How are Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Often developing during late adolescence, the emergence of wisdom teeth is often accompanied by oral pain, difficulty maintaining an effective oral hygiene routine, as well as an increased risk of developing dental problems such as pericoronitis, gum disease, and tooth decay. As a result, early removal is often recommended to protect the health and function of a patient’s smile.

While wisdom tooth extraction may sound like an overwhelming, extensive process, many patients find the procedure to be fairly straightforward and the recovery convenient, as illustrated by the following steps:

Treatment Development

During this phase, an oral surgeon conducts a thorough evaluation of your smile to determine the number of wisdom teeth present in the dentition as well as how they are developing in relation to the rest of the smile. At Lorton-Springfield Oral Surgery and Dental Implants, our NorthernVirginia oral surgeon uses advanced imaging technology to determine whether the teeth are partially or fully impacted. Thanks to these high powered tools, Dr. Patel is able to create a strategic treatment plan for removing the tooth and ensuring successful recovery.

Preparation

Once the treatment plan has been developed, patients have the option of selecting a sedation option. While not necessary, many have found dental sedation to be a welcome relaxation method. At our Lorton and Springfield offices, intravenous sedation is offered as way to remain conscious and responsive during the removal procedure yet in a state where patients often do not recall the details of their procedure.

For patients receiving sedation dentistry, there are certain preparations the must be made. In particular, patients must fast for at least six hours prior to their procedure. Additionally, individuals must enlist the help of a family member or friend to bring them back to their home following their procedure.

The Procedure

Local anesthesia is first applied to the area and a surgical tool is used to open the gums, revealing the bone and tooth. A specialized tool is then used to remove the tooth. If the molar is too large to be removed as one piece, it will be broken into smaller pieces for easier extraction. Once the tooth is out, the gums are sutured together and left to heal.

Post-Treatment Healing

Following wisdom tooth extraction, patients may experience some swelling in the tissue and cheeks near the treatment site. To ensure successful recovery, Dr. Patel provides patients with recovery instructions, including directions to avoid strenuous activity and smoking. To prevent dry socket, patients should avoid touching the treatment area with their tongue or using straws as this can dislodge the developing blood clot and expose the area to food and bacteria.

Undergoing wisdom tooth extraction is a normal, simple process that can protect the long-term health of your smile. For more information about this treatment, schedule your consultation at Lorton-Springfield Oral Surgery and Dental Implants today.

Impacted vs. Non-Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Not all wisdom teeth are the same. Changes in how a wisdom tooth emerges can influence the molar’s long-term impact on your oral health and function as well as how to treat this new tooth. In particular, knowing the difference between a fully impacted, partially impacted, or non-impacted wisdom tooth can help you protect your smile before and after extraction.

Non-Impacted Wisdom Teeth

The most straight forward, non-impacted molars develop and emerge just as any other tooth would. With non-impacted wisdom teeth, patients typically have arches that are large enough to accommodate the extra teeth, ensuring proper development and emergence through both the bone and soft tissue. While these teeth may sit comfortably, extraction is still recommended as wisdom teeth are often more difficult to keep clean and may not be in correct alignment with the rest of the bite.

Partially Impacted Wisdom Teeth

In other cases, the molars may develop correctly but are otherwise unable to completely emerge into the arch. As a result, the crown of this partially erupted tooth may be visible. Compared to fully impacted and non-impacted wisdom teeth, partially impacted molars are particularly complicated as the gums create a flap over the tooth which can trap food and bacteria. As a result, patients with partially impacted wisdom teeth are at an increased risk of developing further health complications, such as periodontal disease, tooth decay, and pericoronitis, or the infection of the tissue around the emerged crown.

Fully Impacted Wisdom Teeth

For some patients, developing wisdom teeth may not even make it partially through the bone. There are a number of different types of full impaction, each distinguished by the position of the tooth as well as where the impaction has occurred. For example, a horizontal bony impaction refers to a tooth that is lying on its side and is still in the jaw bone. Similarly, a mesial soft tissue impaction refers to a tooth that is still in the gums yet is angled forwards toward the front of the mouth.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Northern VA

At the Lorton and Springfield offices of Dr. Snehal Patel, wisdom teeth extraction is a comfortable process that can be done at either of our locations. For more information about protecting your smile from the long-term consequences of wisdom teeth, contact our oral surgeon today to schedule your consultation.  

