Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that emerge, usually during your late teens to early twenties.
For some people, wisdom teeth emerge through the gums and have enough room to erupt naturally. For others, wisdom teeth often cause problems as they try to protrude through the gums.
When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it comes in at an angle and not straight through the gum line. This can cause pain, the tooth can come in unevenly, or the tooth may only emerge partially. In these cases, your dentist will likely recommend wisdom teeth removal.
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Initial Consult
For patients referred for the removal of their wisdom teeth, the following will occur on your first office visit.
You will be evaluated and examined by a doctor. A scout radiograph called a Panorex will be taken. This radiograph shows your wisdom teeth in relation to your entire jaw. It also shows the relationship between the roots of the teeth in question and the nerve of the lower lip.
This radiograph is required and mandatory. If your referring doctor has taken a recent Panorex within the last month and it is of good quality, a repeat radiograph will not be necessary.
Once evaluated, your treating doctor will review the proposed surgery, discussing the risks and benefits of removing the teeth in question.
In some situations, teeth removal cannot occur due to the possibility or risk of injury to the neurovascular canal, which could result in either temporary or permanent loss of feeling to your lower lip. In any case, your doctor will go over all of this at your visit.
If you are considering the removal of the wisdom teeth immediately after the consultation, please refrain from eating or drinking anything for 8 hours prior to your surgery. You must ensure our office fully understands that you would like to have the teeth removed at that time.
Preop Instructions
INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO YOUR ORAL SURGERY
- 1.
Absolutely NO EATING OR DRINKING (INCLUDING WATER) 8 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME. If it’s a morning appointment, have NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK after midnight, the night before your scheduled surgery.
- 2.
You must be accompanied by ONE responsible adult you know and trust, who is licensed and prepared to drive you home and care for you on the day of your surgery. They need to WAIT FOR YOU in the waiting room during your surgery. Most surgeries last approximately one hour or less. When your surgery is finished, you will need a minimal amount of time to awaken and recover. Then you will want to go home and relax and start on your pain medication. The sooner you eat something to coat your stomach and take your pain medicine, the more comfortable you will be after surgery.
- 3.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing with a top that has short sleeves. (We will place monitors on your arms and start the I.V. in your arm. AVOID WEARING ANY NAIL POLISH on the day of surgery, as this will interfere with the monitoring system.
- 4.
Leave jewelry and contact lenses at home (otherwise, remove them prior to your surgery). Women need to wear flat closed shoes without heels, and hair tied back. NO SANDALS OR FLIP FLOPS (you will be wobbly from the medication given).
- 5.
Good oral hygiene is essential for proper healing. Brush and floss your teeth BEFORE surgery. Do not smoke before and after your surgery, the residue from the smoke stays on your teeth and gums, interfering with healing.
- 6.
Do not take aspirin or aspirin compounds, diet pills, or fish oil for two weeks prior to your surgery.
- 7.
Arrive 15 minutes early. Bring your surgical fee on the day of surgery and complete your financial arrangements with the secretary prior to surgery. You will not be alert enough to handle financial arrangements after surgery.
- 8.
Avoid smoking, alcoholic beverages, and any recreational drugs, INCLUDING MARIJUANA, for at least a week prior to general anesthesia for your own safety and protection. The use of recreational drugs prior to general anesthesia could be life-threatening.
- 9.
Have your prescription FILLED at home BEFORE your surgery appointment. Make sure you have plenty of liquids and soft cold food (i.e., mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, milkshakes, pudding, yogurt, etc.) ready at home after your surgery.
- 10.
REMEMBER: If you think you will need a refill of your pain medication over the weekend, you should call the office no later than Friday at 3:00 P.M. No narcotics will be prescribed over the weekend!!
SIGA ESTAS INSTRUCCIONES ANTES DE SU CIRUGIA ORAL
- 1.
Absolutamente NADA DE COMER O TOMAR (incluyendo Agua) POR 8 HORAS antes de su cita. Si su cita es por la mañana temprano, NADA DE TOMAR O DE COMER después de la medianoche antes de su cirugía.
- 2.
Usted tiene que ser acompañado por un adulto responsable a quien conozca y que esté preparado y tenga licencia para conducir para llevarlo a su casa y cuidar de usted el resto del día. Esa persona TIENE QUE ESPERAR POR USTED en la sala de espera. La mayoría de las cirugías duran una hora o menos. Al terminar la cirugía usted necesitara un tiempo mínimo para despertarse y recuperarse, después usted va a querer regresar a su casa, relajarse y comenzar a tomar su medicina para el dolor. Tan pronto pueda, coma algo suave, así va a preparar su estómago para la medicina y estar más cómodo después de la cirugía.
