At Southern Surgical Arts in Tyler, TX, and Palestine, TX, our oral surgeons are experts in the removal of wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the very last set of teeth to grow into the mouth. They usually start developing during the early teen years and finish coming in behind your existing molars when you are 17–25 years old. The majority of people’s mouths are too small to support these additional molars, which is why a majority of people must have their wisdom teeth removed to prevent discomfort, dental crowding, and other complications.
Most people develop four wisdom teeth — one in each corner of the upper and lower jaws — but it is not uncommon to have fewer or more than four. If you need wisdom teeth removed, Drs. Stone, Stone, and Barker have years of experience extracting teeth. Our state-of-the-art surgical center is equipped with the latest in diagnostic and surgical tools, allowing our staff to plan and execute your procedure safely and efficiently.
Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?
Most people do not have enough room in their mouth for their wisdom teeth to grow in. As a result, they can become trapped beneath the gums, which creates pockets where harmful bacteria can grow. Below are a few of the issues wisdom teeth can cause when they go untreated:
- Dental shifting
- Impaction
- Crowding and damage to adjacent teeth
- Infections
- Cysts and tumors
If your wisdom teeth grow in without issue, an oral surgeon may not need to remove them. Unfortunately, wisdom teeth can become unhealthy or cause dental problems well before they ever emerge from the gums. Regular dental exams throughout adolescence and early adulthood are the best way to ensure that your wisdom teeth are growing in correctly.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure
Having your wisdom teeth removed is a very common oral surgery procedure. Before removing wisdom teeth, we will complete a comprehensive consultation appointment, at which your surgeon will have a chance to review your condition and form the best plan for extraction. If you have any questions about your procedure, anesthesia options, or recovery, this appointment is a great chance to discuss them with your surgeon.
Your next appointment will be the removal procedure. You will likely need a responsible adult to drive you to and from the appointment, as most patients choose to undergo IV anesthesia and cannot drive for 24 hours after the surgery. First, your surgeon will administer your agreed-upon anesthesia. Next, if removing an impacted tooth, a small amount of gum tissue and bone will be lifted to make a path for extraction. Your oral surgeon will then remove the tooth and suture the surgical site so it can heal. Sometimes your tooth may be broken into smaller pieces before being removed, which makes it easier to remove a larger tooth with a smaller surgical site. After removing all of your wisdom teeth, you rest until you wake up from anesthesia, and your driver will bring you home.
Before your surgery, we will provide you with comprehensive care instructions to follow for optimal recovery. Typically, most patients must adhere to a soft diet for a couple of days before returning to their regular schedules. If you have any questions about your upcoming wisdom teeth removal procedure or your recovery, feel free to contact our office for more information.
Wisdom Teeth Removal at Southern Surgical Arts
Our oral surgeons, Dr. Charles Stone, Dr. Brian Stone, and Dr. Wade Barker, specialize in the removal of wisdom teeth. To schedule your wisdom teeth consultation appointment, give one of our offices a call. One of our staff members will be happy to help you schedule your initial consultation.
Bank Stem Cells with Stemodontics®
Did you know that your wisdom teeth can benefit you after they’re removed? These teeth contain many stem cells, which can be stored in a laboratory and used to differentiate into different types of cells in the body during future health crises. When you bank stem cells with Stemodontics, you are given peace of mind when it comes to your or your child’s health. Schedule an appointment today to discuss stem cell banking with your oral surgeon and learn about investing in your future.
Types of Anesthesia
Learn more about the different anesthesia options available.
Hear From Wisdom Teeth Removal Patients
These patients can tell you about their firsthand experience undergoing wisdom teeth removal at our office.
Reviews From Our Wisdom Teeth Removal Patients
"I’m so happy I came to Southern Surgical Arts to get both of my procedures done. The atmosphere here is super warm and inviting. They always were very considerate of me and were very kind throughout the whole process. The doctor here made me feel truly comfortable. I always felt like I was in great hands with him. The staff here were just great. I was always greeted with a warm smile. Having the surgery done and being fully healed, I feel so much more confident in my smile and being able to laugh and, I mean, just the way it changed me, and I feel like I’ve gotten my confidence restored, and I love that. "
"A lot of times, you're apprehensive when your child's going to have surgery, no matter how minor they say it is. When we got here, Dr. Stone walked us through the surgery, what was going to happen step by step, made sure that my daughter understood, and that was important to me because he could have just talked to me as the parent, but he talked to her as the patient, so that was very good. He's a very intelligent man, but yet he got right down to her and said this is going to happen, you might feel like this. She felt so relieved and so comfortable when we left that day that she was not excited to have her wisdom teeth pulled out, but she did feel a lot more comfortable than when we started the whole process. This is just the place to go. I have several friends that we attend church with that have even asked me, "My child has to have their wisdom teeth taken out" or something needs to happen, and they need a surgeon, and I tell them, "You need to go see one of the Dr. Stones because that's the place to go.""
