Wisdom Teeth Removal

Around the ages of 17 to 25, the third molars or wisdom teeth begin to emerge into the mouth. These additional molars often cause overcrowding and can develop into a host of oral health problems such as impaction (a tooth that is trapped under the gums), infection, pain, cysts, and more. Because these common wisdom teeth complications are more easily treated in younger patients (or can be avoided completely), most dental professionals recommend that these molars be removed early as a preventative measure. Your family dentist can monitor you or your child’s wisdom teeth development with regular dental checkups. When wisdom teeth removal is recommended, you will be referred to a trusted specialist such as Dr. Esmail at Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Process

The beginning of the process for wisdom teeth extraction is your consultation appointment with Dr. Esmail. He will perform a thorough clinical exam and, if necessary, take diagnostic scans of your jaws and teeth. Dr. Esmail will evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth, present you with your options for extraction, and select the type of anesthesia that will maximize you/your child’s well-being during the procedure. Dr. Esmail has the training, license, and experience to safely and comfortably provide various types of anesthesia, and our staff is highly skilled in anesthesia techniques. Services are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes modern monitoring equipment and is accredited and certified. At our practice in Abbotsford, BC, we offer several types of anesthesia for wisdom teeth removal:

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Local anesthesia

Local anesthesia is applied directly to the surgical area. You will remain fully conscious throughout your procedure but will not feel any discomfort. Local anesthesia is used in all oral surgery procedures, often along with other forms of anesthesia.

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Intravenous (IV) sedation

In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under intravenous sedation, and in some cases, local anesthesia. With this type of anesthesia, you will enter a sleep-like state with no awareness of the procedure as it occurs. You must not have anything to eat or drink (excluding prescription medications with a sip of water) for at least six hours before receiving IV sedation, and a responsible adult should drive you home to recover.

The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. If you have not been screened for the presence of wisdom teeth, it is extremely important to do so during one of your regular dental checkups. Dr. Esmail has performed wisdom teeth extractions for many years. If you have questions about wisdom teeth removal at our Abbotsford, BC, practice, feel free to call our front office to speak with one of our knowledgeable administrators about scheduling a consultation with our oral surgeon. We appreciate the opportunity to care for you at Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre.

Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal

Most dental professionals agree that early removal of wisdom teeth can save time and money by preventing expensive and uncomfortable orthodontic or surgical treatments caused by complications that can occur from wisdom teeth. For this reason, dental professionals recommend that wisdom teeth be removed before they start causing oral health problems. Early wisdom teeth removal is cost-effective for many reasons:

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Prevention of oral health issues

Dental shifting, oral infections, gum tissue disease, and damage and crowding of nearby teeth are common oral health issues caused by untreated wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth are extracted early, these problems can be avoided.

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Easier surgery/faster recovery

In general, when third molars are extracted at an earlier age, patients recover faster. This is because the molars are less developed and therefore easier for the oral surgeon to remove. Faster healing results in less time away from work or school.

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Less risk for complications

When wisdom teeth are left untreated, complications such as bleeding, swelling, and discomfort can arise. These costly and painful issues are eliminated when wisdom teeth are removed early. Less treatment translates into less overall cost.

For wisdom teeth removal to be as accessible as possible for our patients, Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre accepts several insurance plans and payment methods. Our knowledgeable administrative staff will be happy to help you obtain maximum insurance coverage for your treatment.
Learn more about the cost for wisdom teeth removal on our Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost page.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Sometimes inadequate space in the mouth prevents teeth from erupting into the proper positions. When this occurs, your teeth are impacted. Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth. When you are evaluated for impacted wisdom teeth, your care team at Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre will take special diagnostic images of your mouth and jaws to determine if there is enough room for your wisdom teeth to erupt without problems. If any of the molars are impacted, these images will also determine how difficult it will be to extract them. If any of your wisdom teeth are impacted, they will usually fall into one of these categories:

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Soft Tissue Impaction

occurs when there is not enough room around a tooth for proper cleaning. This can cause decay and gum disease.

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Partial Bony Impaction

occurs when a wisdom tooth has partially erupted, but it cannot function properly in the mouth because it is positioned abnormally. Cleaning problems occur with this type of impaction as well.

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Complete Bony Impaction

occurs when there is no space for a tooth to grow into the mouth, and it remains embedded in the jaw. This type of impaction requires treatment from an oral and maxillofacial surgeon because they can be difficult to remove.

