Wisdom Teeth Removal In Laredo TX
Why Your Teen Should Have Their Wisdom Teeth Checked?
You may have heard horror stories about teens and young adults with impacted wisdom teeth. It is common for young people to undergo wisdom teeth surgery after their wisdom teeth start to come in and develop complications because there is not enough room. Unfortunately, if you wait until there is a problem, there are higher chances of an issue. To reduce the risk of complications, we recommend having wisdom teeth examined before they erupt so we can monitor them.
Dr. Britton can monitor your or your child’s wisdom teeth through oral examinations and x-rays, evaluating the position of the wisdom teeth to predict whether they will cause a problem in the future. Studies have consistently shown that early intervention results in better patient outcomes, particularly if patient monitoring begins in the mid-teen years. If Dr. Britton sees signs that you or your child’s wisdom teeth are a problem, he will discuss the possibility of having the wisdom teeth removed.
Why Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
When there is not enough room in the back of the mouth for your wisdom teeth to come in, the teeth become impacted. An impacted wisdom tooth becomes trapped in the jawbone. It causes various problems as the root grows and becomes longer over the years. While there may be no symptoms at first, as the tooth matures, symptoms may worsen over time. Unfortunately, as symptoms worsen and complications develop, treatment becomes more difficult. Some possible issues that may develop include:
Pericoronitis:
This localized gum infection is caused by irritation at the eruption site. It results in swelling, recurrent pain, and difficulty with chewing and swallowing. It is the most common problem caused by wisdom teeth.
Cysts:
A non-infectious cyst is a fluid-filled pocket in the jawbone underneath the gum line around the root of an impacted tooth. It slowly expands, eating away at the jawbone and adjacent teeth. Cysts are extremely difficult to treat and can lead to cancer in rare cases.
Crowding:
Without wisdom teeth removal, crowding is often inevitable. Most people do not have enough room at the back of the mouth for their third molars. When these teeth come in, they push the teeth in front of them forward, pushing them out of alignment and shifting them out of alignment. The result is overlapping or leaning teeth that do not meet properly.
Damage to Other Teeth:
Crowding can lead to other problems, including damage to adjacent teeth. When wisdom teeth come in, they may press on other teeth to the point they crack or overlap. This damage makes them challenging to keep clean, leading to tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems.
Why Get Wisdom Teeth Removed as a Teenager?
Many parents ask us why Dr. Britton recommends having wisdom teeth removed before they erupt, when patients are teens. It may seem surprising to perform oral surgery before there is a problem. Still, with wisdom teeth, preventative surgery is often the safest course of action because the alternative can be painful, dangerous, and have severe consequences.
As wisdom teeth develop, their roots grow longer. The jawbone also grows denser and thicker. As a result, surgery to remove the wisdom teeth takes longer, is more complicated, and requires a longer, more painful recovery time. The risk of complications is also higher, as the roots of the wisdom teeth are more likely to be entangled with nerve bundles in the lower jawbone. The risk of infection is higher. In general, once you are past your late 20s, it may be advisable to wait until you develop a problem to remove your wisdom teeth because you are more likely to develop complications during surgery. You will heal faster in your teens and early 20s with fewer complications.
What to Expect: Wisdom Teeth Surgery
Wisdom teeth extraction is an oral surgery procedure that takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on how many teeth are being removed and the complexity of the procedure. Most patients prefer to be sedated during the surgery. At your consultation before surgery, Dr. Britton will review appropriate anesthesia options with you. Our team is fully trained and licensed in administering and monitoring all anesthesia options for your health and safety.
We ask all patients having wisdom teeth extracted be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult on the day of surgery and plan to have that individual stay with you the rest of the day.
You will take medication to minimize your pain and swelling after surgery. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to reduce the chance of infection. Ice packs can also help with pain and swelling in the first few days. We will provide detailed post-operative instructions before you leave the office to recover at home.
Please do not eat or drink anything for at least six hours before surgery (or longer if possible). This minimizes the risk of anesthetic complications such as vomiting or nausea. We will have to reschedule your surgery if you eat or drink before arriving before surgery.
We will make you comfortable in the surgical suite when you arrive and insert an IV in your arm. The IV is used to administer sedation during your surgery. You will not remember anything after you wake up from sedation after the procedure, and you will be groggy for a few hours after the procedure.
Resting at home for the rest of the day is crucial to your recovery. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of non-carbonated fluids. Try controlling any pain with over-the-counter medications and ice packs first. If these are not adequate, you can take the prescribed pain medication. After the first day, the local anesthetic will wear off, making the second day the most painful.
A liquid diet is recommended for the first two days, such as Jell-O and broths. You can gradually add soft foods over the next few days. Avoid dairy foods for the first 24 hours until the anesthetic wears off to avoid nausea.
What Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?
Wisdom teeth extraction fees vary depending on how many teeth need removing, the procedure’s complexity, how long the roots are, what anesthesia is used, and other factors. Dr. Britton will give you an accurate quote after taking x-rays and doing a thorough examination. Our team will work with your insurance provider to ensure you get the maximum coverage for your wisdom tooth removal.
To discover whether wisdom teeth removal is suitable for you or your teen, please get in touch with our office at Laredo Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Phone Number (956) 724-2244 today to schedule a consultation.
Accepting new patients in Webb County
(956) 724-2244 Appointments Map & Driving Directions