Wisdom Tooth Removal

Not every wisdom tooth has to be removed. The decision comes from what the imaging shows and what the tooth is actually doing, rather than from a blanket rule applied to everybody.

Imaging shows us exactly how your wisdom teeth are positioned, including how close they sit to the neighboring teeth and to the nerves. Then we explain what we see, whether removal makes sense, and how urgent it is. You're making an informed choice at that point instead of taking our word for it. Removal is usually recommended in these situations.

Symptoms help, but they aren't the whole picture. Pain, swelling, gum tenderness at the back of your mouth, bad breath, or difficulty opening can all point to a wisdom tooth. Some problem teeth cause no symptoms at all, which is why imaging at a regular exam is the reliable way to know. If yours have never been looked at, that's the place to start rather than waiting for one to flare up.

A healthy, fully erupted wisdom tooth that you can clean well often stays. If it has come through in a usable position and isn't decayed, there's no reason to take it out. What settles it is whether the gum around it is healthy and whether you can reach it with a brush and floss. We'll tell you that rather than booking an extraction.

Leaving them alone isn't the same as ignoring them. A wisdom tooth that's fine now can become a problem later, so we check them at your regular exams and compare the imaging over time. What changes the recommendation is a change in the tooth.

There are also teeth where removal is less straightforward, and that shapes the conversation rather than ending it. A tooth sitting close to a nerve is one. Your medical history is another. We talk through what that means for your case before you decide, and some cases are better placed with an oral surgeon than done here.

The question we're answering is whether a tooth is causing harm or is likely to. When the answer is no, the honest recommendation is to leave it and keep watching it.

We numb the area thoroughly before anything starts. Some wisdom teeth come out like any other tooth. An impacted one may need a small surgical approach to reach it, which is a different appointment to plan for. We explain which yours is beforehand rather than on the day.

Numbing means you shouldn't feel pain during the procedure. You'll notice pressure and some movement. Tell us if anything feels sharp and we'll stop and add more.

We go through your comfort options before we book. Which one you choose affects whether you can drive yourself home, so ask about that while we're planning and arrange a ride if you need one. It affects the cost too, along with how many teeth are coming out and how they're positioned. You get an estimate in writing before treatment, and we can check your insurance benefits first.

You leave with written aftercare instructions specific to your procedure and a way to reach us if something doesn't look right. Most patients feel much better within a few days, with full healing over one to two weeks.

Recovery goes more smoothly when you follow the aftercare closely. In general, rest for the first day and use ice on your cheek as directed. Eat soft foods. Avoid straws, smoking, and vigorous rinsing early on, since those can dislodge the blood clot that protects the socket. Your written instructions are specific to your procedure, so follow those ahead of anything general.

Call us if pain gets worse after the first few days instead of better. Call if you have a fever, a persistent bad taste, spreading swelling, or bleeding that won't stop. None of those mean you've done something wrong, and all of them are easier to deal with early.

A painful condition called dry socket can happen when the clot is lost too soon. It's treatable, so it's worth the call rather than waiting it out.

For severe swelling with trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting for us. Our office is on State Road 436 in Altamonte Springs, and we welcome patients from Longwood, Winter Park, Maitland, and Casselberry. If your wisdom teeth are hurting, call (407) 774-4433 and we'll do our best to see you promptly.