Wisdom Teeth & Teens: A Guide for Parents

Wisdom tooth removal is a common surgical procedure to extract one or all four third molars—the last set of adult teeth that grow in at the back of the mouth.

In most teens, these teeth don’t have enough room to grow properly. When that happens, they can press against neighboring molars, causing crowding, shifting of the bite, or impaction. Impacted wisdom teeth may also develop cysts or lead to infections if left untreated.

What to Expect in Wisdom Tooth Extraction 

●Local Anesthesia:

To ensure your child is completely comfortable, Dr. Saltman will apply a numbing gel to the back of the jaws before giving the injection. This makes the process virtually painless. Our oral surgeon then administers a long-acting local anesthetic to keep the area fully numb throughout the procedure.

●Sedation Anesthesia:

This is the most popular choice among parents for their teens. With IV sedation, your child will feel as if the procedure only lasted a few seconds—and they typically won’t remember any of it. Sedation is administered through a small IV placed in the arm, helping the entire experience feel relaxed and stress-free.

●Post surgery pain management:

Dr. Saltman will provide pain relief options after surgery. Many parents choose Exparel, a long-acting anesthetic injected at the surgical site. It provides effective pain control for up to 72 hours—often reducing or eliminating the need for prescription pain medication.