- 3.
Use ropa suelta y cómoda, mangas cortas (vamos a colocar monitores y el suero en sus brazos). Por favor NO USE ESMALTE DE UÑAS el esmalte de uñas interfiere con los monitores de anestesia.
- 4.
Deje todas sus joyas y los lentes de contacto en la casa (si se preseneta con joyas, tendreas que removerlas antes de la cirugía). Las mujeres necesitan pelo recogido y usar zapatos cómodos y sin tacones. NO USE SANDALIAS (La medicina puede causar mareo y puede ser dificil caminar en sandalias).
- 5.
Buena higiene es esencial para su recuperación. Cepíllese los dientes y use el hilo dental ANTES de su cirugía. No fume ni antes ni después de la cirugía, los residuos del cigarrillo se quedan en los dientes y las encías interfiriendo con la cicatrización.
- 6.
No tome ningún producto que contenga aspirina o derivados de aspirina, píldora de dieta, o fish oil por lo menos dos semanas antes de la cirugía.
- 7.
Llegue 15 minutos temprano. Asegúrese de arreglar la parte financiera de su cirugía antes de que comience. Después de la cirugía usted no va a estar lo suficientemente alerto y cómodo para ocuparse del pago de los servicios quirúrgicos.
- 8.
Por su propia salud, seguridad y protección, evite fumar, tomar bebidas alcohólicas, o usar drogas recreacionales INCLUYENDO MARIJUANA al menos una semana antes de la anestesia general. El usar drogas recreacionales antes de la anestesia general podría poner en peligro su vida.
- 9.
Reclame y LLENE las recetas dadas por su doctor para así poder tener los medicamentos listos ANTES de la cirugía. Asegúrese que, en su casa, tenga suficientes líquidos para tomar y comidas suaves y frías para digerir. (como puré de papa, queso suave, malteadas, batidos, yogurt, etc.) Tambien recomendamos tener bolsas frías de hielo para la inflamación.
- 10.
RECUERDE: Si usted cree que necesitará una nueva prescripción para la medicina contra el dolor, Usted debe llamar a más tardar el viernes antes de las 3:00 P.M.
- 11.
¡¡Durante el fin de semana no se prescribirán recetas de narcóticos!!
Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame a nuestra oficina antes de su cita.Estaremos preparados para aclarar cualquier inquietud.
your surgery
Just Before Surgery
A day or two before your surgery:
Stock up on liquid foods you can eat without chewing. These include total-nutrition drinks, soup, and milk. Foods that are easy to liquefy, such as bananas, are good too.
If you don't already have a blender, buy or borrow one. Arrange for an adult family member or friend to give you a ride home and stay with you after surgery.
Don't eat or drink for at least 8 hours before surgery. Ask the surgeon whether to take your regular medications during this period. If so, take them with small sips of water.
Be sure to ask our oral surgeons or their staff any questions that you have.
your surgery
Surgery takes place in your oral surgeon's office. Sometimes, it may need to occur in a hospital or surgery center. The procedure will last approximately an hour. Our staff will keep you as comfortable as possible and help you recover until you're ready to go home.
The day of Surgery
When you arrive, the staff will prepare you for surgery. An IV line will be started to provide you with fluids and medications. Before surgery, you'll meet with your anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist. This is to discuss the medication (general anesthesia) used to keep you asleep and free of pain during surgery.
Once you're under anesthesia, the surgery will be performed. To help stabilize the bite, a plastic splint may be placed between the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
risks and complications
Risks and possible complications of surgery include:
Temporary pain and swelling
Bleeding
Numbness (in most cases temporary)
Infection
Loss of teeth or bone
Risks of anesthesia
Right after surgery
After surgery, your IV will be in place. Ice packs will be applied to your face to control swelling, and your face will most likely be numb. We usually do this in the office. Once you wake up, the IV will be removed, and recovery will begin.
Your jaws will usually not be wired together, meaning you could open and close your mouth immediately following surgery, although your muscles will likely feel sore and weak.
Do You Need Wisdom Teeth Removal?
You’ve come to the right place. The surgeons at Oral Facial Reconstruction provide expert oral maxillofacial care, meaning they help patients looking for anything from facial cosmetic surgery to sleep apnea treatment.
Have any questions about what we can do for you? Looking to speak with someone at one of our offices about booking an appointment? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of our locations at Plantation, Coral Springs, Aventura, or Pembroke Pines.
