(305) 857-3731
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Before & After Photos
Actual Patient. Individual results may vary from patient to patient.
Actual Patient. Individual results may vary from patient to patient.
Actual Patient. Individual results may vary from patient to patient.
Miami Wisdom Teeth Removal Specialist Dr. Ramon Bana
Approximately 65 percent of people are born with wisdom teeth. At some point, those who do have wisdom teeth need to decide whether to let these teeth surface or to have an experienced dentist remove them before they emerge. Due to the potential complications associated with wisdom tooth eruptions, many people choose to have them removed before they emerge. Ramon Bana, DDS, is a top cosmetic dentist and licensed specialist in sedation dentistry in the Miami area. Dr. Bana understands that some patients are apprehensive about wisdom tooth removal surgery; for this reason, he offers sedation dentistry during this procedure.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
The colloquial term that refers to the third set of molars is wisdom teeth. This term stems from the fact that these teeth surface at some point between the ages of 17 and 21. Most people have four of these teeth: two on the top arch and two on the bottom.
Wisdom Tooth Impaction Due To Overcrowding
When the third molars emerge, if there is an inadequate amount of space or they are surfacing in the wrong position, impaction may occur.
Impaction refers to the teeth becoming trapped under the gums or in the jaw. If an individual experiences this complication, he or she may develop gingivitis (i.e., gum disease), an infection, cysts, damage to adjacent teeth, decay, tumors and pain.
People in Miami who have wisdom teeth that require removal due to impaction should contact top cosmetic dentist and sedation dentistry specialist Dr. Ramon Bana. The phone number for his state-of-the-art office in Miami is (305) 857-3731.
Partial Eruption of a Third Molar
If a wisdom tooth neglects to fully erupt, the opening around the tooth provides a place for bacteria to thrive, eventually leading to an infection.
The signs and symptoms of a third molar infection are:
- Inflammation.
- Pain.
- Stiffness.
- Feeling unwell.
Do Third Molars That Emerge Correctly Require Removal?
Even when this third set of molars emerges properly, an individual may experience pain. If these molars align correctly, they may assist with chewing. Nonetheless, due to their location, these molars can be hard to reach. Thus, making them more difficult to clean, which may eventually result in decay, infection and pain.
Signs That Indicate Someone May Need Wisdom Tooth Removal
It is natural for an individual to experience discomfort as his or her third molars begin to emerge. However, there are some signs and symptoms that indicate it is time to schedule an appointment with Ramon Bana, DDS.
Individuals who are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms below should consider wisdom tooth removal in Miami:
- Gingivitis
- Cysts
- Inflammation
- Pressure on the adjacent teeth
- Decay
- Pain
During this appointment, Dr. Bana can decide if wisdom tooth removal is the patient’s best option.
Benefits of Removing Third Molars Before They Erupt
Removing wisdom teeth before they erupt can prevent future problems that could arise when they do emerge (e.g., impaction and damage to adjacent teeth). Early extraction also reduces the risks associated with third molar removal surgery. Furthermore, with early removal, the length of time a patient needs to recover tends to be shorter.
Types of Sedation Available at Dr. Bana’s Miami Office
Ramon Bana, DDS, offers his patients three types of sedation: laughing gas (i.e., nitrous oxide), intravenous medication (i.e., twilight anesthesia and IV sedation), and oral conscious sedation.
Since Dr. Ramon Bana is a licensed specialist in sedation dentistry, his patients know they are in good hands when they receive any form of sedation during their dental procedures.
Dental Sedation vs. General Anesthesia
Dental sedation is very different from general anesthesia. With general anesthesia, the patient is unconscious, which is why people receive this type of sedation during major surgeries. The sedation a patient receives during an extraction at Dr. Bana’s Miami office places the patient in a semi-conscious state. Therefore, the patient is never fully unconscious.
Laughing Gas
Nitrous oxide is a highly effective sedation option, and most people are good candidates for laughing gas.
Administering nitrous oxide:
The patient receives a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen via a nasal hood. One of the main benefits associated with nitrous oxide is that it works fast, relaxing the patient quickly. Laughing gas also exits the body quickly. Therefore, Dr. Bana’s patients receiving this form of sedation may be able to drive themselves home after their procedure.
IV Sedation for Wisdom Tooth Removal
Patients receive this form of sedation via an IV. This medication flows through a catheter into the patient’s vein and throughout his or her bloodstream. Intravenous sedation begins working immediately.
Another name that refers to IV sedation is twilight anesthesia. This nickname stems from the fact that patients receiving IV sedation usually fall into a very light sleep. After receiving intravenous sedation, patients should expect to feel groggy for some time following their procedure.
