Wisdom Teeth Extraction in Jonesboro
The wisdom teeth often become impacted and can cause dental health complications. If this happens, Dr. McDonough or Dr. Phillips can extract them to avoid problems such as tooth decay, cavities, cysts, and infections.
About Wisdom Teeth Removal
The four molars at the very back corners of your mouth are wisdom teeth that typically erupt between ages 17 and 25. They may become impacted (fail to erupt) due to a lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry.
The most common type of impacted wisdom tooth is “mesial,” which means the tooth is angled toward the front of your mouth. If we don’t remove the tooth, you may develop gum tenderness, swelling, or severe pain.
Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be difficult to clean and susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and even gum disease.
When wisdom teeth become impacted, they can create dental health complications. If this happens, an oral surgeon like Dr. McDonough or Dr. Phillips should extract the teeth to help you avoid tooth decay, cavities, cysts, and infections.
Preparing for Your Procedure
We’ll personalize your experience at Northeast Arkansas Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to meet your unique needs. First, we’ll take some X-rays to determine the state of your wisdom teeth and if they need to be removed.
The best time for wisdom teeth removal is during the late teens to early twenties because there is a greater chance the roots have not fully formed and the bone surrounding the teeth is less dense. These two factors make extraction easier and recovery time much shorter.
The Wisdom Teeth Removal Process
To get started, Dr. McDonough or Dr. Phillips will numb the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic.
If necessary, we can give you additional medication like nitrous oxide or IV sedation to sedate you during the extraction if you feel nervous about the procedure.
Since the impacted tooth may still be under the gums and embedded in your jawbone, we may need to remove a portion of the covering bone to extract the tooth.
To minimize the amount of bone removed from the tooth, Dr. McDonough or Dr. Phillips may “section” (cut into pieces) your wisdom tooth to remove each piece through a small opening in the bone.
Once we successfully extract your wisdom teeth, the healing process begins. Healing time varies depending on the degree of difficulty related to the extraction, but we’ll tell you what to expect and provide instructions for a comfortable, efficient healing process.
Schedule Your Wisdom Teeth Appointment
If you’ve recently learned that you need treatment for your wisdom teeth, our team is here to help. Schedule an appointment at our Jonesboro office, and Dr. McDonough and Dr. Phillips will create an extraction plan that’s right for you.