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Wisdom Teeth Removal at Will Surgical Arts
Most adults have 32 teeth total, 16 on top and 16 on the bottom. The front teeth handle biting and tearing food, while the back molars grind it down. The catch is that the average mouth is only built to comfortably hold 28 teeth. The four extra ones that try to squeeze in at the very back are your third molars, better known as wisdom teeth, and for a lot of people, they can cause a lot of trouble.
Wisdom teeth are the last to come in, usually during the late teen years or early twenties. When they have enough room and come in at the right angle, they don't necessarily need to be removed. But that's the exception, not the rule. More often, there isn't enough space in the jaw for them to erupt properly, and they end up stuck, tilted, or only partially erupted. When that happens, removal is typically the right call, and the earlier it's done, the better the outcome tends to be.
At Will Surgical Arts in Ijamsville, MD, Dr. Michael Will and Dr. Brian Will Brian's perform wisdom tooth extractions in a comfortable, accredited surgical facility with multiple anesthesia options to keep you at ease throughout the procedure. Our practice serves patients from throughout the Frederick area and the greater Washington, DC metro region.
If you've been told your wisdom teeth need to come out, or if you'd like to find out whether they're a problem, request a consultation at Will Surgical Arts today.
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What Happens When Wisdom Teeth Don't Come In the Way They Should
Everything You Need to Know About Wisdom Teeth Removal
Impacted wisdom teeth are one of the most common reasons patients visit an oral surgeon, and understanding what's happening and why it matters can help you feel confident about moving forward with treatment.
Why Impacted Wisdom Teeth Are a Problem
When a wisdom tooth is "impacted," it means it can't fully erupt into the mouth the way it's supposed to. Some impacted teeth grow sideways toward the neighboring molar. Others partially poke through the gum but never fully erupt. Some never break through the gum at all and remain completely trapped within the bone. All of these situations can lead to real problems if they're not addressed.
A partially erupted wisdom tooth is particularly prone to infection because the small opening in the gum around it creates a pocket where bacteria can collect and multiply. This can result in swelling, stiffness, pain, and general illness. The pressure of a wisdom tooth trying to force its way through can also push neighboring teeth out of position, disrupting the natural alignment of your bite or undoing years of orthodontic work.
The most serious complications involve cysts or tumors that can form around an impacted tooth over time. Left untreated, these can destroy healthy jawbone and damage surrounding teeth. Removing the problematic tooth, or teeth, typically resolves these issues, and doing so early reduces the complexity of the procedure and the risks involved.
How We Evaluate Your Wisdom Teeth
Patients are generally first referred for a wisdom tooth evaluation during their mid-teenage years, often by their dentist or orthodontist. At Will Surgical Arts, our surgeons use a thorough oral examination along with X-rays to assess the position of your wisdom teeth and identify any current or potential problems. This allows us to give you a clear picture of what's going on and recommend a course of action that makes sense for your specific situation.
Anesthesia and What to Expect on the Day of Surgery
Wisdom tooth removal at Will Surgical Arts is an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home the same day. Depending on your situation and preferences, the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, nitrous oxide and oxygen (commonly known as laughing gas), iv sedation or general anesthesia. Our surgeons have the training, licensing, and experience to offer all of these options and will help you choose the approach that's right for you. All of the surgical risks, benefits and alternatives (if there are any) such as sensory nerve involvement or sinus considerations, will be discussed with you in full before your procedure takes place.
After Your Extraction
Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured closed. You'll bite down on gauze to help manage bleeding, and you'll rest in our office under supervision until you're ready to head home with a responsible adult. Your post-operative kit includes written aftercare instructions, prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics, and a follow-up appointment about one week out for post-op follow up. Your surgeon will call to check on you the night of your surgery and provide his cell phone number for you to be able to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Our team is always available to answer any questions that come up during your recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do wisdom teeth always need to be removed?
Not always. If a wisdom tooth comes in fully, is properly aligned, and the surrounding gum tissue is healthy, it may not need to come out. The problem is that this scenario is the exception rather than the rule. Most people don't have enough room in their jaw for wisdom teeth to erupt correctly, and impacted or partially erupted teeth tend to cause problems over time. Even if a wisdom tooth isn't causing symptoms right now, it may be quietly creating an infection, crowding, or cyst formation down the road. An oral examination and X-rays are the most reliable way to know what's actually going on with your wisdom teeth and whether removal makes sense.
Why is early removal recommended, even if wisdom teeth aren't causing pain yet?
Wisdom teeth don't always announce themselves with obvious pain right away, but that doesn't mean everything is fine beneath the surface. The longer impacted teeth remain in place, the more opportunity there is for complications to develop, including infection, damage to neighboring teeth, or cyst formation in the jawbone. Removal is also generally simpler, and recovery tends to be smoother when it's done at a younger age, before the roots are fully formed and the surrounding bone is less dense. Waiting until a problem becomes urgent often means a more complex procedure and a longer recovery.
What are the risks of wisdom tooth removal?
Like any surgical procedure, wisdom tooth removal does carry some risks, and our surgeons go over all of them with you before anything happens. The most notable risks specific to this procedure are sensory nerve involvement, which can cause temporary or, rarely, longer-lasting numbness in the lower lip, chin, or tongue, and sinus complications for upper wisdom teeth that sit close to the sinus cavity. Your surgeons will review your X-rays carefully to identify any anatomical factors that affect your individual risk level, and they'll make sure you feel fully informed before you give consent for the procedure.
How do I book an appointment for wisdom teeth removal near me?
It's easy to get started. You can request an appointment online or give us a call at (301) 874-1707 , and our friendly team will find a time that works for you. Whether you've already been told your wisdom teeth need to come out or you just want to get them checked, we're happy to help. We look forward to seeing you!