WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTIONS

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Your wisdom teeth are the four permanent teeth in the back of your mouth. They are also known as third molars and are the last adult teeth to come in, typically erupting between ages 17 and 25. While some people’s wisdom teeth grow in without any issues, many need removed because the teeth get trapped (or impacted) beneath the gums or cause issues with their other teeth.

Digital illustration of a human skull highlighting a wisdom tooth impacted in the back of the upper jaw with red inflammation.

How do I know if my wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Since wisdom teeth often grow in at an angle or become trapped, many times we recommend having them extracted. Here are some signs your wisdom teeth may need removed:

  • There's not enough room for your wisdom teeth to erupt

  • You're experiencing pain in the back of your mouth or jaw

  • You have cavities in your wisdom teeth

  • You tend to get food caught around your wisdom teeth

  • You develop gum disease, particularly in the back of your mouth

  • You have fluid-filled sacs, or cysts, around your wisdom teeth

  • You are experiencing repeated infections in the soft tissue surrounding your wisdom teeth

  • Your wisdom teeth are damaging surrounding teeth or bone

What happens if I don't get my wisdom teeth removed?

Even if you have not experienced any of the issues mentioned above, wisdom teeth are often removed as a preventive measure. Here’s a closer look at some of the complications that can occur if your wisdom teeth do not come in properly:

Diagram of teeth and gums showing gum recession and buildup of plaque or tartar.

Infection: One of the most common complications, gum infection, can happen when wisdom teeth don't have enough room to fully emerge. This results in pain, swelling, and may even make it hard to chew and/or swallow. 

Illustration of a molar tooth with gum tissue, showing a dental procedure involving removal or cleaning of the tooth.

Crowding: When your wisdom teeth come in, you may notice that your smile starts looking a bit crowded, particularly toward the front of your mouth. This is especially common for impacted wisdom teeth. If they are not removed, crowding can escalate into tooth, gum, and jawbone damage over time. 

Diagram of impacted wisdom tooth growing at an angle under the gum, adjacent to a healthy molar.

Cysts: Fluid-filled sacs called cysts can form in the jawbone due to impacted wisdom teeth. Cysts can damage bone and destroy teeth. The longer you wait to have your wisdom teeth removed, the harder it is to treat cysts and in extreme cases, this situation can lead to the development of tumors.

Illustration of a wisdom tooth impacted against the back of a molar with surrounding gum tissue.

Tooth decay and other complications: If there’s not enough room to properly clean your wisdom teeth and the teeth surrounding them, this significantly raises your risk of tooth decay in that area. Consequently, your chances of developing gum disease or experiencing bone loss also rise. 

What does the wisdom teeth removal process look like at Dental Excellence?

While our general dentists often remove wisdom teeth, more complicated or impacted extractions are treated by our group expert, Dr. Ronald Fowler. Dr. Fowler has advanced skills in wisdom teeth removal and can perform your extractions in the convenience of our Napoleon office as opposed to sending you to an oral surgeon. This convenience helps save you time and money and provides you the comfortable atmosphere and high level of care you count on from our Dental Excellence team.

Dr. Fowler uses IV sedation to help you relax and stay comfortable during your procedure. Sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," IV sedation actually induces a state of deep relaxation while allowing you to remain conscious. Many people who have IV sedation will not remember much, if any, of their visit. The entire procedure typically takes less than an hour. 

Smiling man in a white coat sitting in a well-lit indoor setting with greenery in the background.

Meet Dr. Ronald Fowler, DMD

Dr. Ronald Fowler is a general dentist with advanced skills in wisdom teeth removal right in the comfort of our Napoleon office. His expertise gives us the opportunity to offer patients the convenience and cost savings of having wisdom teeth extractions provided right in the comfort of our dental office. We are happy to have him in our office on a monthly basis to offer his services to our patients. Dr. Fowler earned his Doctorate of MedicMD from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. He then went on to earn his GPR certificate from The Ohio State University.

Dental Anxiety?

We offer oral and IV sedation!