WISDOM TEETH –  These four teeth usually come in when you’re older, around 17 to 21. These teeth are in the very back of your mouth. You get two on top and two on the bottom as part of a complete set of 32 adult teeth.

Wisdom teeth are considered molars They’re your toughest and widest teeth used for grinding food. For a variety of reasons, some people don’t have all their wisdom teeth. They’re the ones most commonly missing from adult mouths.

These are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. At times these teeth are a valuable asset when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.

These teeth may be positioned horizontally, may be angled toward or away from the second molars, or may even be angled inward or outward. Poor alignment of these wisdom teeth can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves.

Wisdom teeth also can be or become impacted – they’re enclosed within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone or only partially break through the gum. Partial eruption of the wisdom teeth allows an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection, which can result in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness.

Extraction of some or all of the wisdom teeth is a normal and common treatment but should be done by a professional experienced in their removal and with knowledge and experience in quality sedation techniques.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Pre-Op preparation:

To aid in your surgery process and allow for maximum success and comfort, follow the instructions on the PDF sheet below.

You'll most likely receive post-surgery medication and will receive complete instructions. THIS IS A SAMPLE ONLY of the instructions you'll receive.

Open the above PDFs, download and read as appropriate.

Keeping or losing wisdom teeth is a choice made by nature. This short animation gives you an overview of the conditions that can affect your third molars (wisdom teeth).

Your treatment may required anesthesia and you have several options that will be explained to you by Dr. Goldenstein.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are extensively trained to administer local anesthesia, all forms of sedation and general anesthesia in a safe and cost-effective manner in the office setting. They are required to obtain continuing education in anesthesia and to regularly undergo a rigorous office anesthesia evaluation and certification.