What to Expect—Wisdom Teeth Removal

At Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of Cincinnati, we want our patients to feel informed about their care at every step. We find that when patients know what to expect, they feel more comfortable about their procedure. When you have your wisdom teeth removed at our practice, you can expect to receive the information you need when you need it for a seamless oral surgery experience.

Before Wisdom Tooth Removal

During your first visit, you will meet with one of our oral surgeons, who will take 3D scans of your mouth, examine your oral health, and create your treatment plan. We will also help you select the type of anesthesia for your procedure. There are several options to choose from, including local and general anesthesia, intravenous sedation, and nitrous oxide.

Our front desk staff will provide you with a cost estimate and schedule a surgical date to remove your wisdom teeth. We will explain every step of your upcoming procedure and provide you with pre-operative instructions to prepare you for surgery.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure

On the day of your procedure, we will begin by administering your chosen form of anesthesia. Many patients who undergo wisdom tooth extraction choose IV sedation. This option will put you in a semi-conscious state, causing you to drift in and out of sleep during the procedure. You will not feel pain, but will be able to respond to questions asked by your surgeon. After the sedation wears off, most patients have little or no memory of the procedure at all.

After the anesthesia has taken effect, your oral surgeon will use forceps to extract wisdom teeth that have erupted through the gums. This is similar to a simple tooth extraction procedure. Impacted wisdom teeth, or ones that are stuck beneath the gums, require an incision to be made so your surgeon can remove them. After making an incision in the gum tissue, your surgeon may break the wisdom tooth into smaller pieces before removing it. Sutures will be placed as necessary to close the extraction sites.

Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Removal

After the procedure, you will rest in our office until the anesthesia wears off and we feel you are ready to go home. If you undergo IV sedation, you must arrange for a responsible adult to stay in the office during your procedure and drive you home after. This person should stay with you for 24 hours to provide assistance while you are still under the effects of anesthesia.

You will receive detailed post-operative instructions to guide you through your recovery. These instructions will walk you through how to keep your surgical sites clean, soft food recommendations, how to prevent dry socket, how to manage pain and more. If you have questions at any point, please call our office. A member of our team will be happy to help.

You can return to work or school as soon as the day after surgery if you are feeling up to it, but make sure you take the time you need to recover. It may take up to 2 weeks for the extraction sites to heal completely, although you can expect to resume your normal activities before then.

Why Do People Have Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars that many people develop between the ages of 17 and 21. Dental experts recommend having these molars removed because there often is not enough room for them in the dental arch. If they are left untreated, wisdom teeth pose a significant threat to your oral health and can cause gum disease, pain, misalignment, damage to other teeth, and more. Many people have their wisdom teeth extracted by an oral surgeon when they first develop, although adults can have these molars removed at any age.

Where Can I Get Wisdom Teeth Removed in Cincinnati & Mason, OH?

At Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of Cincinnati, we regularly extract wisdom teeth in the comfort of our offices in Cincinnati and Mason, OH. All of our oral surgeons are board-certified and hold medical degrees in addition to their oral surgery training. If you or your child have been referred to an oral surgeon for wisdom teeth removal, or if you would like an oral health evaluation from one of our experts, contact our practice today to schedule an appointment.