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Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Wisdom tooth extractions are often one of the first encounters a person has with surgery of any kind. For many, the idea of surgery causes anxiety, but our team is here to ensure that having your wisdom teeth removed is nothing to worry about. If you’re the type who wants to really understand the who, what, when, why, and how of it all before scheduling your initial appointment, then you’re in the right place.
Let’s walk through the process together.
The Role of Wisdom Tooth Removal in Oral Health
Spoiler alert—not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. This is why our board-certified oral surgeon will review a panoramic x-ray of your full mouth and evaluate whether you have the space to accommodate your 3rd molars when they erupt. Many adults have the space to allow for all of their wisdom teeth to come in without issue - but with extra teeth comes extra oral hygiene responsibility.
The reason most of us have our 3rd molars removed in adolescence is because we’ve simply evolved to adapt to a new diet that doesn’t require those extra molars for mastication (chewing). Mouths are smaller than they once were, and with less space, we have to make room for the teeth we do need so they don’t get crowded. Crowding can be painful, harmful to the health of your teeth, and many people consider it not cosmetically pleasing. About 80-95% of Americans have their wisdom teeth removed for this reason, or a few others, and the most common time is between the ages of 15 and 30. When you’re young, your body is able to heal more quickly.
Check This Out
In this panoramic x-ray, we can see two wisdom teeth that are what we call “fully impacted”. This means that the entire tooth is below the gum and bone line and has either not yet erupted, or cannot erupt properly. That’s not unusual for a tooth that hasn’t erupted, but what is important about this patient is that we can see that they don’t have the space for all of those molars to move into place. The top molars would run into the crown of the 2nd molars if they were to come down, and the lower molars are “malpositioned”, which means that they aren’t in the proper position for a tooth in a ‘well-aligned jaw’. Those lower molars will cause problems for teeth #18 and #32 (the teeth the 3rd molars are pushing into) by putting pressure on a part of the tooth that isn’t suited for that kind of pressure, like the top-down force chewing puts on your teeth, for example.
Common Reasons for Wisdom Tooth Removal
“Malposition” – wisdom teeth can be what dentists refer to as ‘malposed’, meaning that the tooth is positioned in such a way that isn’t upright. It may be that it is erupting at an angle into the roots or crown of an adjacent tooth. When wisdom teeth are malposed and erupting, it can cause discomfort and damage to the neighboring molar. Being that wisdom teeth are impacted (refer to our x-ray above) before they erupt, it isn’t possible for an orthodontist to fix the position of these teeth so that they aren’t affecting other healthy teeth.
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“Impaction” – before any tooth erupts it is covered by gum tissue and jaw bone. For wisdom teeth this can lead to trouble when the teeth begin to push themselves through that tissue into your smile line. Often, the mouth is too small to accommodate our third set of molars. Not having enough space to erupt will result in either a ‘partial bony impaction’ or a ‘full bony impaction’ of any or all of the wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth without room to move can lead to jaw pain, toothaches, pain when eating or brushing, swelling, and infection.
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"Decay and/or Caries" – for some, wisdom teeth erupt perfectly well and can be relied upon to act as healthy teeth for any number of years; however, erupted wisdom teeth are susceptible to decay and caries. Those third molars reside in the farthest corners of your mouth making them difficult to clean with even the best regular brushing habits. Lack of routine oral hygiene is the top cause of caries – cavities – followed secondly by diet. When you combine an adulthood of acidic coffees, office breakroom birthday cakes, and snack foods that like to cling to your enamel, like potato chips, it makes sense that adults find their way to the dental chair for wisdom tooth extractions even after decades of faithful service by those extra molars.
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Understanding Potential Risks
Serious complications following wisdom tooth surgery are rare, but some minor post-operative issues can occur:
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Dry Socket
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Excessive Bleeding
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Impacted Food, Debris
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Generalized Discomfort
Why Patients Trust SAVOFS
If you’ve searched “wisdom tooth removal near me,” you’ve probably seen just how many choices there are — but not all providers offer the same level of expertise. The key difference comes down to training. Oral surgeons specialize in surgical procedures like wisdom tooth removal and have advanced training in managing complex cases, such as impacted teeth or those positioned near nerves or sinuses. While many general dentists perform extractions, they often refer patients to an oral surgeon when the case requires a higher level of precision or care. Choosing a specialist ensures you’re in the best hands for a smooth, safe experience.
Don't let troublesome wisdom teeth hold you back. At Savannah Oral and Facial Surgery, we're here to make your experience as smooth and painless as possible, regardless of age. The expertise of our surgeon, cutting-edge technology, and gentle care ensure you'll be back to your best self in no time.
Savannah Oral and Facial Surgery offers the most advanced surgical techniques and integrative medical procedures, providing the ultimate patient experience. Outside of the surgical suite, the SAVOFS team focuses on the following pillars of care:
