No matter your age, it is completely natural to have fear around any kind of surgical procedure, no matter how minor or extensive it is. The body is a closed system designed to heal itself and when we open it we expose ourselves to potential complications. Modern medicine has decreased risk through proper protocols and procedures in the health industry. Though we know this to be true, the fear is still real. The best way to combat fear is knowledge. When we gain understanding we are able to rationalize ourselves out of or through our fears.
If it’s time for your teen to have their wisdom teeth examination or procedure and they are feeling nervous or anxious about it you can educate them on what the wisdom teeth are, why it is important they are removed and what the procedure entails. This may calm their nerves and help them to manage any anxiety they have about the procedure.
A Tip From Our Dental Assistants
If you’re anxious about your dental appointment and the noises from the equipment during your treatment, bring your ear pods or use our headphones. That, coupled with your favorite jams can really help in relaxing a patient. The more relaxed you can be the faster and easier the procedure!
Why Do We Remove Wisdom Teeth?
Understanding why we remove wisdom teeth is a great start. Oftentimes, wisdom teeth or third molars have limited jaw bone space in which to develop, erupt and function. By removing the wisdom teeth during their development, future problems can be prevented.
Most people develop wisdom teeth. Therefore, an examination of the wisdom teeth in the early teenage years (14-15 years old) is recommended. Often the third molars do not have enough room in the mouth to erupt and can be symptomatic or painful in later years. This early look can identify future problems before they happen. In addition, partially developed wisdom teeth generally are more simple to remove and allow for a decreased risk of intra-operative and post-operative issues. For example, a fully developed wisdom tooth can have roots that grow and lie close to or even nearly on the canal that houses an important nerve. When the FULLY developed tooth is removed, that nerve could potentially be bruised or injured, causing pain or even numbness. A PARTIALLY developed wisdom tooth, on the other hand, exhibits roots that often do not impinge on these nerves and thus the risks of injury are decreased. There is an ideal WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY to have wisdom teeth removed with decreased post-operative problems.
What Does The Procedure Entail?
Depending on the needs of the patient, a few options can be pursued for patient management during the procedure such as nitrous oxide or several methods of sedation. This is decided upon with Dr. Spear and the patient based on the patient’s expectations and needs.
All wisdom teeth are not positioned similarly. Some might be fully impacted in the bone and some might be partially covered by gingival tissue only and all positions in-between. A general protocol is lined out to describe simply what is done to access and remove wisdom teeth.
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- An incision is made in the gum tissue behind your second molars. This exposes the tooth or the bone that overlays the position of the tooth.
- A window in the bone is then created and the tooth is often sectioned into parts to allow for the larger tooth to be delivered (in parts) through a smaller opening.
- Once the tooth has been removed from the bone, the socket is cleaned, including removing any debris that may have gathered during the procedure.
- The tissue is then placed back into the position it was, covering the surgical site.
- Sutures are then placed to hold the tissue in position allowing for complete healing. The kind of sutures that are placed are often the ones that resorb and will do so in 10 days.
- Post-operative visits are common with wisdom teeth removal. At one week, surgical sites are evaluated and sutures are often proactively removed.
You can assure your teen that Dr. Spear has removed thousands of wisdom teeth already in his career, allowing him to perfect his technique and give his patients excellent care. If you or your teen have ANY questions about the procedure, when it is time to have an examination or anything involved with the appointment please don’t hesitate to call our office at 817-920-1488. Our dental team in Fort Worth looks forward to hearing from you.