Wisdom teeth that come in sideways or stay trapped under the gum cause pressure, swelling, infection, and decay in the healthy tooth beside them. Left alone, the tooth that suffers most is often not the wisdom tooth itself but the molar in front of it.

Dr. Wes Prepchuk has performed thousands of extractions over the past ten years and removes most wisdom teeth here at the clinic. Every case is assessed on a panoramic X-ray, and on CBCT 3D imaging where the roots sit close to the nerve. Most general practices in southwest Calgary refer patients out for that scan; we take it here.

Not always, and you deserve a straight answer rather than a default.

Wisdom teeth that have come through straight, that you can clean properly, and that are not causing problems can often be monitored rather than removed. We will tell you if that is your situation.

Removal is warranted when:

• The tooth is impacted and causing pain, pressure, or repeated swelling
• The gum over a partially erupted tooth keeps getting infected, which is called pericoronitis and tends to recur
• Decay has started in the wisdom tooth or, more commonly, in the back surface of the molar in front of it where a toothbrush cannot reach
• A cyst has formed around an unerupted tooth
• The tooth is damaging the root of the neighbouring molar
• It cannot be cleaned reliably, making future problems near-certain

Removal is generally easier and heals faster in your late teens and early twenties, because the roots are not fully formed and the bone is less dense. That is a genuine argument for dealing with a problem tooth sooner rather than at forty, and it is not an argument for removing healthy ones.

Lower wisdom teeth sit close to two nerves: the inferior alveolar nerve, which supplies feeling to the lower lip and chin, and the lingual nerve, which supplies the tongue. Surgery near them carries a small risk of bruising or injury, causing numbness or tingling in the lip, chin, or tongue.

In most cases where this happens it is temporary and resolves over weeks to months. Permanent altered sensation is uncommon but it is possible, and any dentist who does not mention it is not giving you what you need to consent properly.

This is exactly why the CBCT scan matters. A flat X-ray shows the roots and the nerve canal overlapping; it cannot show whether they are genuinely touching or simply superimposed. A 3D scan shows the real relationship, which changes how the tooth is approached and, in some cases, changes the recommendation to leaving the roots in place deliberately or referring you to an oral surgeon. We would rather send you elsewhere than take a risk that does not need taking.

Unlike simple tooth extractions, impacted wisdom teeth removal in Springbank Hill, Calgary involves a more thorough treatment planning and extensive surgery. Our dentists at Springbank Hill Dental perform a wisdom tooth extraction in 3 stages:

Assessment appointment

We take a panoramic X-ray, and a CBCT scan where the anatomy calls for it, and go through what we find with you on screen. You will know before you book the surgery how difficult your case is, how long it will take, what it costs, and what the risks are for your teeth specifically.

The surgery

The area is fully frozen. For an impacted tooth we lift a small flap of gum, remove a little bone where necessary, and often section the tooth so it comes out through a smaller opening. Sectioning sounds worse than it is: it means less bone removed and usually a faster recovery. The site is cleaned and stitched, and you bite on gauze.

A straightforward wisdom tooth takes 20 to 30 minutes. A fully impacted lower one takes longer.

Sedation, if you want it

Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are both available. Nitrous needs no fasting and you can drive yourself home. Oral sedation requires fasting instructions and someone to drive you, and it needs to be arranged when you book rather than on the day.

If you are having the surgery under local anaesthetic only, eat normally beforehand. Going in on an empty stomach makes you more likely to feel faint, not less.

Cost depends on how the tooth is positioned. A fully erupted wisdom tooth that comes out like a normal extraction is priced very differently from a fully impacted lower one requiring bone removal and sectioning. Sedation is charged separately.

We will tell you which category each of your teeth falls into after the assessment appointment, so you get a full quote before you commit to anything. Springbank Hill Dental follows the Alberta Dental Association Fee Guide, so you can compare our fee against the published provincial rate. Wisdom teeth are usually well covered by insurance and we submit a predetermination before booking.

Around 3 – 5 days is the expected recovery after wisdom tooth removal. Our dentist’s best advice is that you should rest to allow your body to recover. Symptoms such as pain, bleeding, and swelling are expected during this time. You can alleviate them with OTC pain medications, applied pressure, and direct cold compress, respectively.

Another crucial factor to excellent recovery after surgery is to maintain the blood clot over the healing wound. This clot is full of nutritional factors that help seal the wound for faster healing.

For complete healing, allow yourself up to 2 weeks. Afterwards, you should feel good as new. No more pain around your jaw area, so you can enjoy smiling and eating the food you love.

Book a wisdom teeth assessment at Springbank Hill Dental by calling (403) 454-4757. We are at 133-7460 Springbank Blvd SW, open from 7:00 am Wednesday through Saturday and until 8:30 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. New patients are welcome, no referral is needed, and parking is free.