Baton Rouge Dentist

Can I Delay Wisdom Teeth Removal If It’s Not an Emergency?

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Young woman thinking portraying concern about wisdom teeth removalIs getting wisdom out urgent? have all four wisdom teeth, and three are impacted. They hurt on and off, so my dentist referred me to an oral surgeon. The surgeon says I should have all four teeth extracted to prevent future problems and another surgery. There is a low risk of never damage from the impacted teeth. My dentist and surgeon are really pushing for surgery. But as I mentioned, the teeth hurt on and off, but the pain is not severe. Sometimes I feel a little pressure, too. I am 29 years old, and if I do not need surgery now, I would be happy to wait. – Thanks. Taylor

Taylor,

Thank you for your question.

Your dentist and oral surgeon are concerned about future complications and increasing the complexity of your surgery.

Avoiding a Wisdom Teeth Emergency

You can avoid a wisdom teeth emergency by getting them extracted while your symptoms are mild. The older you get, wisdom teeth become more impacted and more challenging to remove.

As you age, the risk of complications increases:

  • Jawbone hardens and stiffens
  • Tooth roots thicken
  • Tooth position locks in
  • Increased risk of infection

When you have multiple impacted wisdom teeth, the risk of becoming infected will progress. And infection can spread to other teeth, your jawbone, and your gums. An infection can even reach your bloodstream. If that happens, you need emergency dental care and oral surgery. And you will need antibiotics to treat a blood infection.

Although you may be able to wait a little longer for wisdom teeth extraction, why wait until it becomes an emergency? Planned surgery is less inconvenient than an unexpected one. If you are still unsure what to do, you can schedule an appointment with another dentist for a second opinion. And remember to take your x-rays with you or send them to the dental office.

Dr. Ryan Perry, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.

Can I Get Affordable Wisdom Teeth Removal With No Dental Insurance?

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Young African American man portraying the need for wisdom teeth removalBoth my bottom wisdom teeth have been hurting on and off for the past year. Last month, the pain increased, and three weeks ago, it was not intense and throbbing that I was nauseous. I do not have a regular dentist, so I found one online that takes emergency patients 24/7. The dentist examined my teeth, took an x-ray, and said both teeth were infected and needed to come out.

The dentist referred me to an oral surgeon who quoted a price that I could not afford, and they wanted the money upfront. But the dentist prescribed antibiotics, so I am happy about that because the infection won’t worsen. How can I get affordable wisdom tooth removal without dental insurance? Thank you.  Ryland from TN

Ryland,

Thank you for your question.

It is good to realize that antibiotics are not enough to resolve the infection. The antibiotics cannot remove the source of the infection in your wisdom teeth.

Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed Without Dental Insurance

If you do not have dental insurance, you should still get your infected wisdom teeth removed. Without removal, the infection and pain will get worse.

Some tips for getting the care you need:

  • Take antibiotics as prescribed – Keep taking the antibiotic from the dentist who gave you a same-day appointment, but still get the teeth removed promptlt. Otherwise, your body can develop antibiotic resistance, and it will become more challenging to get rid of the infection.
  • Get dental care right away – You can get wisdom teeth removed affordably without dental insurance by finding a dentist with advanced training in oral surgery. You can call the office to ask if the dentist accepts patients who do not have dental insurance. Many dentists offer payment plans or financing to help you pay for care over time.
  • Consider a university dental school or dental clinic – For our readers experiencing extreme financial hardship, find a nearby university with a dental school clinic. Or look for a local dental clinic.

Ryan Perry, DD, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post. Dr. Perry makes treatment affordable by offering financing options like CareCredit®. And he offers a free initial exam for new patients.

Do you really have to remove wisdom teeth?

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My teenage son has been in braces since the first of last year and is almost ready to get them off.  At his recent dentist appointment, the dentist noticed on his x-rays that his wisdom teeth are back there and recommended having them taken out before too long. I didn’t see any problem with the wisdom teeth. Why does my son have to have them taken out?

Joe from Cleveland

Dear Joe,

Many teens get their wisdom teeth out and most parents don’t think twice about why. There are many positive reasons why it is recommended to have them removed in your youth.

Why wisdom teeth are often removed in your youth

Your son’ dentist may have been concerned about seeing his wisdom teeth because of his braces. Sometimes wisdom teeth, as they grow, can come in sideways. If this happens, they can push on the teeth nearby, causing them to move. The dentist probably doesn’t want to risk any movement of your son’s teeth after all the money and effort of braces.

The simplest reason to have wisdom teeth removed when you are young is that it’s easier than when you are older. As you age, your jawbone becomes firmer and less pliable. When the jawbone is firmer, it is harder to remove the wisdom teeth and it takes a longer time. If those teeth are removed in the teenage years, because the bone isn’t as stiff, it is a quick process to remove them.

