Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars that develop, and it's rare for them to grow properly. Dental professionals recommend having them extracted when patients are of a younger age because these teeth have not yet fully formed. Not all young adults develop wisdom teeth, and some people develop them much later in life. Attend regular checkups with your dentist, who will track the growth of third molars and refer you for extraction when it is necessary.
The most common symptom of wisdom teeth is feeling pain or pressure in the back of your mouth. Not everyone experiences symptoms from third molars. However, wisdom teeth that do not cause symptoms can still be problematic. Attend regular checkups with your general dentist, who will evaluate your teeth and refer you to an oral surgeon when it’s time to have your wisdom teeth extracted.
The most common symptoms of wisdom teeth include:
- Pain
- Swelling or pressure
- Difficulty fully opening the mouth
- Seeing the crown of a wisdom tooth poking through the gums
- An unpleasant taste
If you experience any of these symptoms, it may be time to have your wisdom teeth extracted. Contact Canyon Oral & Facial Surgery in Las Vegas, NV. Our oral surgeons, Dr. Jesse Falk, Dr. Michael Moody, and Dr. Robert Yau, will carefully examine your teeth and if extraction is necessary, we will create a custom treatment plan just for you.
Wisdom Teeth Infections
Leaving your wisdom teeth untreated poses a risk to your oral health. It’s common for wisdom teeth to grow at an angle and partially erupt through the gums. When this happens, the tooth is considered to be impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth are especially difficult to clean around because not all of the tooth is visible.
This leaves you prone to developing an infection. Severe infections can spread to adjacent teeth and gum tissue. This can lead to the development of periodontal disease, or gum disease, and tooth decay. All of these factors can negatively affect the position of your teeth, causing dental shifting and bite misalignment.
Fluid-filled cysts or tumors can develop around an infected third molar. These cysts can become painful and require surgery to remove them. You can avoid the possibility of these conditions altogether by having wisdom teeth removed as soon as possible.
Should I Go With a Dentist or Oral Surgeon for Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
Oral surgeons practice a wider scope of treatment compared to general dentists. They are the only dental professionals qualified to administer all forms of anesthesia. Many oral surgeons have hospital privileges and respond to emergency facial trauma cases at local hospitals. When a patient requires anesthesia for treatment or more complex surgery beyond a simple tooth extraction, general dentists refer them to oral surgeons.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialize in diagnosing and treating issues involving the head, neck, jaws, mouth, and face. They must complete many years of training after dental school. During this time, they gain hands-on surgical experience in a hospital setting and learn how to treat a variety of patients. This also includes learning how to safely administer all forms of anesthesia for oral surgery procedures.
Dr. Falk, Dr. Moody, and Dr. Yau took their expertise to the next level by becoming board-certified. To achieve this status, they had to complete a rigorous peer evaluation process and demonstrate advanced capabilities to the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). This is a great achievement that only the highest level of oral surgeons can receive.
All of our oral surgeons at Canyon Oral & Facial Surgery regularly perform wisdom tooth extractions. Our skilled surgical staff assists in making sure the patient is comfortable and at ease, and our doctors make the surgical experience quick and beneficial. If your dentist recommends you to an oral surgeon in the Las Vegas area, contact our practice to schedule an appointment and meet with our friendly and highly skilled oral health experts.
Bank Stem Cells from Wisdom Teeth
Our practice has partnered with Stemodontics® to help protect the future health of our patients. Wisdom teeth contain a large amount of stem cells. After having your wisdom teeth extracted, we can ship your stem cells to a secure laboratory through Stemodontics. If you encounter illness or injury in the future, Stemodontics will ship your stem cells to your healthcare provider to be used in regenerative medicine and therapy. Learn more about the benefits of stem cell banking on the Stemodontics website and enroll today!
Find Us in Las Vegas, Nevada
Canyon Oral & Facial Surgery has two offices located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and one office in Henderson, NV. Our Centenial Hills office is on the northwestern side of the city and our Summerlin office is on the west side, near Spring Valley. Our Henderson office is on W Horizon Ridge Pkwy. We proudly serve patients in Las Vegas and nearby areas, including:
- Winchester
- Paradise
- North Las Vegas
- Sunrise Manor
- Las Vegas
- Henderson
- Summerlin South
- Spring Valley
- Enterprise
- Boulder City
Providing an Exceptional Patient Experience
Get exceptional patient care from trusted board-certified oral surgeons. Contact Canyon Oral & Facial Surgery to schedule a consultation and find out how we can improve your oral health and confidence.