Wisdom Teeth FAQ
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the four third molars at the back of your mouth. While the average adult develops 32 teeth, the human mouth is generally only built to hold 28. This space shortage causes wisdom teeth to become crowded or trapped.
Why do they need to be removed?
When wisdom teeth cannot erupt properly, they become “impacted.” If left untreated, they can cause:– Pain, swelling, and localized infections– Damage and shifting of neighboring healthy teeth– Bone-damaging cysts or tumors around the jaw
When is the best time for extraction?
Early evaluation in the mid-teenage years (ages 15–18) yields the best outcomes. Removing them early reduces surgical risks and accelerates healing because the roots are not yet fully formed.
Is the procedure painful?
Not usually. Your comfort and safety are our top priorities. Dr.’s Moskal and Grogan, offer local anesthesia, laughing gas, IV Sedation or even a deeper General anesthesia in an environment equipped with modern monitoring technology. We will customize an anesthesia plan for you during your exam.
What happens after surgery?
Rest & Comfort First
Relaxing with us: You’ll rest safely in our office until you feel ready to head home.
Going home together: If you went to sleep, a trusted companion must drive you home.Your Complete Care Kit– Fully packed for you: you’ll be sent home with a complete kit; some gauze, an irrigating syringe for week two, and clear instructions.– Pharmacy & pain relief: If antibiotics are needed, they’ll be sent straight to your pharmacy along with prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) Tylenol and Ibuprofen.– Our favorite tips: We will pass along our team’s favorite personal recovery secrets to keep you smiling.Seamless Healing
– No thread removal: We use self-dissolving stitches that take care of themselves.– Always by your side: every patient, parent and case is different, we typically skip routine checkups because our patients do so well, but we’re always just a quick phone call away.(Note: The ‘no need for a routine post-op check’ can still be a struggle for Dr Bob, as he loves seeing everyone back and celebrating a great experience. During the Covid-19 period however, nobody wanted to come back, nor did they, and we all realized that they do just fine too)
What about Narcotics/Opiods?
We haven’t routinely needed to prescribe Narcotics/Opioids after procedures in our office, for over 8 YEARS now!
How is this possible?
– we make smaller openings and never reuse drills
– we advise and encourage drinking Pineapple juice starting a few days before. Bromelain is a natural enzyme in the pineapple core. It is a strong, natural, anti-inflammatory which reduces swelling and pain. Vitamin C is helpful with healing too. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/bromelain
– we advise and encourage drinking a good amount of water the day before, having a favorite dinner, taking some OTC anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen or Tylenol after dinner, and then enjoy a late night snack before bed.
That’s it?
Yes, your body is now prepped to help minimize inflammation, which helps minimize the typical aches and pains seen in the past. Someone is always available if you need us. A win-win for everyone!
Wisdom Teeth Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.
Need additional info?
American Association or Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AAOMS) website links;
For additional oral surgery resources, you can also explore the AAOMS Oral Surgery Guides at myoms.org.
Need to schedule a wisdom teeth consult?
Dr. Robert Moskal, DMD • Franklin, MA
📞 Call Us: 508-553-8989