Wisdom Tooth Removal in Yakima, WA

By the age of eighteen, the average adult has 32 teeth; 16 teeth on the top and 16 teeth on the bottom. However, with the softer diets of today, our jaws are no longer large enough to accommodate all 32 teeth. Because of this, the wisdom teeth, or third molars, frequently get trapped in the bone and have a difficult time erupting. Even when these teeth do erupt, they frequently cause crowding of the other teeth or cause pain because there simply isn’t room for them in the mouth.

Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth, usually between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age. If they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. Some wisdom teeth grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, or even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to erupt successfully.

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.

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Poorly positioned or impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the tooth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result can be swelling, stiffness, pain or even illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom tooth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure.

Oral Examination

Patients are generally first evaluated in the mid- teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Because Dr. Tew specializes in wisdom teeth removal and is trained and licensed in administering a variety of anesthetic treatments, including general anesthesia, many regular dentists refer their patients to Dr. Tew for their treatment. With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, Dr. Tew can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there may be present or future problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in the best long-term outcome for the patient.

Removal

In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed as an out-patient surgery, under local anesthesia, laughing gas (nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia) or general anesthesia. Dr. Tew evaluates each patient to determine the appropriate anesthesia alternative to maximize patient comfort.

These options as well as the surgical risks (i.e. sensory nerve damager, sinus complications) will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed. Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured. You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge, your post-operative kit will include postoperative instructions and prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics. If necessary, you will be asked to return for a follow-up appointment in one week, so that Dr. Tew can track your healing progress. Our staff will discuss signs and symptoms to watch for and are available at all times to answer your questions. If the office is closed, our answering service is able to reach Dr. Tew or his assistants at any time. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at (509) 853-3622.

Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes modern monitoring equipment and trained staff that are experienced in anesthesia techniques.