Wisdom Teeth Removal in Caldwell and Florham Park, NJ
Safe and Painless Removal
At The New Jersey Center for Oral Surgery, our oral surgeons Dr. Jacobs, Dr. Kirsch, and Dr. Zambetti can gently and efficiently remove your wisdom teeth before they can cause further damage to your oral and overall health. Our team in Caldwell and Florham Park are dedicated to helping you get the care you need. We serve all of Northern New Jersey, including Morristown, Livingston, Chatham, Madison, Wayne and surrounding areas.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars that can erupt around the ages of 16 to 25. They usually erupt years after your adult teeth have grown in and can have negative effects on surrounding teeth. Removal of wisdom teeth is often necessary to prevent constant pain, infections, and dental issues that can arise during their eruption. We have created a handout that further explains more about wisdom teeth below.
Why It’s Necessary to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not necessarily require removal. Statistically, wisdom teeth are likely to become problematic at some point in your lifetime. It is recommended for patients to have a consultation with an oral surgeon to discuss if wisdom teeth removal is appropriate for you. We recommend seeing one of our surgeons by age 16 when possible.
When wisdom teeth are not addressed in a timely manner, some of the following conditions may develop.
Infection:
The most frequent clinical problem we see is pericoronitis (a localized gum infection). Without enough room for total eruption, the gum tissue around the wisdom can become irritated and infected. This results in recurrent pain, swelling, and problems with chewing and/or swallowing.
Cyst Formation:
Non-infection diseases may also arise in association with an impacted wisdom tooth. Cysts are fluid-filled “balloons” inside the jawbone that develop as a result of impacted teeth and slowly expand destroying adjacent jawbone and occasionally teeth. They can be very difficult to treat if your wisdom teeth aren’t removed in your teenage years. Although rare, tumors can be associated with the delayed removal of wisdom teeth.
Possible Crowding:
Impacted wisdom teeth may contribute to the crowding of your teeth. This is most noticeable with the front teeth, primarily the lower front teeth, and is most commonly seen after a patient has had braces. There are a number of factors that cause teeth to crowd after braces or early adulthood. Retained, impacted teeth may be a contributing factor. Unless you have an active problem when you see your oral surgeon, the reason for removal is primarily to prevent long-term damage to your teeth, gums, and jawbone.
Damage to Adjacent Teeth:
If there’s inadequate room to clean around the wisdom teeth, the tooth directly in front, the second molar, can be adversely affected resulting in gum disease, bone loss around the tooth, and/or decay.
Initial Consultation
Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in superior outcomes for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in their mid-teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist, or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Oral Examination
When you come into our office for your consultation with one of your oral surgeons, he’ll prepare an oral examination and X-rays of the mouth. This is necessary in order to evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there are present or may be future problems.
Radiographic Examination
The most common screening radiograph for wisdom teeth is a PANOREX. In some cases, a Cone Beam CAT Scan may be recommended. Research found that “if the wisdom teeth are deemed to be close proximity to the mandibular canal, then a CBCT or CAT Scan should be ordered for further evaluation. A single panoramic radiograph could be insufficient owing to the image disturbance compared with a CAT Scan. however, CBCT is the gold standard owing to the lower radiation exposure and lower cost compared with CT.” For your convenience, our oral surgeons can obtain these images right in their offices.
Wisdom Teeth Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.
Removing Your Wisdom Teeth
In most cases, the removal of impacted wisdom teeth is performed in our office under IV sedation or general anesthesia. Anesthesia options, as well as your specific risks (i.e., sensory nerve damage, sinus complications), will be discussed with you at your consultation visit before the procedure is performed. Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes modern equipment and trained staff who are experienced in anesthesia procedures.
Once your oral surgeon makes sure you’re relaxed and don’t feel any pain, he’ll begin the process. He’ll efficiently and safely remove your wisdom tooth by gently separating it from the gum tissue. After the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured with dissolving sutures that will melt away as you heal.
Immediately after your procedure, you’ll rest comfortably under supervision in our Caldwell or Florham Park office until you’re ready to go home. Upon your discharge, your postoperative kit will include the following:
- Gauze
- Ice pack
- Post-operative instructions
- Prescriptions medications
- A follow-up appointment
If you have any questions, please feel free to call our Caldwell office at (973) 226-8444 or our Florham Park office at (973) 261-8444.
We Sell Compression Ice Packs!
Click the button below to learn more about purchasing a compression pack after your Wisdom Teeth Removal, to help lessen recovery time!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a wisdom tooth extraction take?