To protect your oral health and prevent future complications, extraction is often the best treatment for impacted wisdom teeth. If you have been recommended for wisdom teeth removal, or if you suspect that you or your child’s wisdom teeth are causing oral health issues, please contact Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre to schedule a consultation with Dr. Esmail. The procedure will be performed at our comfortable and state-of-the-art practice in Abbotsford, BC.

To learn more about impacted wisdom teeth, please visit our page on Impacted Wisdom Teeth.

Wisdom Teeth Removal FAQ

How will I know if my/my child’s wisdom teeth are coming in?

If you or your child has discomfort or swelling in the area behind the back molars, or if there is an unpleasant taste or smell in the mouth, you should see a dental professional for an examination to see if the wisdom teeth are impacted or there is a related infection in the mouth. Sometimes there are no symptoms when wisdom teeth are developing, erupting, or becoming impacted. This is why it is best to have your dentist track and evaluate the development of you or your child’s wisdom teeth during regular dental exams to catch problems before they arise.

Is wisdom teeth extraction painful?

In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under intravenous (IV) sedation. Dr. Esmail will administer the anesthesia that was decided upon during your consultation, and no procedure will take place until you or your child is at ease and ready. There will be no sensation of pain during the procedure. Patients receive a prescription for pain medication to control discomfort during recovery, but we often find that over-the-counter pain medications work fine for most of our wisdom teeth extraction patients.

What is the cost of wisdom teeth removal?

There are several factors that will go in to estimating your final cost for a wisdom teeth extraction: how many teeth will be extracted, the type of anesthesia chosen, your insurance coverage, and other factors such as how difficult the removal will be (depth of impaction, etc.). When you or your child is examined by the surgeon, a treatment plan will be made with an estimate of your costs. The best way to find out what your exact fee will be for wisdom teeth removal is to call our practice and schedule a consultation with Dr. Esmail. Early removal of wisdom teeth can save time and money.

Are wisdom teeth always extracted?

Third molars are not always extracted, and for some patients, this is fine. In general, however, the human jaw does not have enough space for wisdom teeth to grow in without causing oral health problems. Your family dentist can track the development of your or your child’s wisdom teeth. If they need to be extracted, you will be referred to a trusted oral surgeon, such as Dr. Esmail. Early diagnosis could save time, money, and discomfort later.

Why do oral surgeons extract wisdom teeth? Why not have my dentist perform this surgery?

Wisdom teeth extraction surgery is usually performed early, before the teeth have erupted. This type of oral surgery is beyond the scope of a family dentist because the molars must be removed from beneath the gum tissue and overlying bone. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have years of additional training in surgery and anesthesia to safely remove wisdom teeth and address the complications that can arise from problematic wisdom teeth.

What is the recovery time after wisdom teeth removal?

We find that two to four days is sufficient recovery time for most patients who have undergone a wisdom teeth extraction procedure. After this time, many of our patients are comfortable enough to return to school or work.

What foods can I eat after the extraction?

For at least three days following wisdom teeth extraction, you or your child should stick to a diet of soft foods. You can gradually introduce regular foods after three days, but be sure to avoid smoking and the use of a straw during the recovery period as indicated by your oral surgeon. Detailed pre- and post-operative instructions will be provided.

Where can I have my wisdom teeth removed?

If you have been recommended for wisdom teeth removal, or if you suspect that you or your child’s wisdom teeth are causing oral health issues, please contact Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre to schedule a consultation with Dr. Esmail. We will take excellent care of you and your loved ones at our welcoming and trusted practice.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Instructions

At Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre, our priority is to provide safe and comfortable procedures with optimal outcomes. Dr. Esmail has undergone extensive specialized training to provide you with excellent oral surgery care, but when it comes to getting the most out of your treatment, ensuring a quick recovery, and reducing the risk of complications, it is important that you follow the proper self-care guidelines both before and after your oral surgery procedure.

You will receive detailed care instructions from your oral surgeon; for your convenience, we also include guidelines here. To best prepare you, we provide both pre- and post-operative instructions. The general pre-operative instructions will help you prepare for surgery by adjusting your diet, medications, and anything else needed to ensure you are completely ready. The post-operative instructions will be specific to your procedure and provide instructions for your care after surgery. Always feel free to call our practice with any questions you may have, including questions about pre- and post-operative care. If anything is unclear to you, our knowledgeable staff is happy to offer guidance.

Post-Operative Instructions

As a patient of our office, we want it to be as easy as possible for you to visit our team for care. You can request an appointment by filling out our online form.