Can Wisdom Teeth Be Removed In A Dentist’s Chair?
This post has been written in response to a recent website visitor’s query. Please note that the information in this post is general in nature. It does not constitute advice on what you should do and should not be relied upon as such. You should consult a professional dentist directly for recommendations regarding your individual circumstances.
Can Wisdom Teeth Be Removed In A Dentist’s Chair?
The answer to this question is: it depends on many factors.
If your wisdom teeth are causing problems, or are likely to in the future, your dentist may recommend that they be removed. Some wisdom teeth are easier to remove that others: in order to figure out what sort yours are, your dentist will examine your teeth inside your mouth, and will also look carefully at an X-ray of the teeth.
The X-ray is taken to give the dentist information that he or she would not be able to find out by simply looking in your mouth:
⁃ Information about the roots of the tooth: how many, what shape (straight or curly) and what direction are they pointing in? The more complicated the roots are, the more difficult the extraction will be.
⁃ Information about the strength of the tooth: if it is heavily decayed, it may be prone to breaking or crumbling during the extraction, which increases the complexity of the treatment.
⁃ Information about the position of the tooth: is it firmly wedged under the tooth in front? Close to the sinuses or major nerves? Sitting in a horizontal position instead of being relatively upright? If the tooth is in a challenging position, it will be more difficult to remove.
If, after examining your teeth and x-rays and being aware of your medical history, your dentist considers that they themselves will be able to remove the wisdom teeth in the dental chair, your dentist will offer you this option. It would then be up to you to decide whether this is how you would like to proceed. Some people much prefer the option of having their teeth removed by their dentist under a local anaesthetic. Others might prefer to be sedated whilst having the extractions done in the chair. And some people much prefer to have the procedure done under a general anaesthetic in the hospital or a specialist’s rooms.
If the extraction is likely to be more complex, the dentist will refer you to an Oral Surgeon. The Oral Surgeon may offer the same options: removal of the tooth in the chair under a local anaesthetic, with or without sedation, or a full general anaesthetic.
Please consult with your dentist if you think you will need to have your wisdom teeth removed, so that they may analyse your unique situation and advise you about your options. During your appointment, your dentist will also advise you about the risks of having any invasive or surgical treatment. You may also choose to seek an additional opinion from a suitably qualified health practitioner before commencing the treatment.