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Scottsdale Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom tooth extraction is a common dental surgery. Happy Family Dental Care’s oral surgeon, Dr. Nguyen Phan, removes wisdom teeth quickly, carefully, and affordably. For more information, see our page on wisdom tooth costs.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Your wisdom teeth, otherwise called third molars, generally come in when you’re between 17 and 25 years old. The problem with wisdom teeth is that there often isn’t room for them. If they come in normally, no treatment is needed. But if they are impacted because of the lack of room, they will eventually cause problems and it is best to have them taken out when you’re young.

Some people wonder if they should just wait until the wisdom teeth actually cause problems. The reason that isn’t a good idea is that the older you get, the greater the difficulty and complications with taking them out. The roots continue to grow and will thicken over time. Your jawbone also gets more dense and less pliable. The chances of nerve damage or other complications increase dramatically the older you are.

However, if the wisdom teeth can be extracted before the roots have fully formed, it can be a fairly simple procedure. After age 25, their removal begins to become increasingly more complicated.

Impacted Wisdom TeethThis image is an illustration with four panels, each showing a type of impacted wisdom tooth. In order from upper left to lower right, the panels show: 1. augular impaction, 2. horizontal impaction, 3. partial impaction, and 4. vertical impaction. In each image, the wisdom tooth has too little room to emerge and is pressing on the adjacent tooth.

If there isn’t enough space in your mouth for your wisdom teeth to erupt, or emerge from the gum, then the teeth will be impacted. There are various types of impactions, pictured in this diagram. Most general dentists don’t have the expertise to extract an impacted tooth, so they will recommend you go to an oral surgeon like Dr. Phan at Happy Family Dental Care.

Your Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Before your extraction appointment, we will take x-rays of your jaw to examine the position of your tooth roots with respect to nerves and tissues. This information helps Dr. Phan plan your surgery.

Fully erupted wisdom teeth are usually easy to remove; the whole process may take just a couple of minutes per tooth. Impacted teeth are more complex, and, in the hands of a expert oral surgeon may require 10 to 20 minutes per tooth. Most people like to be sedated for this procedure. We offer oral conscious sedation so you will barely remember your procedure.

If your teeth are impacted, during your wisdom tooth surgery, Dr. Phan will:

  • After your sedation has taken effect, numb the extraction site with novocain.
  • Open the gum tissue to access the wisdom tooth and surrounding bone.
  • Remove any bone that may be needed to easily extract the wisdom tooth.
  • Extract the tooth. Often, it will be easiest to section the tooth before removal.
  • Rinse the extraction site to clean it thoroughly.
  • Possibly insert an antimicrobial filling to reduce the risk of infection.
  • Stitch the site closed.

After your surgery, you’ll follow these post-op instructions. With a couple of days of rest, you’ll be ready to resume your usual activities.

To schedule an appointment for wisdom tooth removal, please call us at (480) 994-1266. You can also fill out our appointment request form, and we will contact you.