Ramon Bana, DDS, recommends that patients receiving IV sedation expect to rest for the remainder of the day. In addition, when a patient receives this form of sedation, he or she needs a driver.
Oral Sedation for Extraction Surgery in Miami
Some patients prefer oral sedation to laughing gas and IV sedation. With oral sedation, Dr. Bana provides the patient with a prescription for an oral sedative. The patient takes this sedative approximately an hour before his or her procedure. As such, patients need to have someone they trust drive them to Dr. Ramon Bana’s office in Miami and then back home after their wisdom tooth removal surgery.
Oral sedation causes the patient to feel drowsy. He or she may even fall asleep during surgery. Nonetheless, even if a patient dozes off, he or she is easy to awaken. Most of Dr. Bana’s patients who receive oral sedation state that they do not remember much of their procedure.
Can a Patient Use For-Hire Transportation After Surgery?
Since patients are drowsy following IV and oral sedation, Dr. Bana does not permit patients receiving these forms of sedation to use for-hire transportation after their dental procedures.
What Happens During Wisdom Tooth Removal Surgery in Miami?
Each patient is unique, which is why Dr. Ramon Bana creates personalized treatment plans.
Patients who decide to have sedation during their procedure receive presurgical instructions based on the type of sedation they are to receive.
Once the sedation takes effect, Dr. Bana uses local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth he is removing. By numbing this area, Ramon Bana, DDS, ensures that the patient does not feel any pain during the removal of his or her wisdom tooth.
How Dr. Bana Removes an Erupted Third Molar
Although the patient has no pain as Ramon Bana, DDS, removes a third molar, he or she may still experience a feeling of pressure. This feeling occurs because of the pressure that Dr. Ramon Bana must place on the tooth to loosen it for removal.
Removing an Impacted Wisdom Tooth
To remove an impacted third molar, Dr. Bana will expose the tooth by creating an incision in the gum tissue. If there is bone blocking his access to the tooth’s root, he carefully removes this portion of bone. If the molar is severely impacted, he may need to divide the tooth into several pieces. Sectioning the tooth allows him to remove it piece by piece.
Cleaning the Extraction Site
After removing the tooth, Ramon Bana, DDS, cleans the debris from the extraction site. Some patients do receive stitches. These stitches may be dissolvable.
Dr. Bana packs the surgical site with gauze. This helps control bleeding and aids in clot formation.
What To Expect After Wisdom Tooth Removal Surgery in Miami
Although patients who receive nitrous oxide may be able to drive themselves home following surgery, Dr. Ramon Bana prefers for all of his third molar extraction patients to bring a driver with them on the day of their surgery.
Patients receiving oral or IV sedation must arrive at the office with a driver because they are not permitted to drive for at least 24 hours following surgery. Furthermore, any patient who receives pain medication must refrain from driving until he or she no longer needs to take it.
Recovery Following the Extraction of a Third Molar in Miami
Refraining from smoking and using straws can help prevent the development of dry sockets. A dry socket is a very painful complication that can occur following tooth removal.
Preparing for a Miami Wisdom Tooth Extraction
There are things that a patient can do to prepare for surgery.
Go Shopping
Before their third molar removal surgery, patients should purchase some soft foods to consume for a few days after their procedure.
Soft food recommendations:
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Smoothies
- Cream soups
In addition, consider purchasing a soft gel ice pack to use for reducing inflammation after surgery. Furthermore, patients who have an electric toothbrush should purchase a traditional, soft-bristled toothbrush to use while their surgical sites are healing.
Take Time off Work and School
Dr. Bana recommends that his patients take a few days off work and school.
Refrain From Driving for at Least 24 hours
For safety’s sake, patients who receive oral or IV sedation must avoid driving for at least 24 hours after their procedure. These patients need to ask someone they trust to drive them to and from Dr. Bana’s Miami office on the day of their third molar extraction surgery.
Patients who receive antibiotics need to follow the instructions from the pharmacy and complete the entire course of treatment.
For the initial 24 hours after surgery, patients need to avoid:
- Drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Rinsing their mouth and spitting.
- Brushing their teeth
- Smoking and vaping.
- Eating hot foods (e.g., soups).
- Drinking hot beverages (e.g., coffee and tea).
Full recovery following wisdom tooth removal can take up to 14 days. During this two-week timeframe, patients may experience a variety of symptoms.
Potential symptoms following an extraction:
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Inflammation
– patients experience swelling inside and outside their mouth. This inflammation is the worst during the first several days following surgery. Patients can reduce the swelling in these areas with a cold washcloth or soft ice pack. Patients using an ice pack need to wrap it in a cloth. Placing ice directly against the skin can result in frostbite.
