Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars to appear in the back of the mouth, and they typically begin growing in the mid to late teens. Many people don't realize their wisdom teeth have begun developing until their dentist takes X-rays and identifies them. Most people require wisdom teeth removal because their mouths are too small to accommodate the teeth, and their dentist refers them to our office before the teeth can begin causing oral health issues.

With the potential to cause a significant amount of damage to your other teeth and mouth, it's important to have your wisdom teeth evaluated early. If you or your child needs to have their wisdom teeth removed, we strongly encourage you to contact our office to make an appointment. If you'd like to hear more about the treatment process or patient experience at our office, you can watch the videos below and hear from some of our other patients about their positive experiences.

Wisdom teeth removals are one of our specialties at Oral Surgery Hawaii in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kaneohe, HI. If you need wisdom teeth removed, oral surgeons Dr. Craig Yamamoto, Dr. Blake Kitamura, Dr. Eva Kiezik, Dr. Thomas Yamamoto, and Dr. Michael Hironaka have years of experience extracting teeth. Our offices are equipped with the best diagnostic and surgical tools available, allowing our staff to plan and execute your procedure safely and efficiently.

Wisdom teeth are the final set of teeth to grow in. They usually start developing during the early teen years and finish coming in behind your existing molars when you are 17–25 years old. 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. The majority of people’s mouths are too small to support four extra molars, which is why most people must have their wisdom teeth removed to prevent discomfort, dental crowding, and other complications.

DO I NEED TO HAVE MY WISDOM TEETH REMOVED?

If your wisdom teeth have enough space to erupt without damaging your adjacent molars or gum tissue, then you may not need to have your wisdom teeth removed. Unfortunately, wisdom teeth have a tendency to cause problems, such as infections, cysts, or the forced misdirection of other teeth. The only way to know if your wisdom teeth need to be extracted is to have a consultation with a dental professional, who can use X-rays to track the development of your wisdom teeth. The absence of pain does not mean your wisdom teeth are growing in normally, so make sure to have regular dental exams every six months, especially during your teen years and early twenties.

WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL PROCEDURE

Having your wisdom teeth removed is a very common oral surgery procedure. In general, patients will come in for a consultation with their surgeon before the removal procedure. This allows your surgeon to assess your situation and answer any questions you have before the day of your surgery. You can also discuss your anesthesia options and pre-operative instructions during this appointment.

Your next appointment will be the removal procedure. You will need a responsible adult to drive you to and from this procedure, as most patients choose to undergo IV anesthesia, and you will not be allowed to drive for 24 hours after the surgery. The procedure itself should take less than two hours. First, your surgeon will administer your agreed-upon anesthesia. Then, a small amount of gum tissue and bone will be lifted to clear a path for your tooth (if your wisdom teeth have not already erupted through the gums). 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. Once all of your wisdom teeth are removed, you will rest until you wake up from anesthesia, and then your driver will bring you home.

You will be given instructions about your recovery before your surgery. Typically, most patients must adhere to a diet of soft foods for a couple of days before returning to their regular schedules. If you have any questions about wisdom teeth removal procedures or recovery, feel free to contact one of our offices for more information.

WISDOM TEETH REMOVALS IN HONOLULU, AIEA, AND KANEOHE, HI

If you live in Hawaii and need your wisdom teeth removed, contact one of our offices in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kaneohe, HI today. One of our staff members will be happy to help you schedule a consultation. Thank you for reviewing this information, and we look forward to meeting you.

Wisdom teeth removal costs differ depending on the condition of your oral health, the area you live in, your insurance coverage, and some other factors. If you want to know how much your procedure will cost, the most accurate way to do so is to have a consultation and oral exam with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

When you visit Oral Surgery Hawaii, our office staff will gladly contact your insurance company to get an estimate of the price of your wisdom teeth removal. Our pricing is competitive for oral surgery care in the Hawaii region. We try to make payment as easy as possible for our patients, which is why we accept many different payment methods and insurance plans.

INVESTING IN YOUR HEALTH

Nobody likes paying for health procedures, but having your wisdom teeth removed is often necessary to preserve your oral health. Removing your wisdom teeth can prevent infections, tooth damage, cysts, pain, and other problems. Regular dental exams can help track the development of your wisdom teeth, which can also save you money in the long run. Below are a few reasons why preserving your oral and dental health is a good investment.

