Wisdom Teeth Removal Austin, TX

Why Wisdom Tooth Extraction is Necessary

Wisdom teeth, often called third molars, are the final four teeth that erupt into the mouth. Many people do not need wisdom teeth extraction, but that’s only true only if the wisdom tooth can emerge without issues. However, more times than not, there is not enough room for these four wisdom teeth to come into the correct position, and many times they don’t emerge in a way that allows for proper cleaning and hygiene maintenance. Most people have four wisdom teeth, though how many wisdom teeth a person actually develops can vary from none to four. Because wisdom teeth grow in later than the rest of your permanent teeth, there’s often little room left for them by the time they emerge, which is why monitoring them is an important part of preventing tooth decay and maintaining a strong oral health foundation.

If these malpositioned teeth are not removed, damage to the neighboring teeth can occur. In the most severe situations, impacted teeth can be the source of cysts and benign tumors of the jaw. These cysts often develop as a fluid filled sac around the impacted tooth, and over time can damage the surrounding bone, gum tissue, and nearby teeth if left untreated.

Do you currently have wisdom teeth that may need to be removed? Our experienced team of dedicated surgeons makes us the premier choice for Austin oral surgery. To find out more information on wisdom teeth keep reading. Or, if you are ready to schedule a consultation, contact the professional staff at Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin, TX today by calling (512) 327-7233. Our team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons works closely with your general dentist to make sure every patient sees the right dentist or oral surgeon at the right time.

When Should Wisdom Teeth be Removed?

There isn’t necessarily a universal answer since the timing for wisdom teeth removal is dependent on individual circumstances. However, timing can easily be determined with an oral examination and review of X-rays.

Generally speaking, for the average person, the age frame in which wisdom teeth are removed is between 15 and 20-years-old. At Hill Country Oral Surgery, our oral surgeons often advocate for the removal of these teeth before they are fully developed because the surgery can be performed more easily and with fewer risks and/or complications, ultimately resulting in a quicker and more pleasant recovery period. This timeline generally lines up with guidance from groups like the American Dental Association and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, which both encourage evaluating wisdom teeth in the late teens, before roots are fully formed.

Depending on the specific patient and their needs, some may require extraction at an even earlier age in order to prevent damage to the adjacent teeth.

How is Wisdom Tooth Surgery in Austin, TX Performed?

At Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin, TX, we treat each patient as an individual, meaning we will tailor our treatments to each and every patient’s individual needs. Further, we have a variety of options available from local anesthetics to IV sedation to make this entire procedure as comfortable as possible.

If you do choose to have sedation, our doctors have been fully trained by anesthesiologists in the hospital setting, and we will perform your wisdom tooth removal in a safe state-of-the-art facility. Most patients can have all of their wisdom teeth removed in a single surgical visit, thus alleviating the need for multiple procedures, anesthetics, and a long recovery time. Depending on a few factors, including your comfort level and the complexity of your case, your anesthesia options may range from mild sedation to general anesthesia, all of which will be discussed during your consultation.

Does It Hurt When Wisdom Teeth Come In?

It will really all depend on the patient. Patients will experience some soreness and sensitivity when the teeth wisdom teeth are erupting, but this can be easily mitigated with over-the-counter pain medication. Severe pain is less common but can occur if the teeth are impacted or if it becomes difficult to keep the area around your teeth clean.

What Will My Recovery Be Like?

Because every patient is different, the recovery process will ultimately depend on the degree of difficulty of your extraction(s). For the average person, there will be at least three days of downtime. During this downtime period, you will be able to use prescription medication to help with any pain and/or discomfort experienced during post-treatment. Applying an ice pack to the outside of your face during the first day or two can also help keep the surrounding soft tissue comfortable as the healing process begins.

Following the surgery, it is common for minor soreness to occur for a week or so, but this soreness should not limit your daily activities. Swelling typically lasts for two to three days, and dissolvable stitches take seven to ten days to resolve. Patients who have a complicated wisdom tooth extraction may require a greater length of recovery time. After a patient’s initial consultation and evaluation, the staff at Hill Country Oral Surgery will be able to review specific risks you may experience, as well as your individual healing time. We’ll also schedule a follow up appointment to check your healing progress as part of your wisdom teeth removal recovery, and most patients feel back to normal within about two weeks.

Do My Wisdom Teeth Have to Be Removed?

No, as stated above, a patient’s wisdom teeth do not always have to be removed. If wisdom teeth are healthy and properly fit into the mouth, then they usually do not have to be removed or extracted. More so, if the wisdom teeth have not erupted, and are in a good position, they can generally be left where they are located. Patients who keep their wisdom teeth in place should practice good oral hygiene and see their dentist regularly to watch for early signs of gum disease or periodontal disease, both of which can affect long-term oral health.

