Wisdom Teeth

The removal of wisdom teeth is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States. Because the procedure is so common, many people underestimate what is involved in the diagnosis, planning, and recovery associated with the removal of wisdom teeth. Dr. Bluestein and her staff excel in this area and are committed to providing you with a level of care they would be proud to offer their own families.

Proper diagnosis, surgical planning, medical work-up (if needed), and post-operative planning and preparation are keys to providing World-Class Surgical and Patient Care in a Safe, Comfortable, and Caring Environment. For this reason, Dr. Bluestein routinely performs an initial patient evaluation appointment prior to performing the surgical procedure.

This “Consultation Appointment” is a critical component of providing the best possible care. The procedure used to remove wisdom teeth differs depending upon many factors. Among these factors are the type of impaction, the position of the tooth, the age of the individual, and whether or not the tooth resides in the upper or lower jaw bone. Depending upon what is involved in your particular case, Dr. Bluestein will provide and recommend different Anesthetic Options. The options typically include general anesthesia, sedation, and local anesthesia. Dr. Bluestein is an expert in making the procedure comfortable for you. The Consultation Appointment is designed to educate you, answer any and all of your questions, provide you with choices, allow you to plan your time off work/school, and enable you to optimize your at-home-care. At this initial appointment your medical condition is evaluated in great depth to maximize your safety, you are examined, and your radiographs are reviewed. You are subsequently educated about your individual condition, and treatment and anesthetic options are discussed with you at great length. The procedure involved with each treatment and anesthetic option as well as the risks, benefits, and costs associated with each are explained in great detail. Finally, we give you pre-operative instructions that are safest for you.

You subsequently schedule a “Surgery Appointment” which is convenient for you. You then return to our office where Dr. Bluestein performs your surgery in our state-of-the-art surgery center. Your surgery is not rushed; we use only the best and safest equipment, supplies, and medications; no corners are cut; and you are monitored closely for a sufficient amount of time after surgery to ensure that you are in excellent condition upon your departure. Additionally, detailed post-operative instructions are reviewed verbally and in writing, and you have 24 hour access to Dr. Bluestein via her cell phone should you have any questions or concerns.

For more information about the removal of wisdom teeth, please call Bluestein Surgical Arts at 303-938-1161 to schedule a consultation and continue reading below.

Basic Information about Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are more formally known as Third Molars. They are the last teeth in the dentition to develop and are normally the last to erupt into the mouth.

Due to multiple factors including the genetic mixing and matching of tooth to jaw size, the addition of fluoride to the public water supply, the improvement of dental care, and the dramatic changes in the human diet over thousands of years, Wisdom Teeth now become impacted in the vast majority of individuals.

What does it mean for a tooth to be impacted? It means that something is obstructing the path of eruption of the tooth, so that the tooth cannot erupt into the mouth and become functional. Impacted wisdom teeth are categorized based upon what is blocking their eruption. They are classified as soft tissue impacted, partial bony impacted, and/or complete bony impacted.

In the vast majority of cases, it is advisable to remove impacted wisdom teeth.  The removal is optimally performed when the roots of the wisdom teeth are one-half to two-thirds developed.  This usually corresponds to an age of 15-16 years old.  The reason to remove the teeth at this stage is that this is the time with the fewest associated risks, and the quickest healing and recovery period.  However, many people delay having their wisdom teeth removed at this time, and end up doing so later in life when complications are more likely to occur and the risks associated with removal have increased.  Reasons to remove wisdom teeth include their contribution to the development of infections (including pericoronitis), periodontal disease (pocketing), caries (cavities), cyst and tumor formation, weakening and fractures of the jaw bones, and possibly the movement and crowding of other teeth.  Most of these problems develop “silently,” without the patient experiencing any pain or difficulty.  It is always preferable to remove wisdom teeth BEFORE problems arise.   

Click to view Before & After photographs of Dr. Bluestein's patients