The wisdom tooth extraction can be completed in just one appointment at either of our offices in Caldwell or Florham Park. On average, the procedure can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to complete, however, it depends on your situation and needs. At your initial appointment, your oral surgeon will provide you with an accurate treatment timeline and what to expect.
What can I eat after a wisdom tooth extraction?
After the procedure, your oral surgeon will advise you to stick to a soft and liquid-based diet to avoid aggravating your extraction site for at least two weeks. These are some of the foods you can eat:
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Applesauce
- Juices and smoothies
- Blended soups and broth
- Yogurt and pudding
What do I do if my extraction site becomes infected?
If your extraction site becomes infected, immediately call our Caldwell office at (973) 226-8444 or our Florham Park office at (973) 261-8444 so that we can clean out the infected area. Your oral surgeon will prescribe you antibiotics to prevent infection from occurring.
Protect Your Oral Health
Removing your wisdom teeth can help improve and protect your oral health from getting worse. Delaying the removal will only worsen and can lead to health risks. If you believe you’re suffering from an impacted wisdom tooth, call our Caldwell office at (973) 226-8444 or our Florham Park office at (973) 261-8444 to schedule an appointment today. You can also book online below and one of our staff will get back to you promptly.
Learn More About Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Caldwell
973-226-8444 Florham Park
973-261-8444 Book Online
NJ Center for Oral Surgery
Patient Reviews
This has been the most seamless medical experience I have ever had. I actually felt no pain, only mild discomfort, and had a very fast recovery. I am so happy that this has been solved and has gone so well, and it is all thanks to the people here. When my upper wisdom teeth started to feel funny I was filled with anxiety- not only because I had a terrible time when my bottom ones were removed by a different dentist a few years ago, but also because I was worried that I would have to figure out how to take a significant amount of time off my work and social life to deal with this surgery. As soon as Dr. Zambetti began to explain my situation (I had two extra wisdom teeth on top, making four) I felt as if I were in a different reality. He said I would only have to take one Friday off work, that I did not have some strange problem, and that I would be well enough to go back to the office on Monday. One week after the surgery, I still can not believe how easy the process was. Right from the beginning, Dr. Zambetti and his team were all so reassuring, confident, and took extra care to make me comfortable. And indeed, I returned to work in Manhattan on Monday, and made it though the week just fine. I may have been all too familiar with anesthesia and medical procedures, but I have never encountered such caring people, down to the smallest details of the surgery. Their reassurance throughout the process, and giving me laughing gas only to make me more relaxed while they put in the IV- literally a span of one minute- and I felt almost nothing. Truly an above and beyond approach to having me experience no real pain during the entire procedure, from being put to sleep to waking up with just the right amount of medications so the swelling never became an issue, to being able to eat semi normally within a day, and perfectly within a week, plus calling over the weekend to check how I was doing. I am still amazed that my wisdom teeth are now all gone and I do not have to worry about them anymore, it feels like it was just yesterday and nothing major happened. Thank you so so much, I am very glad that I chose to take care of this at the New Jersey Center for Oral Surgery, and I just want to give you all a big hug!
- Isabella K
Patient Reviews
Dr. Kirsch and his team were amazing. I got 3 wisdom teeth removed and the entire process was painless! An hour after the procedure, Dr. Kirsch called to make sure I was doing okay and even called a week later to check up. I was terrified to get them out, since it was my first surgery, but the whole experience was better than I could have ever expected! Thank you!!!
- Amanda R
Patient Reviews
As an anxious middle aged patient, I would highly recommend New Jersey Center for Oral Surgery. I had issues with my Wisdom Teeth later in life (sidenote: going to be sure I have my teenagers Wisdom Teeth addressed when they are young!), and consulted with 4 Oral Surgeons before finding Dr Kirsch and his Amazing Team - and I am so glad I did. They were so informative, patient, kind, caring and gave me the confidence that I needed to move forward and get my issue addressed and resolved. I had a Coronectomy, and they made the experience easier than a regular dental cleaning! They thoroughly analyzed my condition and experiences leading up to my first consultation with them, and they gave me a few options for how to address the situation, discussing pros and cons to each, and together we came up with a treatment plan that was perfect! They took the time to listen, and understood all my concerns and fears, and made the entire experience a 5 out of 5! When you look at their reviews, which I did before reaching out to them, you think how can thousands of patients give them 5 out of 5? That never happens, right? Well, it's spot on, and they deserve every star they've received! Thank you Dr Kirsch and Everyone at New Jersey Center For Oral Surgery!!!
