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.

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.