• When wisdom teeth cause damage to adjacent teeth and gum tissue, you may need additional extractions, implants, or other procedures, which can end up costing more than the initial removal procedure.
• Infected or impacted wisdom teeth can damage your gums and jaw, making healing time longer.
• Removing wisdom teeth early can help prevent pain and discomfort, which is valuable for your overall well-being.

If your wisdom teeth become impacted, the surgeons at Oral Surgery Hawaii can help. We offer wisdom teeth removals at our offices in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kaneohe, HI. Impacted wisdom teeth should always be evaluated and treated by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to preserve the health of your bone and gum tissue.

Wisdom teeth are more likely than any other teeth to become impacted or partially trapped beneath the gums. Because wisdom teeth are so large, they often grow in at an angle when there is not room for them in the dental arch, causing them to become trapped behind your other molars. In other cases, strange growths can block the path of a wisdom tooth, trapping it beneath the gums. When teeth cannot fully erupt into place, they are more likely to become infected or cause problems for your other molars.

SYMPTOMS OF IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH

Sometimes an impacted tooth can have no uncomfortable symptoms whatsoever. When the impacted tooth becomes infected or damages your adjacent teeth, pain and other unpleasant symptoms can start to develop. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you may have impacted or infected wisdom teeth:

• Pain around the back molars when eating
• Difficulty or pain when opening the jaw
• Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Swelling of the gums or around the back of the mouth (especially behind your existing molars)

PREVENTING IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH

Because most patients’ mouths are too small to accommodate wisdom teeth, it is impossible to prevent impaction through any home care strategies. Regular brushing and flossing are good ways to prevent infections generally, but when an impacted tooth only partially emerges, bacteria and germs can become trapped in the space beneath the gums, which is virtually impossible to clean.

Having your teeth checked regularly by a professional is the best way to prevent the problems caused by impacted teeth. Your dentist and your oral surgeon can detect impacted wisdom teeth before they finish growing in. Early wisdom teeth removal is the best way to prevent infections and other painful symptoms altogether.

WISDOM TEETH REMOVALS AT ORAL SURGERY HAWAII

If you need your wisdom teeth removed, or if you are unsure of whether or not you have impacted wisdom teeth, contact one of our offices in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kaneohe, HI. Our oral surgeons will be happy to perform a full consultation and discuss your treatment options with you.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF WISDOM TEETH GROWING IN?

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.

WHAT IS RECOVERY LIKE AFTER WISDOM TEETH PROCEDURES?

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 they are done healing. Even though the surgical sites will not be fully closed, most patients feel more active and ready to return to their normal schedules the third or fourth day after surgery.

IS THERE PAIN DURING THE WISDOM TEETH PROCEDURE?

Wisdom teeth patients almost always receive a local anesthetic to ensure that no pain is felt during the procedure. 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.

Any pain associated with the wisdom teeth procedure will usually occur 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. Your comfort is very important to us at Oral Surgery Hawaii, which is why you will receive extensive pre- and post-operative instructions with tips on how to control pain and make your recovery as pleasant and relaxing as possible.

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 your wisdom teeth need to be removed is to have an oral exam with a dental professional, preferably before you start to experience any symptoms. Visiting the dentist regularly (especially during your teen years and early twenties) will allow you to track the development of your wisdom teeth and prevent complications later on. Even if your wisdom teeth are fully grown in, an exam with a dental professional can help you determine whether or not you need an extraction.

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 so that your doctor can gain access to your teeth. Surgical techniques are necessary to extract wisdom teeth efficiently and safely.

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 MY WISDOM TEETH ARE REMOVED?

Removing wisdom teeth shouldn’t affect your bite much, although your bite may feel a bit different for a couple of days. When a tooth is removed, 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.

WHERE CAN I HAVE MY WISDOM TEETH REMOVED NEAR ME?

Oral Surgery Hawaii offers wisdom teeth removals in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kaneohe, HI. Our oral surgeons have years of experience performing wisdom teeth extractions. Feel free to contact our office for more information or to schedule a consultation.