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Should I go to an oral surgeon to have my wisdom teeth extracted?

Wisdom tooth extraction is one of the most common oral surgical procedures and for many people, the only oral surgery they will ever need. Many patients ask why it’s necessary to visit an oral surgeon for this procedure. “Can’t my dentist extract teeth?”

In some cases, your dentist can extract wisdom teeth but there are several reasons why choosing an experienced oral surgeon is a good option.

Avoid damage to adjacent teeth

The location of wisdom teeth at the back of your mouth makes them difficult to remove. An oral surgeon has more experience extracting wisdom teeth, which reduces the risk that other teeth are damaged during the extraction process.

Impacted wisdom teeth

A most common reason why you may require an oral surgeon to remove your wisdom teeth is if one or more of your teeth is impacted. An impacted tooth is one that is fully or partially stuck below the gumline. Impacted teeth are more difficult to remove.

Teeth are cracked, fractured or severely decayed

Teeth that are damaged or unhealthy can often break during an extraction. When this happens, surgery may be required to remove the remaining pieces of your tooth from below the gumline. In scenarios where a wisdom tooth is already cracked or at high risk of coming apart, an oral surgeon is the best bet.

General anesthesia

An oral surgery office will be equipped to provide IV sedation for your wisdom teeth extraction, making the procedure more comfortable and enabling the extraction of all of your wisdom teeth in one appointment. IV sedation makes oral surgery easier. It can also be a more pleasant choice for patients dealing with dental anxiety.

Dealing with extraction difficulties

Whereas your dentist may need to pause the extraction and refer you to an oral surgeon after encountering certain problems during the procedure, an experienced oral surgeon can make modifications during your oral surgery and complete your treatment as planned.