Everybody loves Spring Break!  A week long reprieve from classes, exams, and studying intended to allow us to indulge the Spring Fever that inevitably infects us as soon as the weather starts to improve and the days become a little longer.  You might think of wisdom teeth when you think of Spring Break, but at Texas Wisdom Teeth and Dental Implants, we do!  That is because Spring Break poses the perfect opportunity for our patients who are also dedicated students to take care of their dental health, have their wisdom teeth removed, and never miss a beat when it comes to academics.

Impacted and erupted wisdom teeth

During the month of March, we are scheduling patients for wisdom teeth extraction with convenient flexibility.  Our office location in North Dallas makes it easy to get to us.  Most primary and secondary schools have Spring Break scheduled the week of March 10-14 this year and appointments are filling fast.  If your dentist or orthodontist has recommended that your wisdom teeth be removed, give us a call today and reserve your appointment now.

Tips For Wisdom Teeth Removal

• Schedule a consultation appointment prior to surgery in order to meet with your oral surgeon, discuss your individual needs regarding wisdom teeth removal and plan for any assistance available through dental insurance.   Then plan your surgery when it’s convenient for you.
• Impacted wisdom teeth might sound scary, but the truth is, most people’s wisdom teeth are impacted to some degree.  It just means that the teeth are trapped beneath bone or gum tissue.  Removing impacted teeth is not necessarily more uncomfortable afterwards than removing teeth which have erupted into the mouth.  Plan on recovering at home the day of surgery, and for up to three days after surgery, although it is not always necessary to stay at home in bed during recovery.  Most people are up and about, resuming normal activity within a day or two after surgery.
• If you play a horn, plan to take a break for a week or so.  It is recommended that musicians avoid windwood instruments for up to a week following wisdom teeth removal.  This is because sensitivity, mild swelling and healing surgical sites need a little time to heal.  The same goes for aerobic exercise and weight lifting.
• Make a list of the questions you have about the need for wisdom teeth removal, the surgery, anesthesia and recovery.  This way, you won’t forget anything important to you when you see your surgeon.
• If you grind or clench your teeth, make sure to tell your surgeon prior to surgery so he can help prevent muscle fatigue and facial muscles from becoming stiff and sore following surgery.  In some cases, a special medication may be prescribed in order to help relax your facial muscles to prevent grinding and clenching during recovery from surgery.
• Follow the pre-operative and post-operative instructions provided to you in order to have a smooth and uneventful recovery from wisdom tooth removal.  Keeping your mouth clean and maintaining a healthy diet are among the things that can help make your recovery painless
• Contact your surgeon if you have any questions, concerns or if you find that your discomfort level is increasing rather than decreasing.  Increasing discomfort, especially after the third day post op can be a sign of a dry socket.  A dry socket is a delay in the healing process in which the protective blood clot that forms in the surgical site is dissolved, leaving the tooth socket exposed and uncomfortable.  Only about 15-20% of patients who have lower wisdom teeth removed experience a dry socket.  The good news s, that at the first sign of one, a medicated dressing can be applied in order to keep you comfortable during healing.  An office visit would be required in order to treat a dry socket, but it is well worth it.  Prevention of dry socket depends mostly on avoiding smoking and keeping the surgical site clean, however, some patients are simply predisposed to this condition.
• RELAX!  The best way to have a smooth experience with wisdom teeth extraction is to do your best to relax and avoid stressing out if you can.  IV general anesthesia allows patients to sleep through the procedure peacefully, and wake up without pain once the surgery is over.  Discomfort following surgery is usually easily manageable with an over the counter medication such as Advil or Aleve, or with a stronger prescription pain medication.

If it is time to have your wisdom teeth evaluated and removed, schedule a consultation appointment today and take advantage of our special offers available to new patients.  Your consultation and panoramic x-ray is FREE, and most dental insurance plans cover the surgical procedure.  Patients without insurance can take advantage of our cash payment pricing with an all-inclusive fee of $1185 for surgical removal of four wisdom teeth with IV general anesthesia.