Wisdom Tooth Removal
When wisdom teeth develop at an angle or do not fully erupt, they can require surgical removal in order to avoid painful complications. Dr. Randal Watson can perform safe, gentle wisdom tooth removal at our state-of-the-art facility in Austin, TX. He offers sedation options to perform this common type of tooth extraction, including nitrous oxide and oral sedation, to ensure maximum comfort for the duration of the procedure. If you have concerns about your wisdom teeth, or if you are experiencing any pain, Dr. Watson can determine the right solution for your needs.
Impacted wisdom teeth can take a serious toll on the health of your smile.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Also known as the third molars, our wisdom teeth are the molars that come in during our late teens and early 20s. It is believed that these teeth were invaluable to our hunter-gatherer ancestors. As they lost their teeth, the third molars came in so they could continue to consume their diet of tough plants and meat. Now, they often do more harm than good.
Also known as the third molars, our wisdom teeth are the molars that come in during our late teens and early 20s.
Symptoms of Wisdom Tooth Complications
Wisdom tooth complications can cause symptoms such as:
- Pain near the back teeth or in the jaw
- Inflammation around an impacted third molar
- Movement of other teeth
- Infection due to partial eruption of the wisdom tooth
- Crowding and eventual misalignment of surrounding teeth
- Impaction due to a lack of space in the jaw
In some cases, it may be advisable for an adolescent patient to have wisdom teeth removed while they are developing, before they can cause complications. We can assess your child's smile to determine if preventive extraction is appropriate.
The Wisdom Tooth Removal Process
If you choose to receive sedation during your procedure, make sure you have someone who can drive you to and from our office. Sedation can take a while to wear off, so you will not be able to drive after your wisdom teeth are removed. You may need two to three days off of work to recuperate, so plan your schedule accordingly.
Surgery
The tooth extraction process varies depending on the state of your wisdom teeth. If the teeth have fully erupted, Dr. Watson will carefully loosen the tooth before removing it completely with forceps. If the teeth are impacted, he will have to make an incision in the gums and into the bone. He may need to separate the tooth into small pieces for removal using a special tool. Once the tooth is removed, the gums may require sutures.
The entire procedure can take about two hours to complete, depending on the number of teeth being removed and any impaction.
Recovery
Most patients need two to three days to recover after wisdom tooth removal. Depending on the method used to extract your wisdom teeth, it may be necessary to allow blood clots to develop undisturbed at the extraction site. Dr. Watson will instruct you regarding how to care for the healing tooth sockets. It can take several months to heal completely.
Contact Us Today
If you are experiencing pain or other symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, or if you have an adolescent child and you would like us to assess the state of his or her wisdom teeth, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Contact us online or call one of our Austin offices today.
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Reach out today to set up an appointment with Dr. Randal Watson and his experienced team.
“We strive to make every experience a positive one.” Randal Watson, DDS, PA
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Dr. Randal Watson provides dental services to patients from two locations in Austin, TX.
We have 2 locations in the greater Austin, TX area
