Wisdom Teeth Extractions

What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are types of molars found at the very back of your mouth. They typically grow over time, erupting in some people at the age of 14 and in others as late as the age of 30, varying from person to person. Some people never develop wisdom teeth at all. Many wisdom teeth grow in without causing an issue. However, more often than not wisdom teeth can do more harm than good. These teeth can become impacted due to lack of room or the angle in which they grow in.

Why remove wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth can often cause discomfort or overcrowding in your mouth. We want to prevent minor issues becoming major issues down the road, and may recommend removal to prevent pain from impacted teeth growing in which can damage surrounding teeth, or result in a need for orthodontics.

Each patient’s situation is unique, which is why during routine dental visits your dentist may take a full mouth x-ray known as a panoramic image to see exactly how your wisdom teeth are growing in, and recommend the best course of action.

Scheduling Wisdom Teeth Removal
If it is determined during your examination visit that extraction of your wisdom teeth is recommended, for simple extraction your dentist, Dr. Lee or Dr. Chong, may be able to remove without sedation.

However, in more severe cases – or patient preference, it may be recommended to schedule a wisdom tooth consultation with Dr. Syed. This consultation is approximately 40 minutes in length, in which Dr. Syed will review a recent panoramic image taken within the past year (or update if it has been longer than a year), discuss/show how the teeth are growing in, and overview sedation pre-op & post-op instructions.

After your consultation is completed, our administrative team will send a pre-authorization into your insurance and go over your coverage & costs with you. We will then collect a $250.00 booking deposit to secure your scheduled surgery date under IV sedation – this balance will go towards any patient portion that insurance does not cover, or if you have full 100% coverage it will be refunded to your method of payment after the procedure has been completed. 

Wisdom Tooth Extraction Recovery
After the extraction of your wisdom teeth it is crucial to follow your dentist’s post op aftercare instructions. These include:

• Taking any prescribed medications at the correct intervals
• Do not drink anything from a straw as it can dislodge clotting
• Do not drink alcohol or use recreational drugs during the healing period
• Do not smoke or use tobacco products during the healing period
• Eat soft foods such as mashed potatoes, avoid crunchy foods like chips or small foods that can become lodged such as rice
• Use an ice pack to help reduce swelling
• Avoid heavy exertion and strenuous activities such as exercising, as this can increase risk of dry socket

When Should I Call My Dentist?
After your wisdom teeth have been removed, you will be provided a direct number to reach Dr. Syed with any concerns. If you are unable to reach Dr. Syed, please call our office at 780-986-0016 in which our front desk team can consult with one of our available dentists. We recommend contacting your dentist for any of the following symptoms post removal:

• Persistent and prolonged numbness
• Swelling that worsens 2-3 days post surgery, or swelling that spreads to your neck & airways
• Difficulty swallowing/breathing
• Foul odour or taste 
• Prolonged pain that is not alleviated by the prescribed pain medications
• Excessive Bleeding