kansas City, MO 64108
Services