Has your dentist recommended oral surgery?

Whether you need wisdom tooth extraction, reconstructive jaw surgery, dental implants or another type of oral and maxillofacial surgery, your first consultation sets you on the path toward restoring your smile.

If you’ve never seen an oral surgeon before, you might appreciate knowing what to expect when you come in for a consultation with Dr. Maxfield or Dr. Partridge.

Review of Your Medical History and Health Conditions

The oral surgeon needs to know everything about your health status to plan your treatment and to avoid potential risks and oral surgery complications.

To that end, you’ll be asked for a comprehensive medical history, including information about health problems, drug allergies, past surgeries and previous adverse reactions to anesthesia. In addition, you’ll need to provide a list of the prescription and over-the-counter medications you take.

During your oral surgery consultation, our treatment team will request details about your oral health problems. Your dentist probably sent over a referral, but the oral surgeon will ask for clarification on your specific symptoms and their duration.

Visual Examination and Imaging Tests

Next comes the examination. The oral surgeon will visually inspect your teeth, gums and jaw to get a better idea of the scope of your problems.

Imaging tests may also be ordered or completed at this time. X-rays and CT scans provide clear pictures of the bones, teeth and soft tissues in your mouth and jaw. These images can be used to create detailed, three-dimensional pictures for help in planning and performing any oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures you may require.

The surgery team may also need a dental impression of one or both of your jaws. You may be asked to bite down on a soft material or a special mouth tray for a few minutes to create a detailed cast of your mouth.

Discussion of Your Oral Surgery Treatment Plan

After the examination and imaging tests are complete, the surgeon will design an appropriate treatment plan. Then you’ll sit down with the oral surgeon learn the details about your upcoming procedure, including how to prepare and what to expect during recovery.

You’ll also be presented with options for sedation. Complex procedures may require general anesthesia, but for most procedures, you can choose the method of anesthesia you prefer.

At the end of the oral surgery consultation, you will have a chance to ask any questions you may have. That way, you can feel comfortable and confident about your upcoming procedure.

The professional team at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah looks forward to helping you restore your bright, healthy smile. Contact our Cottonwood Heights, South Jordan or Tooele office today to schedule your oral surgery consultation.

Even if only one or two of your wisdom teeth are causing you pain, your oral surgeon is likely to recommend that you get all four of them removed.

Is this really necessary? Wouldn’t it be better to space out the tooth extractions, or simply keep the teeth that aren’t causing any problem?

The truth is that for most patients, removing all four wisdom teeth at once is the best option. Here’s why.

Healthy Wisdom Teeth May Not Need to be Removed

Any wisdom tooth that is healthy and growing properly may not require extraction. So you could certainly opt to remove only the painful teeth now and adopt a wait-and-see approach for the others.

Keep in mind, though, that the third molars are notorious for causing a variety of dental problems. As they grow in, they frequently become impacted (stuck inside the gums). And if they do manage to erupt, these teeth don’t always come in straight. Irregular growth can damage nearby teeth or crowd the mouth.

Keeping your third molars can also increase your risk of developing gum disease. This area of the mouth is difficult to clean well and is a major breeding ground for the bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Why Extracting All 4 Wisdom Teeth at Once Is Wise

For these and other reasons, leaving your third molars in place may not be a good idea. But why should you have all four wisdom teeth extracted at once, rather than removing them at different times?

Financially, multiple extractions will cost more than having them all removed at once. If you space out the extractions, you’ll have to pay for multiple oral surgeon office visits as well as additional procedural and anesthesia costs.

Also, your discomfort and inconvenience will essentially be the same whether you have one or four extractions. Do you really want to go through that process multiple times? For most patients, the answer is no.

Healing from Wisdom Teeth Extraction

With proper aftercare, patients typically experience the same amount of overall discomfort, regardless of how many wisdom teeth are removed. The extraction sites usually heal within about three to five days, and the gums are completely recovered within a few weeks.

Most patients who require extraction for one or two wisdom teeth eventually face having to remove the remaining third molars. Ultimately, however, the answer to this question will depend on your diagnosis and what the oral surgeon believes is the most appropriate treatment approach.

Dr. Maxfield and Dr. Partridge of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah can answer questions and address all of your concerns. Contact our Salt Lake City, Utah, office today to schedule a consultation for your wisdom tooth extraction.