Wisdom Teeth

Do your wisdom teeth cause pain and discomfort? If so, they may need to be removed. The good news is that the process is easy at Gold Coast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Steve Yusupov, DDS, MD, FACS, performs these procedures in the comfort of IV sedation. In addition, he uses adjunct medication that will improve postoperative pain and swelling. Besides that, ask our staff or the doctor about the novel use of patients' own growth factors to help with faster healing and improved recovery period. Call the office in Roslyn, New York, or request an appointment online today.

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the back-most teeth in your mouth. Usually, wisdom teeth don’t appear until ages 17-25. In many cases, wisdom teeth are trapped beneath other teeth, so they only partially break through the gum line or don’t do so at all. 

Few people have enough space in their jaw for wisdom teeth to erupt cleanly — and that’s why 85% of people have at least one wisdom tooth removed. 

Why do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed? 

Removal is usually the best course of action for wisdom teeth that cause pain or are infected. Asymptomatic wisdom teeth need – at the very least – an evaluation by a Board Certified Oral Surgeon. Whether your wisdom teeth have already started growing or they’re buried deep in your gums, they can cause problems in the future, and a prophylactic extraction may be necessary. 

Partially erupted wisdom teeth

Partially erupted wisdom teeth can increase your risk of infection. Additionally, they may pressure your other molars to cause tooth alignment issues.

Impacted wisdom teeth

If your wisdom teeth remain impacted (beneath your gums, trapped and unable to grow), you can develop a tumor or cyst around the tooth. This tumor or cyst can then trigger jawbone loss and even healthy tooth loss. 

You may need wisdom teeth removal even if your wisdom teeth fully grow in. As long as there’s plenty of space to accommodate your wisdom teeth, they won’t cause problems. But if your fully erupted wisdom teeth are pushing on your other molars, removal is the best way to prevent a cascade of tooth alignment issues.

What is the wisdom teeth surgery process?

Dr. Yusupov uses state-of-the-art digital X-rays and cone beam imaging to evaluate your wisdom teeth. He can predict future wisdom teeth movements and whether those movements will cause oral health problems. 

Dr. Yusupov recommends having a wisdom teeth evaluation during the mid-teens or at any time when you’re having pain in your back teeth, possibly related to your wisdom teeth.

Dr. Yusupov uses a variety of appropriate sedation dentistry methods, with the most common option for wisdom teeth removal being IV sedation. 

The exact method of tooth removal can vary based on how deeply your wisdom teeth are buried, but the gentle care you'll receive ensures your comfort at all times. After your procedure, Dr. Yusupov sutures your gums. After a short rest period, a loved one can drive you home. 

You’ll take antibiotics as prescribed and pain medication as needed in the days following your procedure. In a week, you’ll come back to Gold Coast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery to check your healing. Dr. Yusupov uses resorbable sutures, so suture removal is never necessary. 

At Gold Coast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Yusupov uses cutting-edge technology to perform comfortable wisdom teeth removal with fast recovery times. Call the office or request an appointment online today.