Third Molar Surgery — When Extraction Cannot Wait

Third molars — wisdom teeth — are the last to erupt, usually between ages 17 and 25. When jaw space is insufficient, they become impacted: trapped beneath gum or bone, angled sideways, or only partially visible.

Dr. Marcus Rivera, our oral surgeon at Pearl Dental, evaluates wisdom teeth with clinical examination and panoramic radiography. Not every wisdom tooth needs removal — asymptomatic, fully erupted molars with healthy surrounding tissue may simply be monitored.

Surgical extraction is indicated for recurrent pericoronitis, decay in an unreachable position, cystic pathology, or pressure on the second molar roots. Trauma management protocols also apply when facial injury complicates eruption patterns.

Surgery is performed under local anesthesia with optional sedation for anxious patients. Bone removal and sectioning of the tooth may be required for deeply impacted cases. You leave with gauze, ice-pack instructions, and a prescription tailored to your medical history.

Stick to soft foods, avoid straws for 48 hours, and attend your review appointment. Southwest Florida professionals often schedule surgery on Friday afternoons to recover over the weekend — we accommodate that rhythm whenever possible.