Wisdom Teeth Removal in Belmont, MA

Protect Your Smile With Proactive Care

Wisdom teeth, or the third set of molars, are the last teeth to emerge, typically in the mid to late teens. Because the average mouth often lacks adequate space, these molars can become impacted, leading to a host of oral health problems. Dental professionals agree that early evaluation and removal is the best way to protect your long-term health and prevent future complications. At Belmont Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, our team is dedicated to making this common procedure a safe and comfortable experience.

Often, wisdom teeth cause problems beneath the surface before a patient is even aware they exist. Routine dental checkups can identify these molars early, but their removal requires the expertise of a specialist. Dr. Pasquale Eckert and Dr. Blaise Eckert are board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons with decades of experience in the safe evaluation and extraction of third molars. They are committed to providing every patient with a pleasant and stress-free surgical visit.

Why is it Necessary to Extract Wisdom Teeth?

When wisdom teeth do not have enough room to erupt properly, they become trapped beneath the gums, or "impacted." This can lead to several significant oral health issues:

• Damage to Neighboring Teeth: Impacted wisdom teeth can grow at an angle, pushing against the second molars. This constant pressure can damage the adjacent teeth, misalign your bite, and undo the results of previous orthodontic work.
  
  
• Infection and Pain: Partially erupted wisdom teeth create a flap of gum tissue that traps food and bacteria, leading to a painful and recurrent infection called pericoronitis.
  
  
• Cysts and Tumors: In some cases, a fluid-filled cyst can form around an impacted wisdom tooth. If left untreated, these cysts can destroy the surrounding jaw bone and damage nearby teeth.
  
  
• Periodontal (Gum) Disease: The location of wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth makes them very difficult to clean, increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay in an area that is vital to your oral health.

Signs & Symptoms of Problematic Wisdom Teeth

• Pain, pressure, or a dull ache in the back of your jaw
• Red, swollen, or tender gums around the rear teeth
• Difficulty opening your mouth or jaw stiffness
• Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth
• Noticeable shifting or crowding of your other teeth

If you are noticing any of these signs, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our oral surgeons at our Belmont office.

The Wisdom Tooth Removal Procedure

Your first visit will be a consultation with Dr. Pasquale Eckert or Dr. Blaise Eckert. We will perform a thorough oral examination and take any necessary 2D and/or 3D scans to diagnose the precise position, size, and orientation of your wisdom teeth. These detailed images allow our surgeons to plan a safe, accurate, and efficient procedure.

This appointment is also dedicated to your comfort. Our surgeons are known for their slow, calm voices and detailed explanations that put even the most nervous patients at ease. We will present all options for anesthesia, from local anesthesia and nitrous oxide to IV sedation and office-based general anesthesia, to select the best choice for you. Our goal is to provide an incredibly relaxing visit, allowing you to wake up from your surgery feeling as if you spent time at the spa.

On the day of the procedure, a responsible adult must drive you to and from our office if you are receiving sedation. After the anesthesia is administered, the surgeon will carefully remove the wisdom teeth and suture the gums. You will then rest in our recovery area until you are ready to go home with detailed post-operative instructions for a smooth and comfortable recovery.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Under General Anesthesia

For patients with significant dental anxiety or for more complex cases involving multiple impacted teeth, we offer office-based general anesthesia. This option allows you to rest comfortably in a sleep-like state, completely unaware of the procedure. Our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons have completed extensive, hospital-based training to safely administer general anesthesia in our state-of-the-art facility, ensuring you have a relaxing and pain-free experience.