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A sore, stiff jaw
– patients may experience stiffness or soreness in their jaw. This symptom usually wears off within 10 days of surgery.
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Mild visible bruising
– patients may have visible bruising on their cheeks. These bruises may remain for up to 14 days.
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An unpleasant taste in the mouth.
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Pain
– if a patient’s extraction is complicated or difficult, he or she may experience more pain than an individual whose surgery was routine.
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Numbness or tingling
– although rare, some patients experience numbness or tingling in their face, lips or tongue.
An individual’s age at the time of removal can affect the length of recovery. For example, an individual who is 21 typically recovers faster than someone who is 50.
When To Call Dr. Bana’s Miami Office
Although patients should expect some discomfort, if they experience severe pain, excess bleeding or any other unusual symptoms, they need to call the office at (305) 857-3731 right away.
The Follow-up Visit
Most of Dr. Ramon Bana’s patients return for a follow-up visit about a week after they have their third molar surgery. At this appointment, he may remove the patient’s stitches.
Recovery Tips
The tips below can make recovering from wisdom tooth removal in Miami easier.
Tips for an easier recovery:
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Use pain medication
– if necessary, patients can take over-the-counter pain medication. Ibuprofen tends to work rather well following tooth removal surgery. Dr. Bana reminds patients to follow the dosage instructions provided by the medication’s manufacturer.
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Chewing
– to reduce pain while eating, patients should chew using the other teeth in their mouth.
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Avoid rinsing for the first 24 hours
– once 24 hours have passed, Ramon Bana, DDS, recommends that his patients gently rinse their mouths with warm salt water after eating. These saltwater rinses remove debris from the extraction sites and reduce inflammation.
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Brush gently
– patients can usually return to brushing their teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush the day after their wisdom tooth removal surgery. Nonetheless, it is best to avoid brushing the surgical sites until they have fully healed. For several weeks after surgery, patients should refrain from using electric toothbrushes and water flossers.
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Use an extra pillow
– to reduce inflammation, patients should use an extra pillow to support their heads whenever they lie down.
A Consultation for Wisdom Tooth Removal in Miami
During the initial consultation, Dr. Bana examines the patient’s mouth and uses an X-ray to view the tooth’s size, location and stage of development.
Patients need to provide Dr. Ramon Bana with detailed information related to their medical and dental histories. For safety’s sake, patients who have medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension) need to let him know. In addition, if a patient takes medications, vitamins or herbal supplements, it is important to let Dr. Bana know. Some of these products thin the blood, which could result in excess bleeding during and after surgery.
Ramon Bana, DDS, also has to know about any lifestyle choices the patient has that could influence the success of his or her wisdom tooth removal surgery (e.g., smoking, regularly consuming alcoholic beverages and recreational drug use).
Dr. Bana wants his patients to feel comfortable during their dental procedures, which is why he provides sedation dentistry and encourages them to ask questions.
Are There Any Complications Associated With Wisdom Tooth Removal Surgery?
As with any surgical procedure, complications are possible. However, most of Dr. Ramon Bana’s patients do not experience any issues. Nonetheless, patients should always be aware of the potential for problems.
Potential complications following third molar removal surgery include:
- Temporary nerve injury.
- Permanent injury to a nerve.
- Excess bleeding that neglects to subside with time.
- A dislodged or absent blood clot (i.e., dry socket).
- Throbbing pain in the jaw or gums.
- A high temperature (i.e., a fever).
- Persistent pain and inflammation.
- White or yellow discharge from the extraction site.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Problems breathing.
- A nasal discharge of pus or blood.
Since complications are typically easy to treat, patients should contact their dentist for assistance as soon as possible.
The best way to decrease the likelihood of complications is by choosing an experienced cosmetic dentist in Miami to perform wisdom tooth removal surgery.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Tooth Removal Surgery in Miami?
Yes, most dental insurance plans cover third molar extractions. Dr. Ramon Bana recommends that his patients contact their insurance carrier to find out if their carrier covers the third molar removal procedure. Additionally, patients who are interested in receiving sedation should ask their insurance carrier about coverage for this service.
If you are experiencing wisdom tooth pain, or you have concerns about your third molars shifting your other teeth, contact Ramon Bana, DDS, today. Dr. Bana has the knowledge, skill and experience necessary to extract all four wisdom teeth during the same surgical session. In addition, as a licensed specialist in sedation dentistry, he can provide medications designed to help you feel comfortable during your surgery. Schedule your appointment today by calling (305) 857-3731. Dr. Ramon Bana’s Miami office is located at 2461 Coral Way.
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