Oral Surgery
Wisdom Tooth Extractions in Gladstone
Relief and protection for the back of your mouth.
Wisdom teeth are the last molars to arrive, and there is not always room for them. When they cause trouble, removing them can protect your comfort and the teeth around them.
Exceptional Dentistry in Gladstone, MO
Do your wisdom teeth need to come out?
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, usually develop at the very back of the mouth well after the rest of the adult teeth are in place. Because they arrive last, the jaw often has little space left for them, so they may come in at an angle, only partway, or stay trapped beneath the gums and bone. These impacted or partially erupted teeth can be difficult to clean, which makes them prone to decay and gum infection, and they can press against the neighboring molars. Not every wisdom tooth needs to be removed, and some grow in healthy and functional. Your dentist will look at how your wisdom teeth are positioned and recommend an extraction only when keeping them is likely to cause more problems than it solves.
Signs of wisdom tooth trouble
- Pain or pressure at the back of the jaw
- Swollen, tender or bleeding gums behind the last molars
- A bad taste or odor that keeps coming back
- Difficulty opening the mouth fully
- Food that keeps getting trapped around a partially erupted tooth
Planning with imaging
Seeing what lies beneath the gums
Because wisdom teeth are often hidden, imaging is an important part of deciding what to do.
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Panoramic X-rays
Panoramic X-rays show all of your teeth and jaws in a single image, including teeth that have not come in.
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Cone beam CT
For more complex cases, your dentist may use cone beam CT imaging to view the tooth’s position in three dimensions.
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A clear recommendation
Your dentist reviews the images with you at your exam and explains whether removal is advised.
What happens during an extraction
Your dentist will walk you through the plan before treatment so you know what to expect.
- The area around the tooth is numbed
- If the tooth is below the gums, a small opening is made to reach it
- The tooth is removed, sometimes in sections to make removal gentler on the jaw
- The site is cleaned and may be closed with stitches
- You go home with instructions for eating, rinsing and caring for the area
New patient special
$98
A $308 value for your first visit
Visiting us for the first time? Our new patient offer includes:
- Comprehensive exam
- Panoramic X-rays
- Bitewing digital X-rays
- Intraoral photos
- Smile evaluation
- Full gum evaluation
- Oral cancer screening
- TMJ and bite evaluation
- Review of your treatment options
- A written treatment plan
Book your visit
Find out what your wisdom teeth are doing
Whether you’re dealing with discomfort now or just want to know what’s ahead, an exam and X-rays will give you a clear picture. If a wisdom tooth is causing sudden, severe pain, see our emergency dental care page.
The short answer
A wisdom tooth extraction is the removal of one or more third molars, the last teeth to develop at the back of the mouth. The area around the tooth is numbed, a small opening is made if the tooth is below the gums, and the tooth is removed, sometimes in sections, before the site is cleaned and may be closed with stitches. It is often recommended when these teeth are impacted, crowd neighboring teeth, or lead to pain, infection or decay, and your dentist reviews your X-rays with you first.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions FAQ
- Does everyone need their wisdom teeth removed?
- No, not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed. Some wisdom teeth grow in straight, fully erupted and easy to clean, and they can stay healthy and functional. Your dentist recommends removal when the teeth are impacted, crowding other teeth or likely to cause more problems than keeping them would solve.
- What does impacted mean?
- An impacted wisdom tooth is one that cannot fully come in because it is blocked by other teeth, bone or gum tissue. It may stay hidden beneath the gums or break through only partway. Because these teeth can be hard to see, imaging such as panoramic X-rays, and cone beam CT for more complex cases, helps your dentist see where they sit.
- Can wisdom teeth affect my other teeth?
- Yes, wisdom teeth can press against the neighboring molars. Partially erupted wisdom teeth can also trap food and bacteria, which can lead to decay and gum infection in the area around them. Patients who have had orthodontic treatment often ask about this, and your dentist can review your X-rays with you.
- Will the area be numbed?
- Yes, the area is numbed before the tooth is removed. Your dentist walks you through the plan before treatment so you know what to expect at each step. If the tooth sits below the gums, a small opening is made to reach it only after the area is numb.
- How do I care for the site afterward?
- Follow the instructions your dentist gives you, including what to eat and how to rinse. You go home with these instructions so you can care for the area while it heals. Call the office if you notice anything that concerns you.
Your dentist
Meet Dr. Emily Marx
A skilled family dentist, Dr. Marx is passionate about helping patients feel comfortable while achieving their best smile. Meet Dr. Marx
