Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom Teeth: A Guide for Parents and Patients

Patients:

You’ve been told you need your wisdom teeth out. What’s next?

The removal of wisdom teeth is a routine procedure in our office, but it probably doesn’t feel that way to you. For many of our patients, just hearing the words “surgery” and “extraction” tends to bring up some fears. Dr. Biggerstaff, Dr. Parker and Dr. Mohamed want you to know that wisdom teeth extraction is safe, quick, and comfortable.

What are wisdom teeth, anyway?

We each get three sets of molars during our lifetime – the first molars arrive at age six, the second at age 12, and the third molars develop during the late teens and early twenties. Because it is during this age that children become wiser and transition into adulthood, we refer to the “third molars” as “wisdom teeth”.

Do You Need More Information On Wisdom Teeth Surgery?

Call our Kernersville office at Kernersville Office Phone Number 336-992-2123 or our Bermuda Run/Advance office at Bermuda Run/Advance Office Phone Number 336-998-3300 with any questions or to make an appointment.

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Why they need to be pulled:

Your mouth was designed to hold 28 teeth, not 32. By the time your wisdom teeth start to grow, those 28 slots are already filled, making it difficult for them to grow in properly. That’s why 9 out of 10 people find themselves with at least one impacted wisdom tooth that requires extraction. Even when properly positioned, wisdom teeth can easily become infected, and are at risk for cysts and tumors (see “The Trouble with Wisdom Teeth”, below).

With wisdom teeth, everything is timing.

You may have noticed that many of your friends are having their wisdom teeth pulled out too. Why? That’s because there is an optimal (yet fleeting) opportunity between the ages of 17-25 when the tooth roots haven’t fully formed yet. Thus, the risk of damaging nearby nerves, bones and teeth during this time is significantly less.

Wisdom Teeth Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.

Wisdom Teeth Presentation

Parents:

Choosing the Right Oral Surgeon for your Child

As oral surgery specialists with extensive training and experience, we are able to offer a different kind of “wisdom teeth experience” to our patients and their families. We are with you every step of the way and pay extra attention to the most critical parts of your child’s care, including:

  • Anesthesia with a variety of options available.
  • Compassion and comfort to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
  • Home care and after-hours contact information.
  • A thoughtful surgical strategy to minimize the need for invasive techniques.
  • Careful consideration of timing to ensure the easiest recovery possible.

The Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal

The cost of wisdom teeth removal varies depending on several circumstances (positioning, level of impaction, number of teeth) that are unique to your teen’s case. We will discuss all costs with you upfront and can help you determine whether your insurance offers any benefits for the procedure.

The Cost of Waiting

Because it is so common for wisdom teeth to cause problems such as infection, pain, damage to neighboring teeth and, in rare circumstances, cysts and tumors, it is generally recognized as standard practice to remove them in most people during the late teens and early twenties, before the roots have fully developed. Waiting to remove them increases the likelihood of problems and complications should they need to be removed down the road.

Complications of Wisdom Tooth Removal

As with any surgical procedure, there are some possible complications associated with the removal of the third molars. However, since the procedure has been very well tested, these complications (nerve injuries, fractures and injury to the joint) are very rare, and, if the surgery is performed at an early age, the risk is even less.

The Trouble with Wisdom Teeth

Are you still feeling unsure? Consider this: Wisdom teeth that are not removed can cause the following problems throughout your life:

A representation of a pericoronitis infection on a wisdom tooth

Infection:

Your gums can become infected, a condition known as “pericoronitis”, due to the wisdom teeth unsuccessfully trying to push through the gum tissue. This condition, which causes pain, swelling and problems swallowing, can recur periodically.

An example of a cyst formation on a wisdom tooth

Cysts and Benign Tumors:

Cysts are fluid-filled pockets that can form inside the jawbone when wisdom teeth are impacted. They can be very damaging and difficult to treat as they destroy jawbone and even neighboring teeth.

An illustration of teeth crowding caused by a wisdom tooth

Crowding and Alignment Issues:

It should be no surprise that impacted wisdom teeth crowd your smile, causing misalignment issues, even if you have had braces

A visual of a wisdom tooth damaging an adjacent tooth

Damage to Nearby Teeth:

Wisdom teeth are notorious for damaging their neighbors by making it difficult to practice good hygiene in the area. This often results in decay, gum disease and sometimes bone loss.

If you have been putting off wisdom teeth surgery, give us a call – we can give you the calm, safe, comfortable experience you are looking for!

Advanced Oral & Facial Surgery of the Triad

5 out of 5 stars based on 67 Wisdom Teeth reviews

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

I want to thank the entire clinic staff. They were very kind and attentive during my appointment and procedure! I especially want to thank Dr. Parker, who explained the procedure very well to me. He's an excellent professional. I feel great thanks to his impeccable work!

- Liliana B

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

The best treatment I had there. Your staffs are very kind

- E M

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Easy experience!

- Sophie H

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Everyone was so friendly and took really good care of me.

- Cannan C

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

I had an overall great experience here and I definitely recommend.

- Estephanie U

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Everyone we encountered was great, knowledgeable and comforting. Had my son at ease

- Alexander M

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Freindly and will come back if needed and would refer freinds

- Crystal C

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

I now understand why they are booked out. I don’t know where to begin… From the consultation to the extractions of all 4 wisdom teeth, they were absolutely fantastic. ALL of the staff from front to back were amazing and made you feel welcomed. Dr. Parker explained everything thoroughly and the procedure was quick and not a lot pain experienced afterwards.

- Christian K

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Everyone I spoke to on the phone was very nice. The staff made getting my wisdom teeth removal a breeze!

- BreeAnna S

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Staff very helpful. Made the appointment as a good experience that I would recommend to others.

- James S

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

staff went above and beyond to text me call me

- Maria H

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Everyone was really nice , helped out with all the aftercare . called me several hours later to see how i was doing. Overall very good place

- Madison C

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

The process was fast, the staff was nice, and overall I had a good experience.

- Katia B

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

I have had such a great experience with this office. The staff and service is exceptional.

- Danielle M

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Great experience!

- Maddison H

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Staff was very nice and friendly. Scheduling was easy I had to reschedule once and it wasn’t a problem. The surgery was super fast and easy and my recovery has been a lot better than I thought it would be and definitely not as big a deal as I thought.

- Brandon H

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Great staff

- Reid H

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Everyone was so nice and helpful. Kim at the front desk really helped us and was also so nice when communicating with her.

- Jazmine S

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

very sweet staff. they called me after my appointment to check upon me!

- Cali H

5 out of 5 stars on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Staff is very nice and knowledgeable. Helpful with information.

- Suzanne M

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