"Our orthodontist recommended that our son have his wisdom teeth taken out, and so we came right to Dr. Stone. Any question that we had, any concern that we had was put to ease when we met with him to discuss the procedure. The day of the surgery went really well. Jake did great with the procedure and the recovery. When we went back, he was comfortable. I was nervous bringing him home because he'd never had surgery before, but they prepared us very well to bring him home and take care of him. Not only that, they called every day for the next few days to follow up and to answer any questions and to give us any instructions. If another parent approached me to ask where they should go to have their wisdom teeth out, I would absolutely recommend Dr. Stone."
"I was having a little bit of swelling around my jaw area and realized that it was time to remove my wisdom teeth. Dr. Stone is really easy to talk to. When he was explaining the procedure, he showed you exactly what was going on, showing you many different images of how the procedure would be done. Everybody was very friendly when I arrived, definitely had my best interests at heart. It was very, very comforting in the end. I myself traveled 90 miles from Nacogdoches, Texas, to get to Tyler to have my wisdom teeth removed here, and I recommend Dr. Charles Stone and Southern Surgical Arts for any procedure involving wisdom teeth."
"Any time your child goes under anesthesia, you're always nervous as a parent, so when we met with Dr. Stone, it was really comforting. He explained things in detail, which really puts your mind at ease, knowing that your child's having minor surgery. His recovery time was great — other than the little loopiness coming outside from under the anesthesia, which is always fun. He really just went home that day. We had it done on a Friday, and he was able to go back to school on Monday, so it was very easy, relatively pain-free — no trouble at all. Our youngest is about to begin the process; well, she's actually begun the process. We've had our consultation, and so our youngest needs her wisdom teeth out, so it was such a good process and an easy procedure that we called Dr. Brian back. We love Southern Surgical Arts. They're a great group and wonderful people."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have my wisdom teeth removed?
Not everyone has to have their wisdom teeth removed, but the majority of people do not have space in their mouths for wisdom teeth to grow in normally. The third molars have a tendency to grow in at an angle or become impacted, which can cause infections, discomfort, and other complications.
The best way to find out if wisdom teeth removal is right for your oral health is to undergo an oral examination by a dental professional, preferably before you start to experience any symptoms. Visiting the dentist regularly (especially during your teen years and early 20s) will allow you to track the development of your wisdom teeth and prevent complications later on. An exam with a dental professional can help you determine whether or not you need an extraction, even if your wisdom teeth have already fully developed.
Why does a surgeon have to extract my wisdom teeth?
Most patients have their wisdom teeth removed before they emerge through the gums, and in many cases, the molars become trapped behind the gums. Gum and bone tissue may need to be removed or moved to access to your teeth, and this process requires more advanced surgical techniques than other dental procedures. Additionally, a surgeon is more qualified to handle any complications during the wisdom teeth extraction procedure.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons also receive the highest anesthesia training of any dental professional. Whenever undergoing anesthesia, it’s important to ensure that your doctor is trained to administer anesthesia properly, and our surgeons use all the most reliable monitoring tools to ensure your safety.
Will my other teeth be affected after wisdom teeth removal?
Removing wisdom teeth shouldn’t affect your bite much, although your bite may feel a bit different for a couple of days. After removing a tooth, the pressure from your bite is distributed across your other teeth, which can feel a bit different than it did when you had more teeth sharing the burden of the force. In fact, removing your wisdom teeth can prevent your other teeth from becoming overcrowded later on.
What are the symptoms of wisdom teeth growth?
Wisdom teeth usually don’t show any symptoms until after they start causing problems, so it’s a good idea to get them checked even before you notice symptoms (during your teen years).
A few of the symptoms of wisdom teeth erupting or becoming impacted include pain, redness, swelling, or sensitivity in the area behind your existing molars. Crowding of your other teeth is another common symptom. If an infection is developing, you may also notice an unpleasant taste or odor in your mouth.
Is there pain during the wisdom teeth procedure?
Wisdom teeth patients generally receive a local anesthetic to ensure a pain-free treatment. The majority of patients also choose to undergo IV sedation, allowing them to sleep comfortably throughout the procedure and wake up after it is over.
It is normal to experience some pain or soreness after surgery during the recovery period. Most patients report some soreness around the surgical sites for a few days after surgery. Your surgeon will likely provide you with a prescription for pain medication to control any discomfort, and maintaining a soft food diet may also be more comfortable for the first few days after surgery. At Southern Surgical Arts, your comfort and safety are our top priority, which is why you will receive extensive pre- and post-operative care instructions with tips on how to control pain and make your recovery as pleasant and relaxing as possible.
What is recovery like after wisdom teeth removal?
Everyone’s body reacts to surgery differently, and your recovery time may vary depending on your age and the condition of your wisdom teeth. In general, most patients have to eat a soft food diet for a couple of days after surgery. The surgical sites themselves will take about a week to heal fully, and you will have to keep the tooth sockets clean until the healing is complete. Most patients feel more active and ready to return to their normal schedules the third or fourth day after surgery, even if the surgical sites have not yet fully closed.
Where can I have my wisdom teeth removed near Tyler, TX, and Palestine, TX?
Southern Surgical Arts offers oral surgery services to patients all over the East Texas region, including wisdom teeth removal. Our oral surgeons, Drs. Stone, Stone, and Barker, have years of experience performing wisdom teeth extractions. If you are interested in scheduling an initial consultation, please contact a member of our office to schedule your appointment.
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