Oral Surgery in Athens, GA

Your third molars—more commonly referred to as wisdom teeth—often require extraction due to the potential damage they may cause to your teeth. Usually appearing in the late teens or early 20s, third molars often lack the proper space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all, causing pain and discomfort as well as the potential for oral surgery.

In certain cases, a wisdom tooth that cannot come through becomes inflamed under the gums and in the jawbone, causing a sac to develop around the root of the tooth that then fills with liquid. This can cause a cyst or an abscess if it becomes infected. If either of these situations goes untreated, serious damage to the underlying bone and surrounding teeth and tissues can result.

Due to the dangers associated with wisdom teeth, it's imperative that you have a dentist evaluate your teeth as soon as they begin to come in. With a thorough exam, we'll let you know whether extraction is necessary or if you require oral surgery to ensure your wisdom teeth are properly removed without adverse effects in the future.  

An extraction is the complete removal of a tooth and sometimes requires oral surgery, depending on the location of the tooth and the cause of damage. Extractions are sometimes necessary if a primary tooth is preventing the normal eruption of a permanent tooth, if the tooth has suffered extensive tooth decay or trauma that cannot be repaired, if the patient has gum disease, or if the tooth is impacted (usually the wisdom teeth). Depending on the complexity of the case, an extraction can be performed through Maxillofacial surgery or non-surgically. A mild anesthesia is used to ensure you are as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure. IV sedation is also available upon request.