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Hello. I'm Dr. Christophe Price of Utah Surgical Arts. I'm a board certified oral
and maxillofacial surgeon, dentist, and medical doctor. Wisdom teeth or third molars are the
last set of teeth to develop in the mouth. When a developing tooth is blocked by another
tooth, or grows in a manner that makes it impossible to erupt normally,
the tooth is said to be impacted. Many people have one or more impacted wisdom
teeth that, if left untreated, can pose significant problems. For some patients the teeth have
come into the mouth or begun to come into the mouth but they are so difficult to keep
clean it is better to remove them in order to improve the overall health of the mouth
and prevent future problems.
Patients and especially parents of patients will frequently ask "When is the best time
to have wisdom teeth extracted?" While there may not be a perfect answer, most oral surgeons
will agree that if a wisdom tooth is going to be extracted, it's generally best to remove
it when the patient is younger (usually in the early or mid-teens because the procedure
is easier for the patient). The bone is more forgiving, the teeth aren't fully formed,
there's a much lower risk having issues with other structures such as the nerve in the
lower job and sinuses in the upper jaw, and the recovery is generally much more rapid.
At Utah Surgical Arts, we are proud of our state-of-the-art surgical center and our highly
skilled team will ensure that patients are fully informed and comfortable throughout
the procedure. Before removing your wisdom teeth, we'll perform a thorough clinical exam
and x-ray evaluation of your jaws and teeth. We'll present you with your options for extraction
and develop a plan for wisdom teeth removal that you feel comfortable. The majority of
our patients elect to have the procedure performed with intravenous sedation and sleep comfortably
during the procedure.
For all your oral surgery needs, please visit us at Utah Surgical Arts. We perform general
tooth extractions, wisdom tooth removal, dental implant procedures, orthognathic surgery,
cosmetic surgery, and many other facial reconstructive procedures. We service all Utah and Salt Lake
Counties and look forward to caring for you at one of our state-of-the-art oral surgery
facilities. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call our offices. Thank
you.