Wisdom Teeth Removal in West Bloomfield, MI

Types of Impaction | Procedure Overview | Informational Videos | Pain Management | Patient Testimonials

Wisdom teeth removal is a proactive step that most students in their teens and early twenties are taking, and for good reason. By removing the wisdom teeth now, you are not only protecting yourself from potential complications and expensive oral surgery later in life but also taking responsibility for your oral health. At Lakes Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we perform wisdom teeth extraction every day, refining our skills and developing the most effective and least-invasive techniques for the safety and satisfaction of our dental patients.

What are Wisdom Teeth?

The wisdom teeth are the third set of molars in the back of the jaw. Most people have one molar each in the back of the upper and lower jaw on both sides of the mouth. The wisdom teeth evolved long ago to help our ancestors chew tough, stringy foods. Because our diets have changed since then, we no longer need the third molars. Our jaws have gotten smaller, leaving little space for the third molars to come in.

Why Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

There are multiple reasons to get your wisdom teeth removed when you are young. If you leave them in place, they may try to erupt later in life, developing an impaction, pushing other teeth out of alignment, or becoming infected. Wisdom teeth that emerge only partially from the gums create an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.

In any of these situations, your wisdom teeth need removal. If you wait until a problem such as impaction or infection, you are more likely to experience complications. As you age, the roots of the wisdom teeth continue to grow, making them more difficult to remove and prone to complications. 3rd molar extraction when you are young is a proactive step to prevent impaction, infection, and other common problems before they develop.

What Does It Mean If My Wisdom Teeth Are Impacted?

It is impacted if a third molar tries to erupt and becomes trapped in the gums or jawbone because of insufficient room. An impacted tooth may push neighboring molars out of alignment. It is also difficult to keep clean, making it more prone to cavities and infection. There are three types of wisdom tooth impaction, including:

What Happens on the Day of Wisdom Tooth Removal?

On the day of your procedure, you will take medications to help minimize post-operative pain and swelling. We ask that a parent or responsible adult accompany you to the office and plan to stay with you for the rest of the day. The procedure will take about 30 to 60 minutes, and you will be in the office for 90 minutes.

Recent advances in medicine and technology allow patients to undergo wisdom tooth removal in a manner that promotes rapid healing and minimal post-operative discomfort. State-of-the-art sterilization and infection control techniques are always used.

On the morning or afternoon of your surgery, you must have nothing to eat or drink (excluding prescription medications with a sip of water) for at least 6 hours (preferably longer). Anything in your stomach can increase the risk of serious anesthetic complications, including nausea and vomiting. Your procedure will be rescheduled if you have not heeded these guidelines.

When you are seated in the surgical room, we will make every effort to make you as comfortable as possible. IV sedation is administered to relax you and lull you into “twilight sleep.” After the procedure, you will need someone to drive you home and watch you until the sedative is out of your system, which may take up to 24 hours.

If your surgery requires stitches, they usually dissolve in 3 to 5 days and do not require removal. You may also notice a sensation of your gums feeling swollen and pulling away from your teeth. This is all part of normal recovery and will subside in several days.

Wisdom Tooth Removal Informational Videos

Post-Op Pain Control

Once the local anesthesia wears off, you may require prescription pain medication. Please try non-narcotic anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil®) first to see if that adequately treats your pain. If not, begin your other prescription pain medication. The local anesthesia may last until the following day and should not be confused with an injury to your nerve. We recommend starting your post-operative diet with clear liquids such as Jell-O and broths, gradually increasing in substance as your body permits.

We do not recommend using dairy products such as yogurt, ice cream, or milkshakes on the day of surgery, as nausea and vomiting may develop in conjunction with the anesthetic and pain medication. If you are given antibiotics and you take birth control pills, please be aware that the birth control pills might become ineffective and take appropriate precautions.