If the wisdom tooth causes repeated symptoms or shows signs of disease, then wisdom tooth extraction is recommended. Essentially, the condition of the tooth will determine whether or not these teeth will need to be removed. In these cases, our surgeons will recommend a plan to remove impacted wisdom teeth before they cause further damage.

For What Reasons are Wisdom Teeth Removed in Buda, TX?

Depending on the individual, and his or her specific condition, there are a variety of reasons as to why someone’s wisdom teeth need to be removed:

• Wisdom teeth can be difficult to properly clean, resulting in tooth decay, disease, and infections It can also affect other teeth nearby and lead to broader oral health issues if left untreated.
• Tooth crowding can cause the other teeth in the mouth to become misaligned and shifted
• Impacted wisdom teeth can cause both cysts and tumors to develop throughout the mouth particularly when mandibular wisdom teeth (lower wisdom teeth) become trapped beneath the gum line

During the Procedure, What Type of Medications Are Used?

During the extraction process, local anesthesia (i.e. Novocaine) is generally administered to block any discomfort or pain. However, if a patient suffers from anxiety, then a sedative drug (i.e. Valium) may be administered. Patients who are sedated for the procedure will obviously be more relaxed.

How Are Medications Administered?

More times than not, both sedative and anesthetic medications are given to a patient through an IV. We want you to feel comfortable, relaxed, and pain-free throughout the procedure.

How Long Does the Local Anesthesia Last?

The local anesthesia usually lasts between two and six hours. This duration will depend on the amount of local anesthesia that is given to you pre-treatment. The area of the mouth that is given the anesthesia (i.e. the upper or lower jaw) may also affect how long it lasts.

How Long Does the Procedure Take to Complete?

Most times, the procedure to remove wisdom teeth takes less than one hour to perform. However, this is just a general timeframe. It will depend on each individual patient and how many teeth are being extracted. Your surgeon will give you a more precise estimate after reviewing your dental X-rays, though most procedures wrap up in about an hour or less.

Is the Procedure Painful?

During the actual procedure, the patient should not feel any pain. A patient is more likely to feel pain and/or discomfort post-treatment. The doctor will prescribe medication to help soothe the patient during the recovery process. We’ll work with you to manage pain, help reduce pain and swelling, and use simple at-home care to ease pain as you heal.

How Are Wisdom Teeth Removed, Exactly?

The specific type of wisdom teeth removal will be determined by a variety of factors, including tooth position, root shape, and how much room is in the mouth. During your initial consultation and examination with the doctor, you will get a better understanding of how your wisdom teeth will need to be removed and whether there are vital structures like nerves or sinuses nearby. Whether your wisdom teeth are in the upper left, upper right, lower left, or lower right, the approach to removing your wisdom teeth will be customized to that specific tooth’s position and anatomy.

How Much Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost in Austin, TX?

The Hill Country Oral Surgery team will discuss treatment costs during your initial consultation. We have a dedicated insurance coordinator to help you through this process.  In some cases, the insurance provider may cover all or a portion of the procedure. It is difficult to estimate the price of treatment for each patient, as each patient is different. For example, the number of teeth being extracted will alter the price of the procedure, as well as the type of anesthesia given to the patient. Because every wisdom teeth removal surgery is different, we recommend scheduling a consultation to get an accurate, personalized estimate.

Wisdom Teeth Removal FAQs

Does everyone need to have their wisdom teeth removed?

Not necessarily. You can leave your wisdom teeth in place if they are healthy, fully grown, and not causing problems like jaw pain, crowding, or decay. You should continue to monitor their condition with routine dental checkups. Not everyone develops problems with their wisdom teeth, but regular checkups and X-rays help catch tooth decay or other issues early.

Can I eat normally after wisdom teeth removal?

Initially, you should stick to soft foods like smoothies, yogurt, and applesauce. Avoid hot, spicy, or crunchy items. You can gradually add variety as you heal. Keeping food away from your surgical site, or extraction site, during the first few days helps protect the healing tissue and reduces your risk of complications.

Are there risks associated with wisdom teeth removal?

As with any surgery, there are risks such as infection, dry socket pain, and nerve damage. Our oral surgeons will discuss these potential complications with you and work to minimize them. Rare but serious complications, such as difficulty breathing or long term complications affecting nearby nerves, are why it’s important to follow your surgeon’s or dentist’s instructions closely before and after surgery.

What is a dry socket?

Immediately after you have a tooth removed, you will have an empty space called a socket where a blood clot should form. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot doesn’t form, dissolves, or comes out before the wound heals, leaving your bone and nerves exposed. The resulting pain can be intense, radiate outward, and last for multiple days after your surgery. Contact us immediately for dry socket treatment if your prescribed pain medication is not sufficient to manage this discomfort.

