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.
Drs. Cohen and Israil Can Gently Extract Wisdom Teeth
Don't delay any longer! Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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:
Soft Tissue Impaction
The tooth is partially covered by gum tissue, making it difficult to clean the tooth.
Partial Bony Impaction
The tooth has partially emerged from the jawbone, but not fully. It is difficult to clean and cannot properly contribute to chewing or other functions.
Complete Bony Impaction
The wisdom tooth is completely trapped in the jawbone and cannot emerge. It may be sideways or tilted in the jawbone. Complex surgery is required to remove the tooth from the jawbone.
What Happens on the Day of Wisdom Tooth Removal?
Wisdom Teeth Removal Patient Testimonial
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
Wisdom Teeth Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.
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.
Lakes Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Patient Testimonial
I will definitely consider any future procedures with this office. After my procedure, the office called me to check on me. After complaining about pain, they called me in office to see if my pain was due anything they could help me with and helped with pain.
- Nita B
Patient Testimonial
Excellent staff! Listened to our concerns about anesthetic and used proper caution. Billing person Jessie, was extremely helpful!
- edward l
Patient Testimonial
Amazing experience! I was very nervous for my wisdom tooth extractions, they made me very comfortable and did an incredible job. I had minimal pain and swelling during recovery. HIGHLY recommend Dr. Cohen and his staff.
- Vicki P
Patient Testimonial
The office atmosphere was warm and inviting from the moment you walk in. The staff was friendly and helpful with my insurance coverage and took the extra effort to see what is best for my family financially to ensure coverage. Dr. Cohen was knowledgable and informative on post and pre-op instructions and relieved any anxiety my daughter had with her wisdom teeth extraction.
- Amy K
Patient Testimonial
Dr. Cohen and his staff are the best. I was seen in an emergency situation without delay. The staff are extremely friendly. Dr. Cohen was extraordinarily gentle and put me at ease. I highly recommend going to see him.
- Holly M
Patient Testimonial
Level of expertise was outstanding. My daughter didn’t have any swelling and pain was minimal.
- Denise B
Patient Testimonial
Made my extraction painless
- Audrey W
Patient Testimonial
I had minimal pain after the surgery until I developed a dry socket, I called up, was told to come in ASAP and they fixed it. I wouldn’t expect to feel like someone is worried about my recovery, but they definitely check on you and offer support.
- Cameron D
Patient Testimonial
Every staff member I encountered was professional and personable. They made me feel comfortable in what was initially a stressful situation for me. I was so very thankful Dr Cohen was amenable to scheduling my appointment on short notice. I was in excruciating pain when I walked in to his office, but left feeling confident that I would be pain free very soon. I was not wrong, it was less that 24 hours when I felt like a million bucks. Thank you Dr. Cohen and your wonderful staff for a job well done.
- Vanessa S
Patient Testimonial
Visiting Lakes Oral Surgery was very helpful in determining which type of care my wisdom teeth required. All members of staff involved in my appointment were very welcoming, the visit was wonderful.
- Mason N
Patient Testimonial
The entire experience was professional and very upbeat. Everyone was knowledgeable about all information and/or concerns that we may have had.
- Charletta W
Patient Testimonial
I was very pleased with my visit. Very fast and friendly.
- Martin J
Patient Testimonial
Mala and Maranda did such a great job in caring for my children while under anesthesia. My son had 3 tooth extracted and I am amazed by how well he tolerated his pain today vs. his pass experience elsewhere. My daughter also had her wisdom tooth extracted. Glad I made the decision to bring them here and the best thing is... They wheel patients down to their car depending on whats being done.
- Gina V
Patient Testimonial
Thank you for understanding the pain with my wisdom teeth and providing quick appointment even though im a new patient.
- Harshitha V
Patient Testimonial
Dr. Cohen has exceeded our expectations! We love the clean and updated office, the kind and accommodating front desk staff and the attentive care provided in the operating room. Thank you for everything!
- Keegan B
Patient Testimonial
Great job I'm really happy
- Ed F
Patient Testimonial
Very pleased with the unpleasantness of getting a problematic tooth pulled. They made me feel very comfortable & helped take the edge off. I would def recommend this doctor!! 🙂
- Sandra D
Patient Testimonial
The doctor was able to get me in and out and after the procedure they actually called to see how I was doing. Haven't had that happen at any other dentist office I've worked with.
- Dare A
Patient Testimonial
Thank you for taking awesome care of 2 of my kids. The third one will be there soon!
- Elise O
Patient Testimonial
Dr Cohen and his staff were very professional and explained procedures and risks prior to starting my treatments. They offered pain-free procedures to assure I was comfortable prior to and during my treatments. I highly recommend Dr Cohen for any dental surgical procedures.
- Jim B
