Wisdom Teeth Removal / Oral Surgery Tulsa OK
Dr. Franklin can assess the location of your wisdom teeth and identify any current or potential issues through an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth. Early diagnosis and treatment improve the patient’s outcome, according to various studies, and we first typically see patients during their teenage years. Learn more about our wisdom teeth removal services in Tulsa, OK.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last molars that typically develop in the back of the mouth. They usually emerge in the late teenage years or early twenties, although they may emerge earlier or later. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each corner of the mouth.
Wisdom teeth were necessary for the past when human diets were rougher and harder to chew. As our diets have evolved, however, our jaws have become smaller and are often too small to accommodate wisdom teeth. As a result, many of our Tulsa patients experience problems with their wisdom teeth, such as impaction, infection, or damage to adjacent teeth, and they often require removal.
We recommend that our patients have regular dental check-ups to monitor wisdom teeth development and detect any issues early on.
There are several reasons why you might consider having your wisdom teeth (third molars) removed:
- Crowding: Wisdom teeth can cause overcrowding in your mouth, which can lead to crooked teeth, bite difficulties, and difficulty with oral hygiene.
- Impaction: Wisdom teeth may become impacted, so they don’t fully emerge from the gum line. This can cause pain, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth.
- Infection: Wisdom teeth that have partially erupted can create a pocket of gum tissue that traps food particles and bacteria, leading to infection and swelling.
- Decay: Wisdom teeth can be challenging to clean properly, making them more susceptible to decay and cavities.
- Cysts and Tumors: Rarely, wisdom teeth can cause the development of cysts or tumors, which can damage adjacent teeth and bone.
We can evaluate your situation and advise you on whether or not wisdom teeth removal is recommended. In some cases, it may be best to remove wisdom teeth before they cause problems, while in other cases, monitoring and regular dental checkups may be sufficient.
Longer roots and denser jaw bones are produced as wisdom teeth erupt. A further factor is that as people age, the jaw bone and tooth root gradually start to fuse. As a result, the recovery period might be drawn out, and the risk of complications is higher when impacted wisdom teeth need to be removed in patients in their thirties, forties, or beyond. Compared to a younger patient, treating these problems is usually more challenging and unpredictable. Healing could take longer, and the risk of infection could rise. It is advised to have a consultation with our dentist so that a proper analysis can be carried out if your impacted wisdom teeth were not removed in your teenage years or early 20s and they are entirely affected. If you receive treatment in your teens or early 20s, you will recover more quickly, consistently, and with fewer difficulties.
Most patients choose general anesthesia while removing their wisdom teeth because they prefer not to remember the procedure. At your appointment, you will be given the proper anesthetic alternatives. All outpatient surgery is conducted under the proper anesthesia to ensure your comfort. Our dental team is qualified to provide various forms of anesthetic thanks to their education, expertise, and experience. These treatments are offered in a setting with the highest level of safety, employing advanced monitoring technology and qualified seasoned staff.
The process of removing wisdom teeth can vary depending on the individual case, the number of teeth being removed, and the type of anesthesia used. However, here is a general overview of what you can expect on the day of your wisdom teeth removal:
- Pre-operative preparation: We will review your medical history before the procedure and discuss anesthesia options with you. You may be instructed to avoid food and drink for a certain period before the wisdom teeth removal procedure.
- Anesthesia: Depending on the case, you may receive local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth being removed or general anesthesia to make you unconscious during the procedure.
- Tooth extraction: Our oral surgeon will remove the wisdom teeth once the anesthesia has taken effect. The teeth may need to be sectioned and removed in pieces depending on the case.
- Recovery: After the procedure, you will be monitored in a recovery room until the effects of the anesthesia wear off. You will need someone to drive you home, as you may be groggy and unable to walk or drive.
- Post-operative care: You will be given instructions on how to care for the extraction site, including how to clean it, what to eat and drink, and when to take medication. It’s essential to follow these instructions carefully to ensure proper healing.
- After Surgery: We will schedule a follow-up appointment to check your healing progress and remove any stitches if necessary.
The procedure typically takes less than an hour, and most of our patients can resume normal activities within a few days to a week. However, the recovery time can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the individual’s overall health.
Your mouth may feel numb for many hours as the anaesthesia wears off after your wisdom teeth has been removed. We may compress the area with gauze for a brief period of time to help stop any bleeding. After 24 hours, any bleeding ought to have entirely ceased, but if it hasn’t, contact us immediately.
To give the wound time to heal, you may be instructed to abstain from smoking, eating anything too hard or rough, and drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours after surgery. Furthermore, it would help if you refrained from exercising and sleeping flat because these actions might cause any bleeding to last longer.
As your mouth may be sore for a few days following the procedure, we may advise using an anti-inflammatory medication. Yet you may anticipate that your face will return to normal in a week. You should schedule a follow-up appointment with us about a week following the operation so that we may remove any stitches and make sure everything has healed properly.