What does a dry socket look like?

Immediately after you have a tooth removed, you will have an empty space called a socket where a blood clot should form. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot doesn’t form, dissolves, or comes out before the wound heals, leaving your bone and nerves exposed. The resulting pain can be intense, radiate outward, and last for multiple days after your surgery. Contact us immediately for dry socket treatment if your prescribed pain medication is not sufficient to manage this discomfort. This empty socket is especially vulnerable in the first few days, since exposed bone and surrounding tissues need time to heal and reform a protective clot.

How can you tell the difference between a dry socket vs. a clot?

A healthy blood clot appears as a dark substance that remains in place during the healing process.

How should I care for my mouth after having my wisdom teeth taken out?

Food can become lodged in the sockets, compromising wound healing and increasing your risk of infection. We will provide you with detailed instructions for keeping your sockets clean until they heal.

How can I prevent dry sockets?

Your risk of developing dry sockets decreases 72 hours after surgery. During this time, you should:

• Avoid smoking, drinking from a straw, or consuming hot, carbonated, or caffeinated beverages.
• Not eat hard or crunchy foods.
• Gently rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. Following these preventive measures for the first few weeks gives your mouth the best chance to heal smoothly.

What treatments are available for dry sockets?

If you have a dry socket, your oral surgeon will remove debris that may be present and fill the empty space with a medicated gel before redressing the wound. More intensive treatments or pain medications are also available in severe cases.

Can I smoke after getting my wisdom teeth removed?

Smoking after tooth extraction is extremely harmful for your health, so we encourage all our patients to seek help quitting. If you smoke, you should refrain from smoking or vaping for at least the first 24 hours, ideally waiting until 72 hours after your tooth extraction. Quitting smoking altogether is one of the best things you can do for your long-term oral health, not just your recovery.

What age do you get your wisdom teeth?

The answer to this question varies. Wisdom teeth are the final adult teeth to develop, so they usually emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. However, these teeth begin to develop around age 5. X-rays allow dentists to monitor the development of these final molars in relation to the rest of your oral structures to determine whether your wisdom teeth will become problematic. Most people get their wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 15 and 20, ideally before problems arise. Most young adults have their wisdom teeth removed in their late teens or early twenties as the roots and surrounding bone are still developing at that stage. If X-rays show your wisdom teeth are affecting other molars, your dentist may suggest removing them proactively rather than waiting for symptoms to develop.

About Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin and Buda, TX

At Hill Country Oral Surgery, we believe everyone is designed to smile. Whether you are missing teeth, contemplating dental implants, or need your wisdom teeth removed, we are here to help. Not only does each and every patient deserve to smile, but we want to ensure patients also feel good and confident about their smiles.

Our professional staff proudly serves the residents of Austin, TX, as well as its surrounding areas. All of our surgeons have extensive training, ranging from tooth extraction to total oral and facial reconstruction. Better yet, we believe that quality starts with caring. We care about our patients, and we are committed to giving only the best service possible. Wisdom teeth removal is one of the most common procedures our oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform, and we treat every patient with the same level of care and attention.

Testimonials

Take a look at some of our patient testimonials, and see how we have successfully changed other people’s smiles.

“Excellent! Helpful, friendly, and attentive staff! Paperwork is online and easy to fill out and submit beforehand. Dr. Cavaretta is thorough, professional, and friendly! The office is well-equipped with the latest technology. Exam rooms are comfortable. I highly recommend Hill County Oral Surgery!” – Satisfied Patient

“I was scared to death to have my wisdom teeth removed, but Dr. Caveretta made it a very seamless process before the surgery (by answering all of my questions), during the surgery (be ensuring that I was as comfortable as possible, and working slowly but meticulously), and after the surgery, by making himself accessible to me with any follow-up questions I had. I’ve never even had a dentist that I could call directly, let alone on oral surgeon. He went above and beyond, and that’s what makes him the only person I would ever recommend for any type of oral surgery. The staff is friendly, and remembers you by name when you come into the office, the paperwork is minimal, and they accept a wide variety of payment methods. Hands down, the only place you should be going if you have a tooth problem!” – Satisfied Patient

“I had eight teeth removed from my mouth a few weeks ago, including four impacted wisdom teeth. Dr. Cavaretta has to be one of the most experienced/talented oral surgeons in this industry. I went in expecting a good amount of pain due to the amount of trauma that was going to be caused in my mouth. Instead, I experienced zero pain. Everything about my experience with Hill Country Oral Surgery was fantastic!” – Satisfied Patient

Our primary goal at Hill Country Oral Surgery is to make this as comfortable a process as possible.