Wisdom Teeth Removal Sugarland Tx

Dental checkups and the occasional procedure are par for the course for most adults, in order that your teeth stay healthy and fully functioning for the rest of your life. Having healthy teeth is vital to maintain a good diet and digestion, as well as maintaining a beautiful smile that you are proud of. Having dental procedures completed isn’t anybody’s idea of fun, but the results are worth it in the end. Whether the procedure is cosmetic or essential, you can rest assured that you are in good hands when you visit us here in Sugarland TX. Grand Parkway Smiles and the Team of Dental Surgeons are your one stop for Wisdom Teeth Removal. 

One of the most common dental procedures for adults around the world is to have wisdom teeth extracted. On this page you will find all you need to know about wisdom teeth, the extraction process, and all the FAQs answered! Let’s get to it!

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the very last teeth to erupt in your mouth as an adult. Most people get their wisdom teeth between the ages of thirteen and twenty five, although this isn’t an exact period; some people get them in their early teens, while others get them much later in life. In fact, there is a small percentage of people whose wisdom teeth never erupt at all. It is estimated that up to a third of people don’t get all their wisdom teeth (the maximum number is four – two on the top gums, two on the bottom). 

Wisdom teeth will appear in the back of your mouth, behind your existing molars. They existed in ancient humans in order to help chew hard foods like nuts and grains. Nowadays, wisdom teeth are just a product of our evolution – we don’t need them at all! We can happily live without them, but many people happily go through their whole lives with all their wisdom teeth intact and experience no problems.

What does wisdom teeth removal cost in Sugarland, TX?

The typical starting cost for a single wisdom tooth starts at $199.00
We are able to provide Wisdom Teeth Extraction with Sedation for very Affordable rates.
Prices for Wisdom Teeth Extraction With Full IV Sedation are:
1 Wisdom Tooth Extraction with IV Sedation  $699.00
2 Wisdom Teeth Extraction with IV Sedation  $899.00
3 Wisdom Teeth Extraction with IV Sedation  $1199.00
4 Wisdom Teeth Extraction with IV Sedation  $1499.00
(the prices above reflect options for our Cash Patients)

If financial considerations prevent you from getting the dental care you need, ask us about our affordable dental financing plans!

Why do people have their wisdom teeth removed?

If so many people don’t experience issues with their wisdom teeth, why do people have them removed? Around 80% of people don’t meet the criteria to keep their wisdom teeth without problems, according to experts. There are many issues that your wisdom teeth can cause in your mouth. This includes:

  • Tooth damage. If the wisdom teeth erupt too closely to the existing molars, they can push against them and damage them. This action of pushing against the other teeth can cause nerve damage and be  extremely painful, as well as often causing infections and other issues in the damaged teeth. Unfortunately if this is the case, the wisdom teeth are almost always extracted.
  • Impacted wisdom teeth. This is when a wisdom tooth becomes stuck underneath the surface of the gum or grows at an angle under the surface of the gum. This can cause all sorts of issues and will result in a necessary extraction. More on impactions further down the page!
  • Infection and tooth rotting. If your wisdom teeth are either impacted or crowded, they can decay themselves or become infected. Likewise, their presence can cause issues with the surrounding molars, causing painful and dangerous infections and decay. Infected teeth can lead to necessary root canal procedures and other problems.
  • Cleaning issues. Due to the fact that wisdom teeth are so far back into your mouth, they are difficult to clean. If they are not properly brushed along with your other teeth, they can become surrounded with plaque, and cause gum disease, bad breath and other problems.

For this reason, many dentists recommend that a person has their wisdom teeth extracted even if they are not causing issues at present. Most dentists can recognize when a tooth is going to become a problem down the line, and will tell you to complete your extraction procedure sooner rather than later to avoid complications and pain. That is why such a high percentage of people have their wisdom teeth removed!

Signs and symptoms that your wisdom teeth should be removed

If you know that you have wisdom teeth but you aren’t sure if they should stay in or be extracted, you should visit your dentist for an x-ray to see what’s occurring under the surface. Even if your wisdom teeth seem fine at first glance, your dentist’s imaging might tell a different story. The angle at which your wisdom teeth have grown is crucial to the dentist’s decision to either extract them or keep them. 

For some, though, it can become quite clear that there is something wrong with their wisdom teeth. Let’s take a look at some of the symptoms and signs that your wisdom teeth should be removed.

  • Dull, aching pain. If you have a constant, even barely noticeable ache in the back of your mouth where your wisdom teeth are, this is cause for concern. When your wisdom teeth are erupting, you might feel soreness and pain, similar to a baby’s teething pains. This is normal and doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong – although to be safe, it is useful to have them checked. However, if you are experiencing a dull ache in your fully erupted wisdom teeth you should see a dentist right away.
  • Sharp, stabbing pain in an acute area. Similarly to the dull ache, if your wisdom teeth are experiencing sharp, stabbing pains, this is a sign that something is wrong. It could be that your wisdom tooth is impacted, or that it is growing against another tooth and causing these pains.
  • Difficulty chewing in the back of your mouth. If your wisdom teeth feel fine usually but are painful when you are chewing, this is not normal. Difficulty chewing could be a sign that your wisdom teeth are causing infection or other issues.
  • Bad breath. Infected or crowded wisdom teeth with trapped food can cause bad breath. If you are noticing that your breath smells bad even after brushing, this is cause for concern.
  1. Swollen or painful jaw. If moving your jaw is painful and/or your jaw is swollen, this could mean many things, but it is likely that it has to do with your wisdom teeth causing trouble.
  2. Red, bleeding or swollen gums. As a general rule, your gums are a good indication of the health of your teeth. If the gums around your wisdom teeth or the adjacent molars are red, swollen or bleeding, this is a symptom of a problematic wisdom tooth.

