One dental procedure that’s easiest to put off is removing your wisdom teeth. But the truth is that delaying wisdom tooth removal could lead to infection, cysts, crowding and damage to healthy teeth nearby. This is why it’s important to monitor those wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, from young adulthood (around age 20), before any potential problems arise.
Every year Lubbock sees its fair share of the yearly 5 million wisdom tooth extractions in the U.S., with Hancock and Johnston Dentistry offering Lubbock residents its unique expertise in pain-free and safe wisdom teeth removals. Give us a call today to book a consultation so we can determine the best treatment plan for your wisdom teeth.
Why Remove Wisdom Teeth?
Some people may be able to accommodate wisdom teeth in their mouth — but most do not have room, and their wisdom teeth may be “impacted,” or trapped in the gums. This can lead to several problems if not remedied, including:
Pain and Swelling: The gum tissue around the wisdom teeth gets irritated from lack of room to grow and can turn into jaw stiffness or issues with chewing and swallowing.
Crowding: It can become difficult to brush and floss the teeth around the wisdom teeth, which can lead to tooth decay. Wisdom teeth can also rub against and damage existing teeth.
Infection & Gum Disease: Known as pericoronitis, this occurs when food gets trapped and causes cavity-causing bacteria to grow.
Cyst Formation: Cyst formations caused by wisdom teeth could potentially damage the roots of existing teeth or hurt the bone supporting your teeth.
The longer the wisdom teeth stay impacted — into your late 20s or early 30s — the more likely you are to experience some or all of these problems.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Process
Initial consultation
We start off by doing a thorough oral exam and taking a set of digital scans to assess the state of your wisdom teeth. We’ll then discuss a treatment plan that aligns with your unique teeth and circumstances. In some cases, we find it in the patient’s best interest to work with an oral surgeon’s office.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure
Rest easy that we opt for the most minimally invasive wisdom teeth removal process possible, and we provide local anesthesia and sedation options to alleviate anxiety.
Recovery & Aftercare
Some swelling and discomfort may occur after extraction, which is a normal part of the healing process. Make plans to rest for a couple of days after the procedure and take over-the-counter pain medicine to keep yourself comfortable.
During the recovery period, it’s important to eat soft foods high in vitamins. Blended soups, broths, greek yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, applesauce, mashed bananas, ice cream, avocado, smoothies, hummus, cottage cheese and instant oatmeal are all great options for fueling yourself after removing your wisdom teeth.
You’ll want to avoid these types of foods: spicy (can irritate), crunchy (can lodge in the wound area and infect), chewy (may increase risk of biting the inside of your mouth or tongue), and alcohol.
It’s also best to avoid sucking fluids through straws, tobacco, exercise or vigorously rinsing your mouth until you are healed.
Before wisdom teeth surgery, we give you thorough post-operation instructions and make sure you understand before proceeding.
Why Choose Hancock and Johnston in Lubbock?
The experienced oral surgeons and dentists at Hancock and Johnston Dentistry use state-of-the-art technology to scan your mouth for wisdom tooth issues. Our 3D cone beam scan has a much smaller wand and faster scanning speed, providing a more comfortable patient experience.
We offer IV sedation, laughing gas and local anesthesia options to make you comfortable during the procedure.
The cost of removing your wisdom teeth is often a barrier for patients, but we try to work with you to make it affordable. After all, putting off treatment could be more costly in the long run. We are an out-of-network provider, but we can run your insurance, which typically will cover a fair amount of the cost. We also offer payment plans via Care Credit.
Wisdom Teeth Removal FAQ's
- How do I know if I need my wisdom teeth removed?
- You will feel symptoms of impacted teeth, such as pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, facial tenderness, and issues chewing or swallowing.
- Is wisdom teeth removal painful?
- It doesn’t have to be! During the procedure, we aim to make our patients comfortable via IV or local sedation and/or laughing gas. Post operation, over-the-counter painkillers will alleviate soreness until healed.
- What’s the recovery time for wisdom teeth extraction?
- Most patients are back to typical activity within a few days. Full healing of the wound site can take up to a few weeks.
- What should I eat after wisdom teeth removal?
- Soft foods such as blended soups, broths, greek yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, applesauce, mashed bananas, ice cream, avocado, smoothies, hummus, cottage cheese and instant oatmeal
- How long does the procedure take?
- Typical wisdom teeth removal takes around an hour. More complex cases could take longer.
- Do you offer sedation for nervous patients?
- Yes, we offer local anesthetic, accompanied with oral or IV sedation, to keep the procedure as pain- and anxiety-free as possible.