Because it is more difficult to remove wisdom teeth when you are older, it also leads to more complications. The risks involved in removing wisdom teeth rise exponentially as you get older. Especially if wisdom teeth become impacted, it can cause pain or infection. Impacted means blocked by other teeth so they can’t break the surface.

It may not seem like a big deal to wait to get your son’s wisdom teeth removed, but you may find it will save a lot of trouble by having them taken care of when he is younger.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, LA.

Which anesthesia is best for wisdom teeth removal?

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My daughter just turned 17 and has an appointment with a surgeon to discuss getting her wisdom teeth out.  Everyone I talk to about this surgery has an opinion. She could be fully put under with anesthesia or just given local anesthesia. I don’t know which is better. What should we choose?

Thanks,

Connie, Las Vegas

Dear Connie,

Quite likely your doctor, a maxillofacial surgeon, will have a recommendation for you about which kind of anesthesia he recommends for wisdom teeth surgery. If you are given a choice, here are the differences between the two.

General anesthesia

General anesthesia will allow your daughter to be asleep during the procedure. She will not know what is happening or remember much after. The anesthesia is given through an IV and your daughter would be monitored throughout the procedure. This is a very comfortable choice for patients who may be anxious about the surgery. Your daughter will be sleepy for the more part of the day after the surgery. While this is usually a safe option, general anesthesia is not for every patient. Those who have reactions to anesthesia, who smoke or drink excessively, are obese, or have other medical conditions may have complications with general anesthesia.

Local anesthesia

If your daughter prefers to be awake for the procedure, local anesthesia is her other choice. This anesthesia is given by injection at the places of extraction in the mouth, similar to that done for cavities or root canals. Your daughter would be aware of her surroundings and what is happening. She may feel pressure from the extractions. It may not hurt, but it may be uncomfortable, depending on the position of her wisdom teeth. The numbness will last 3-4 hours afterward, depending on how many injections are necessary to make your daughter comfortable. She wouldn’t be as sleepy after, as with general anesthesia.

The best thing to do would be to take your questions to your initial appointment with the surgeon. This would allow you to hear which method of anesthesia he is most comfortable working with and the pros and cons.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry at Baton Rouge Family Dentist.

Concerned about Swelling after Wisdom Teeth Removal

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A couple of days ago, my son had four wisdom teeth removed. Since then, I’ve noticed extreme swelling in his face, especially around his left side near his eye. I’m worried he could end up having nerve damage to his jaw and his eyesight could be affected. Is it possible he might need additional surgery? Or, will time, penicillin, anti-inflammatory medication and washing with salt water help decrease the swelling? What should I do?
– Anne in Louisiana

Anne,
You mentioned your son’s surgery was two days ago and when a person has this type of surgery, this is the worst day for the swelling and then it dissipates after this. It does not appear your son has nerve damage from the information you provided.

The swelling occurs from the surgery and always happens when impacted wisdom teeth are removed. If it was a challenge to remove the upper left wisdom tooth and bone had to be removed, this will cause swelling as it’s near the eye area.
Since I’m not able to examine him, I am determining my diagnosis by what you are telling me. This means that swelling may occur under normal circumstances from this type of surgery.

I recommend you follow the instructions given by the dentist who removed the wisdom teeth. There should be steady improvement over the next few days. If at any time, your son’s situation gets worse – the pain and swelling increases instead of decreasing, you should inform your dentist and seek additional help right away.

If you are still concerned, be sure to mention your son’s situation to the dentist who did the surgery. Dentists always try to brace patients for the best and worst case scenarios and focus on a realistic outcome which may be a bit negative to hear. If the post-surgery situation was not at all what you were told, you may need to inform your dentist so they can be more realistic with future patients.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Ryan P. Perry, Baton Rouge Family Dentist.

Timing of wisdom teeth removal

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I am nearly 60 years old, and have had all my wisdom teeth up until a few weeks ago. One of the upper teeth had cracked, and my dentist said it was easier in this case to remove it than to repair it, so we took both the top teeth. The procedure went very well, and I am completely recovered.

My question is, do I have to have the other two out now? I’ve always heard of people having all four taken out. I asked my dentist about it and he said there is no reason to, though if I decide I want to I’ll have to have an oral surgeon do those as they are impacted. He said it might also affect a dental bridge I wear on the left side.

Is it worth it? What are the benefits? Thanks in advance for your help.

Celia in Bar Harbor, MA

Dear Celia,

In your case, it does not sound like there is a compelling reason to remove your remaining wisdom teeth. There should be a better reason than just “they are wisdom teeth”. It also sounds like that would be a more difficult and expensive procedure, with a long recovery. If your regular dentist did the extraction on your upper wisdom teeth, then they were probably not impacted. If the bottom ones are, their removal is more difficult, and the recovery will take longer.

Your dentist is giving you sound advice. I would keep the wisdom teeth in until there is some good reason to remove them.

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Perry’s office sponsored this blog post.

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