Do I Need a Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Unlike other teeth, the third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, develop later, often when a patient is in late adolescence or early adulthood. For some, these molars may be easily accommodated into the arch. For others, wisdom teeth can have a domino-like effect on the health and functionality of a smile, compromising an individual’s overall health. When facing wisdom tooth development, many patients may find themselves wondering whether they need extraction.

Understanding the Implications of Wisdom Teeth

Part of the complicated implications of wisdom teeth stem from when and how these third molars develop. By the time wisdom teeth develop, patients have often already undergone treatments to utilize the entire space of the arch. When there is no space for the new tooth to emerge, it becomes impacted, or unable to correctly breach through the gums. As a result, it develops incorrectly, essentially pushing against other teeth and threatening to negate any prior work that has been done.

In other cases, the wisdom teeth may become partially impacted, or may only partially emerge. This can also have negative oral health implications as the gum flap covering the tooth may trap food debris. As debris accumulates, so do bacteria, making it difficult for patients to thoroughly clean their teeth and increasing the likelihood of developing a cavity, tooth infection, or abscess.

Given the strong possibility of compromising the health and function of a patient’s smile, wisdom tooth extraction is highly recommended in cases of impaction and partial impaction.

Other Cases to Consider Extraction

Surprisingly, age also may be a factor in determining whether extraction is a good option. While a tooth may develop normally and fit comfortably in the arch, changes to the dentition that occur over time may cause the wisdom tooth to begin crowding other teeth. Older patients seeking wisdom tooth extraction may find themselves at risk of greater complications from the removal process.

Northern Virginia oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel offers comprehensive wisdom tooth removal at his Lorton and Springfield dental practices. Using advanced technology, Dr. Patel is able to create a strategic plan that makes the removal and recovery processes comfortable and efficient. For more information about general extraction and impacted wisdom tooth extraction, contact our nearest location today.

Understanding Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia

When it comes to improving your dental experience, dental sedation offers a number of treatment advantages. For patients facing extensive dental procedures, deep sedation and general anesthesia are excellent options for enhancing your procedure. To determine which option works best for your smile, consider the following:

Administered intravenously, deep sedation is the highest level of sedation dentistry and requires specialized training by the oral surgeon. While under the influence of deep sedation, patients are only barely conscious and thus unable to respond to commands. In some cases, breathing assistance may be required. For patients with severe dental phobia or those requiring more complex or multiple dental procedures such as tooth extraction or implant placement, deep sedation is an ideal option.

In contrast, general anesthesia is not considered a form of true sedation dentistry and is more commonly used in the event of extensive oral surgery, such as jaw reconstruction or TMJ surgery. Unlike deep sedation, general anesthesia can only be administered by a highly trained anesthesiologist or oral surgeon. As a result, patients considering general anesthesia must consider the fact that their treatment will most likely be performed in a hospital or surgical center. General anesthesia also put patients in a state of complete unconsciousness, requiring a ventilator in order to maintain the airway.

However, this level of unconsciousness makes general anesthesia ideal for cases in which many procedures must be completed. Additionally, patients with preexisting conditions may find general anesthesia to be a safer option as they are continuously monitored throughout the entirety of their procedure.

Selecting Sedation Dentistry

Given the unique needs of each patient, preparing for sedation dentistry requires an in-depth analysis of the patient’s health history and procedural needs. At the Lorton and Springfield dental practices of Dr. Snehal Patel, our mission is to provide each patient with a comfortable and safe procedure that yields lasting results. By utilizing advanced technology and one-on-one consultations, our team is able to help patients of all ages find the right dental sedation for their upcoming procedure.

Lorton Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery is proud to offer a number of different sedation options, ranging from mild to deep sedation. For more information about improving your upcoming procedure, contactour Northern Virginia oral surgeon today. 

