The Problem with 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 have enough room to grow in naturally. For others, wisdom teeth often cause problems, coming in at an angle instead of straight through the gum line. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause structural damage to the jaw and other teeth. They can also provide a place for bacteria to gather since they are hard to reach and clean.
These potential problems make it necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth so that larger problems don’t arise. If you or your teen is experiencing pain, swelling, or swollen gums around the molars, we encourage you to reserve a consultation to evaluate your wisdom teeth in Mission Viejo, CA with our esteemed oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Michael K. Clark today. As a general rule, the longer you wait, the more complicated treatment can be.
Surgery from a Wisdom Tooth Expert
Dr. Clark is a skilled oral surgeon with focused training and specialized experience in wisdom teeth extraction; in fact, he’s removed thousands of them in his career. With decades of experience performing mainly surgical procedures, Dr. Clark is highly qualified to provide treatment for infected, damaged, and impacted teeth, including wisdom teeth. Able to handle both dental and medical emergencies, he’s the preferred specialist for many patients and has helped countless patients improve their health with wisdom teeth removal as a result.
For those anxious about their wisdom tooth extraction, Dr. Clark has extensive hospital-based training in anesthesia and provides the full range of sedation in-office, including nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. Your comfort and safety during your surgery is our highest priority, and we take additional measures to ensure your experience is positive. Our experienced team is here for every step of your 3rd molar extraction, providing the specialized care you need to have a successful and relaxing surgery.
What to Expect at Our Office
We first want you to feel completely comfortable undergoing wisdom tooth surgery at our office. We’ll walk you through what you can expect and help you determine which level of sedation is necessary if you’re feeling nervous about surgery. Next, we generally take a Panorex X-Ray that captures high-resolution images of your bone, teeth, sinuses, and nerves. This helps us plan for your surgery to increase the predictability and precision of your treatment. Your surgery will be completed in one of our surgical suites equipped with state-of-the-art technology and full anesthesia capabilities.
While you’re monitored by our team to maximize your comfort and safety, Dr. Clark will expertly perform your wisdom tooth removal in the most minimally invasive approach possible. Once your surgery is complete and you feel stable, a friend or family member will drive you home where you’ll need a few days to fully recover. If at any point during your recovery you need us, we are here to provide expert, personalized follow-up care.