Nobody enjoys having a tooth extraction, let alone going to the dentist or seeing an oral surgeon. Yet, modern dentistry has made the process relatively straightforward. Many dentists can handle simple tooth extractions in office, and the procedure typically takes under an hour. However, there are some instances where a dentist cannot or should not pull a tooth.
One common instance is wisdom tooth extraction, which may give rise to special complications beyond the skills of the average dentist. In these cases, dentists will often recommend a patient to an oral surgeon.
2 Reasons Why You Should See Dental Surgeons for Tooth Extractions
The potentially complicated nature of wisdom tooth removal makes specialized dental surgeons ideal for wisdom tooth extraction. Here is a closer look at two big reasons why.
1. Oral surgeons and dentists have different training.
Dentists are professionals with skill and a broad base of knowledge. They can adeptly handle most oral and dental situations which don’t require surgery or anything more than local anesthesia. However, most dentists do not have the expertise to handle dental procedures which involve advanced processes such as cutting into the gum or working on the jawbone. Dental practitioners define such processes as surgery, and they require additional training beyond what many dentists receive.
In contrast, oral surgeons are specialists in dental surgery. They are trained for procedures which involve more than just teeth such as the removal impacted teeth. In addition, dental surgeons have dual medical and dental licensure. They are able to provide services such as sedation and anesthesia. Patients who don’t wish to be awake during wisdom tooth extraction will need to see an oral maxillofacial surgeon.
2. Wisdom tooth extraction can be complicated.
Due to where they’re located in the mouth, wisdom teeth rarely come in without complications. They may crowd the second molars or fail to erupt completely from the gumline. This may cause impaction or destabilization of the bone in the region. Highly trained oral maxillofacial surgeons must handle these complications.
Likewise, wisdom teeth are often difficult to pull due to their location and position. Even if they erupted fully without becoming impacted or infected, there still may be additional unseen complications because they’re hard to see and access. Such complications might include situations which aren’t obvious until the procedure is already underway, such as curved roots or overly large sinuses. Dental practitioners who perform surgery are trained to handle these scenarios, but dentists may not be.
Choose an Oral Surgeon for Your Wisdom Tooth Extraction
As highly trained specialists in dental and facial surgery, the oral surgeons of OMSH are ideal for wisdom tooth extraction. Their medical training as oral maxillofacial surgeons makes them better prepared to handle the many complications or difficulties which may arise due to the wisdom tooth’s position in the mouth.
For this reason, many dentists will refer patients requiring wisdom tooth extraction to an oral maxillofacial surgeon. Wisdom tooth removal is objectively not fun. In the right hands, however, it’s faster, easier, and safer for a patient. At OMSH, our patients experience oral surgery with extreme care. If you or a loved one lives in the Greater Houston area, connect with us today at (832) 509-4505.