The Long-term Impact of Childhood Oral Health

Often, the habits we learn as children stay with us as we enter adulthood. This is particularly true when considering oral health and hygiene, as the health of your smile during childhood frequently dictates the condition of your dentition as an adult. Your feelings towards dental visits, preventive care, and at-home oral hygiene are initially developed based on your experiences with dentistry as a child. As a result, ensuring positive dental experiences and thorough oral care during childhood are incredibly important.

Dental Conditions that Can Influence Your Future Oral Health
Often, conditions such as caries can greatly impact a child’s smile. As the nerves are larger in children’s teeth than they are in adult teeth, childhood tooth decay spreads much more aggressively, putting children at risk of requiring extensive treatments such as root canals and crowns in order to prevent further damage. In the long-run, such conditions compromise the patient’s oral health, creating an oral environment that may not encourage healthy dentition.

Thumb sucking can also cause long-term implications for the smile. Often, children outgrow thumb sucking between the ages of two and a half to three years of age. However, if the habit continues, it can have an impact different parts of the dentition, including the bite alignment, gums, jaws, and even the structure of the face. In the future, chronic thumb suckers may need orthodontics or even jaw surgery to correct the function and health of the mouth.

The Importance of Routine Visits
Regular visits to the dentist’s office are one of the most important aspects of preventive care regardless of age. During childhood, these visits are especially important as they provide patients and their parents with the opportunity to learn about important hygiene skills to be implemented at home. Furthermore, routine dental visits offer an important opportunity for dentists to monitor young smiles for changes in the dentition.

During these visits, your child’s smile will be monitored using advanced technology to ensure proper oral development and transition from primary to permanent teeth. These frequent visits also help the dentist identify whether certain long-term treatments will be needed in the future, such as orthodontics or wisdom teeth extraction.

In Lorton and Springfield, Northern Virginia oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel works closely with area dentists to help strategically plan extensive oral surgery procedures for patients in need. For more information about our referral program, contact your closest location today.

5 Ways Sedation Dentistry Can Alleviate Dental Fear and Anxiety

Do you find yourself feeling nervous or anxious at the prospect of visiting the dentist? Do you avoid the dentist’s chair at all costs? If so, you may be one of the countless individuals suffering from dental anxiety or phobia. Often borne out of poor prior dental experiences, dental anxiety and dental phobia can prevent patients from seeking necessary dental care, potentially compromising their overall health and wellbeing.

For individuals living with dental phobia or anxiety, sedation dentistry is quickly becoming a popular option for overcoming fears. If you are thinking about incorporating dental sedation into your upcoming procedure, consider the following.

Sedation dentistry varies: There are several levels of dental sedation, ranging from mild to moderate to deep sedation. While undergoing these varying forms of sedation, patients remain conscious yet often don’t remember the details of their procedure, making it ideal for nervous patients.

Dental sedation is safe: This form of dentistry uses safe medications to encourage relaxation during procedures. As sedation treatment plans are developed based on the unique needs of each patient following an in-depth examination of their health history, patients only receive effective and safe treatments.

Sedation is Versatile: Given the varying levels of sedation available and the safety of the treatment, dental sedation can be applied to a variety or procedures, ranging from routine cleaning through extensive oral surgeries. This offers extremely anxious patients the opportunity to receive even basic dental care in a relaxed environment.

Minimal Lasting Effects: While it is recommended that patients enlist the assistance of a friend or family member to drive them home, the medication used in mild and moderate sedation wears off quickly, leaving minimal side effect. For patients undergoing deep sedation and general anesthesia, the medication is often reversed at the end of the procedure.

Pain-free Dental Care: Often, patients undergoing sedation dentistry also receive local anesthesia which numbs the area receiving treatment. This way, patients are able to remain conscious during their procedure yet feel little to no pain. In the long-run, this can help alleviate patient’s fears of pain during their procedure, allowing them to overcome their anxiety.

With two offices conveniently located in both Lorton and Springfield, Northern Virginia oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel is pleased to offer a number of dental sedation options for nervous and anxious patients. For more information about the advantages of sedation dentistry, contact our practice today.