Are Your Wisdom Teeth Causing Problems?

Many young adults benefit from wisdom tooth removal. Schedule an evaluation to find out more.

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Wisdom Teeth in Lafayette, CO

Throughout human history, our bodies have adapted slowly to changes in our environment. At one time, we needed our third molars (commonly referred to as “wisdom teeth”) to break down the tough fibers in the foods we used to eat.

As our diets have evolved and become softer and more processed, the size and shape of our jaw has changed. Most of us, however, still develop our third molars between the ages of 15 and 24. Sometimes our third molars come in without a problem. More often, unfortunately, the molars do not come in correctly and need to be removed for both our comfort and the health of our other teeth.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth can erupt in a number of different ways:

The teeth may fail to break through the gum at all, putting painful pressure on the other teeth. This can push the other teeth out of proper alignment, affecting the overall bite and leading to numerous other problems. When wisdom teeth don’t erupt properly, this is known as “impaction.”
The wisdom teeth may partially break through the gum but fail to erupt fully. This creates the same painful pressure but also increases the risk of infection through the opening in the gum tissue.
The teeth erupt fully but are simply too big for the jaw. This leads to discomfort, pushes the other teeth out of alignment, and causes other developmental disruption.

In all three cases, the wisdom teeth are at a high risk for decay since it can be difficult to brush and floss them properly.

Removing Wisdom Teeth

Your dentist may recommend that your wisdom teeth be removed. It’s wise to trust this procedure to an experienced oral surgeon. Sometimes, a general dentist may begin a procedure and discover that it’s more complex than was initially anticipated. This often leads to a referral to an oral surgeon. You can see yourself both time and money by going straight to an oral surgeon for your extraction.

While a general dentist can perform simple extractions, an oral surgeon has the extra skill and training required to complete even the most complex extractions. Because of the size and location of the wisdom teeth, this procedure can be particularly complex. For the best results and proper healing, please contact our Lafayette oral surgery practice to schedule your evaluation with Dr. Hayes.

Advanced Technology for Advanced Results

At Coal Creek Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center, we use modern technology to plan procedures so that we can anticipate any challenges early on and include their management into your treatment plan. For instance, our 3-D cone beam scanning technology allows us to create a three-dimensional model of your mouth and the surrounding structures. Using this model, we can identify key areas of your facial anatomy (like your sinuses) so that we can plan your treatment with fewer surprises.

Wisdom tooth extraction is performed here in our office using an appropriate level of anesthesia to aid in your comfort throughout the procedure. Dr. Hayes will provide you with the information you need to care for the surgical area after the procedure for faster healing with low risk of complications.

Call to Schedule Your Evaluation

Have you been told that it’s time to remove your wisdom teeth? Have you been experiencing pain or pressure? Are you (or your child) between the ages of 15 and 24?

Please reach out to Coal Creek Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center to schedule your wisdom tooth evaluation with Dr. Hayes.

Meet Our Doctor

Dr. Curtis Hayes, DDS

Dr. Curtis Hayes is a board-certified oral surgeon in Lafayette, Colorado. After completing a Bachelors of Science degree in biochemistry at the United States Air Force Academy, Dr. Hayes attended the University of Colorado School of Dentistry. He graduated magna cum laude in 2003 with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS). Most recently, Dr. Hayes became an International Best Selling author with a book he co-authored, Million Dollar Smile; Dr. Hayes wrote the chapter on digital dentistry.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will it hurt to have my wisdom teeth removed?

Impacted wisdom teeth create a lot of problems, and it’s often
necessary to have them removed. This is a surgical process and it’s
understandable that you are concerned about comfort.

We take your
comfort seriously. We’ll use local anesthetics to numb the gum tissue
and the tooth before we begin the procedure. We can also provide higher
levels of anesthetic when necessary, including nitrous oxide, which
helps to minimize sensation and makes the appointment seem to go by
faster, and IV anesthetics in certain cases.

During the
procedure, you are likely to feel some pressure. Some people feel
anxiety about the pressure or any possible noises that might come along
if the tooth needs to be removed in pieces, and nitrous oxide sedation
can help reduce these worries.

While planning your procedure, Dr.
Hayes will discuss your needs with you and incorporate any needed
anesthetic into your treatment plan.

Following your surgery,
after the anesthetic has worn off, you may experience some discomfort.
This is normal and it can usually be managed with oral pain medications.
Again, Dr. Hayes will discuss your needs with you prior to your
surgery. Following Dr. Hayes’s instructions for self-care following
wisdom tooth removal will help the healing process move along smoothly,
and you should feel like yourself again in a few days.