Types of impactions

The word “impaction” refers to a wisdom tooth that hasn’t been able to erupt fully, if at all. There are four main types of impactions when it comes to wisdom teeth. The type of impaction you are experiencing will inform how safe it is to keep your wisdom teeth. These types of impactions are:

  • Horizontal impactions.

Believe it or not, some wisdom teeth grow sideways. This means that instead of pushing up through the surface of your gum, the tooth grows towards the root of the adjacent molar. This can be particularly painful as the teeth collide under the surface of your gums. If your wisdom teeth are horizontally impacted there is no option but to extract them.

  • Vertical impactions.

This type of impaction means that the wisdom tooth is erupting in the right direction, up towards the surface of the gum, but can’t actually erupt. This is why some people don’t “have” all their wisdom teeth – in fact, they do, they just haven’t emerged into the mouth! Vertical impactions are usually unproblematic, provided they are in the right place and not damaging the adjacent teeth.

  • Mesial impactions.

A mesial impaction sees your wisdom tooth erupt successfully above the gum line, but it erupts at an angle towards the front of your mouth. This means that the tooth will rub up against the existing molar, and can sometimes cause damage. Mesial impactions usually require extraction.

Distal impactions are the opposite of mesial impactions; instead of growing towards the front of your mouth, the impacted tooth grows towards the back of the mouth. These can potentially cause problems and need to be extracted.

What is the process of removing wisdom teeth?

You may be wondering how a wisdom tooth is actually extracted. Wisdom tooth removal is a very common procedure that all dental surgeons are very familiar with. It is a safe procedure that can can be done under local anaesthetic, meaning that your gums will be completely numbed using an injection before the procedure. But for those patients that are nervous IV sedation is recommended for a pleasant experience.  If you are told by your dentist that your wisdom teeth should be extracted, you might feel either worried or very relieved! If your wisdom teeth have been causing you pain, the extraction will provide you with much needed relief. However, some people find the idea of the extraction quite nerve-wracking. Here is how a wisdom tooth is removed! First, the dental surgeon will provide you with IV sedation to make for a pleasant experience, then they will proceed to  numb the area with local anesthetic that numbs the area. Next, they might make a small incision in the gum (in cases where the impacted tooth hasn’t erupted at all). They will then use specialist equipment to loosen the tooth, sometimes breaking it into smaller parts. The dentist will then pull the tooth out of the gum. You may feel a little movement in your gum, but there will be no pain involved. The whole process takes around twenty minutes  – sometimes shorter, depending on the number of teeth being extracted and the type of impaction your wisdom teeth have. Although you might be nervous, the use of IV sedation makes for a good forgettable experience. It is a very easy procedure for the dental surgeon that they perform very regularly. Try to relax into it and it’ll be over in no time.

Wisdom tooth extraction recovery time

Once all the teeth have been extracted and any incisions are stitched up using dissolving stitches, you will be allowed to go home. Your dentist will give you specific instructions on what to do in the 48 hours after the extraction. This time period is crucial, because this is when the remaining cavities will form blood clots to protect themselves and start healing. If your gums are infected, you will be prescribed antibiotics. It can take up to two weeks for your gums to completely heal after an extraction; this period can be longer if there is an infection present. In those weeks, your jaw might be swollen, and you may experience tenderness in the gums.

Wisdom tooth extraction aftercare

During the healing process after the extraction, you should take extra special care. If you do not follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions,  the extraction sites can become infected and lead to taking more antibiotics and more pain. Some common aftercare instructions are:

    • Eating soft foods. Avoid crunching on hard foods that will make your gums sore and slow down the healing process.
    • Avoiding smoking. It is not a good idea to smoke during the healing process. 
    • Saltwater rinsing. This is when you take 1 tablespoon of salt with 1 cup of water and swish it around your mouth after you eat. This will help clear any bacteria that remains from your meal. Be careful not to swallow this saltwater as this can make you sick.
    • Take pain medication. If there is any residual pain after the surgery, you can take medications to help with these symptoms.
  • Ice pack on your jaw. Icing your jaw will help the swelling go down and also provide pain relief. 
  • Avoid strenuous exercise or activities for a few days. 

Wisdom teeth removal in Sugarland TX

If you are worried about your wisdom teeth and are local to Sugarland TX, make sure to have your wisdom teeth x-rayed by one of our experienced dentists at Grand Parkway Smiles. Having your wisdom teeth checked over regularly is highly advised, even if you are not experiencing any issues with them yet. If you are experiencing pain or think you have an infection, do not hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns and book an appointment at your earliest convenience at 8322220016.