Wisdom Teeth Removal in OKC

Oral & Maxillofacial Associates of Oklahoma offers the extraction of wisdom teeth and other teeth in Oklahoma City, Norman, Midwest City, and Edmond, OK. To schedule an appointment call 405-848-7994 (Oklahoma City), 405-292-8900 (Norman), 405-733-4296 (Midwest City), 405-341-4022 (Edmond), or 405-751-3312 (Lakeside).

Wisdom teeth should be assessed in the mid to late teens, as they are prone to developing problems. At Oral & Maxillofacial Associates of Oklahoma, we are board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and we have been evaluating and extracting wisdom teeth for the past 30 years. You can be certain that we will perform a detailed assessment that focuses on current and potential future issues. Early evaluation, with removal if indicated, can vastly improve your future oral health.

Wisdom teeth are located in the very back of both the upper and lower jaws. They are the last of the three sets of molars to emerge. They are the teeth least needed for chewing, and the teeth most likely to develop issues. Common problems with wisdom teeth include partial or full impaction, twisting, and crowding the other teeth in the mouth.

Conventional wisdom once held that wisdom teeth should be routinely extracted, but this is not always true. If your mouth is healthy, and your wisdom teeth are fully emerged, straight, and uncrowded, we will not remove them. However, wisdom teeth that have problems can lead to serious issues such as cysts or tumors, and they can cause the other teeth to shift. It is always best to remove them before they develop problems, making early evaluation extremely important.

If we determine that your wisdom teeth need to be extracted, we will schedule you for this relatively simple procedure. All patients receive local anesthetic, and we are happy to provide sedation if needed, from simple nitrous oxide (laughing gas) through outpatient general anesthesia.

We will open the gum tissue with a small incision, and then cut away any bone that is covering the tooth. Next, we will grasp the tooth with dental forceps and gently remove it. In some cases, we may need to cut the tooth into pieces to facilitate removal. Dental sutures may be required. We can remove one, some, or all of your wisdom teeth during a single procedure.

Wisdom tooth removal is scary for many people, but there is absolutely nothing to fear. We use modern techniques and technology to minimize pain. If we give you a prescription for pain medication, be sure to take your pills as instructed to stay ahead of the pain. We will also provide you with detailed aftercare instructions covering such topics as eating, drinking, smoking, and oral hygiene. Carefully follow these instructions, and you should be back to work within 72 hours. Of course, if you have any issues, it is important to call us right away.

If you are in Oklahoma and need your wisdom teeth evaluated or extracted, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Call our office at 405-848-7994 (Oklahoma City), 405-292-8900 (Norman), 405-733-4296 (Midwest City), or 405-341-4022 (Edmond), or 405-751-3312 (Lakeside).