Wisdom Teeth Removal – IV sedation

Wisdom Teeth Removal Christchurch

Be Wise about your wisdom teeth, Extractions, Wisdom Teeth and Sedation

In spite of all our best efforts sometimes teeth need to be extracted. This may be due to extensive gum disease, or extensive tooth decay. Whatever the reason, this can be a nerve-wracking procedure to go through. At Merivale Dental Group we are very experienced at extracting teeth and are able to do this painlessly with local anaesthetic. If you are nervous or dentally anxious then we can extract your teeth with the aid of a sedative to help you relax and disassociate from what is happening. We will always work with you to make the procedure as comfortable as possible.

Wisdom teeth are more often the source of discomfort rather than wisdom! Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars in the mouth and often have no room to erupt. As a result these teeth often erupt at an angle causing them to be impacted into the adjacent teeth. The result is often a “partially erupted” wisdom tooth that is difficult to clean, and thus susceptible to dental decay and localized gum disease.

Lower Wisdom Teeth

Lower wisdom teeth are more likely to be impacted than upper ones. They may erupt either vertically, horizontally or at an angle. If left unaddressed, partially erupted lower wisdom teeth can become severely decayed (causing a toothache) or be associated with localized gum disease and bone loss. Unfortunately the wisdom tooth can also cause damage to the adjacent tooth. Localized infections, called pericoronitis, can also occur when the gums covering the partially erupted wisdom tooth become severely inflamed and traumatized. This can lead to significant discomfort and limited mouth opening. Pericoronitis is often associated with a number of factors such as stress levels, change of seasons and upper respiratory tract infections. Repeated occurrence of pericoronitis is a strong indication for the removal of wisdom teeth.

Timing for Removal

We always screen for problems with wisdom teeth starting from the adolescent years, as an early sign of impactions is often a strong indicator for their removal. Removing wisdom teeth early on is advantageous as the roots of the teeth are often not fully developed and the bone is somewhat more flexible. These make it easier for us to remove these teeth. Therefore, it’s “wise” to have these teeth assessed as soon as you feel them erupt into your mouth. In some cases, the wisdom teeth will fully erupt but become decayed or show signs of early decay. This happens often in upper wisdom teeth which are difficult to keep clean. In these cases we may often recommend removing them to aid the oral hygiene process and help protect the adjacent molars from related problems.

Surgical vs Non-surgical Removal of Wisdom Teeth

This depends on the angle the tooth is erupting and it’s position in the jaw. Wisdom teeth that aren’t impacted can usually be removed in a similar fashion to any other tooth (non-surgical). Impacted wisdom teeth are more difficult to remove. This is something we have a lot of experience at and are able to work through with you. We will discuss the process of extraction required at your consultation appointment.

Dental IV Sedation

IV sedation is a good option if you are particularly nervous about having a dental extraction, or indeed any dental treatment including fillings, root canals, or crowns. The sedative is generally provided intra-venously (IV) as this allows the drug to take effect extremely quickly and lets us top it up throughout the appointment to keep you at a comfortable and well sedated level.

We are very careful when providing IV sedation for dental procedures so provide extra monitoring to ensure the procedure is as safe as possible. It is possible that this might not be suitable depending on other medical conditions and/or medication. We will be able to talk through this in more detail with you in person.