- Erik G
Patient Reviews
I want to preface this by saying, as a 30 year old, I’ve never gotten a procedure (of any kind) in my life. And I absolutely HATE the feeling of being out of control of my body so the thought of getting anesthesia has near crippled me from getting my wisdom teeth removed for almost 6 years. They never bothered me so why would I go in? Well one started bothering me so I had to face this fear. Let me tell you, this was such the perfect introduction to getting anesthesia. Dr. Kirsch and his team were so kind and gentle about the whole thing. First they put some laughing gas on me to calm my nerves. I was a little nervous about this cause the thought of breathing in gas sounds so uncomfortable or like I’ll get woozy. Nothing like that happened. It helped me calm down while still feeling in control of my body. Then the doctor came in and we chit chatted while he prepped my arm for the IV. He explained that the anesthesia is a pleasant experience and never like you’re “about to loss all function” which helped me calm down more. I was still skeptical cause it was 9am and I wasn’t tired so how could I feel genuinely tired enough to go to sleep. He was right though. It felt like I was somewhere warm and that feeling kind of washed over me. I never fully went under but that was probably by design since I only had one tooth removed. But the fact that I could just lay there, relaxed, while this happened was nothing short of a miracle for me. It was over in 20 mins tops. The first day was tough but not unbearable. I refused to get my pain meds filled (personal preference) so I popped some Tylenol. The pain was the worst right after the numbness went away but that subsided pretty quickly; within an hour or so. Then the rest of the day was just changing my gauze and ice and drinking water . I couldn’t thank this office enough for how kind and helpful they were and have been.
- Kyle H
Patient Reviews
Where do I begin? For years I had been putting off my wisdom teeth surgery because of such horrible experiences I had heard about the procedure. When it became time to finally get the procedure done, I was dreading the experience. This experience that I was so fearful of could not have been any further from the true experience I had with Dr. Kirsch's office. From the first time I called, they were friendly, efficient, and incredibly responsive (they were even more responsive than I was, which was amazing to see). I had my consultation on March 4, 2021, which was handled very efficiently and very safely (regarding the COVID-19 pandemic). Dr. Kirsch explained my options clearly and we decided that I should remove all four of my impacted wisdom teeth. Promptly after, I met with the schedule person, and she helped me choose a date for my surgery that worked with my schedule. (I was in and out of the consultation with a surgery date in roughly 30 minutes, which was fantastic considering how busy my personal schedule is). On Friday, March 12, I went in for my surgery. I have never seen such an efficient process in a doctor's office in my entire life. Within minutes, I finished filling out my paperwork was being prepped by the incredibly professional staff. I met Dr. Kirsch in the operating chair and he, as well as everyone else on his team, made me feel very comfortable as I was going under conscious sedation for the first time. The entire surgery took roughly 60 minutes and honestly felt like a routine dentist's visit (from what I remember). When it was time to leave, I was helped to my ride by one of Dr. Kirsch's staff members where she clearly explained to both me, and my guardian, the proper protocol for the first few hours of recovery. Within those first few hours, Dr. Kirsch called to check on how I was feeling, and against everything I had heard in the past, I was feeling great. I had very minor pain the first day, but by Sunday I felt as if I never even had surgery. The next week, Dr. Kirsch's office once again checked up on me to ask how my recovery was going, something I very much appreciated. I could not be more grateful for the efficiency and professionalism showed by Dr. Kirsch and his staff throughout the entire process of my wisdom teeth extraction. If I ever need additional oral surgery, I know where I will be getting it done, for I can be guaranteed I will be in good hands.
- Christopher L
Patient Reviews
I cannot speak highly enough about Dr. Kirsch. I was scheduled to have a wisdom tooth extracted at noon. I was seated at 11:55, and Dr. Kirsch walked in at noon. I am needle-phobic but I never felt any of the 3 injections he gave me. Within minutes he started to work on my tooth and with no pain, I was literally walking out of the office at 12:15. Dr. Kirsch and the nurses and assistants were so calming and reassuring that I felt completely at ease. I have already recommended them to several of my friends.
- George D
Patient Reviews
The entire experience felt like it was routine. I never had IV sedation before or any sort of procedure so I was a bit nervous going in. The speed and ease with which their team handled everything made it seem like they've done it a thousand times which is great. This is a review the same day of the procedure so I have yet to see my own healing ability and if I have any problems but the procedure itself, excellent. You get knocked out and its done like nothing.
- Alex C
Patient Reviews
When I met Dr. Schuessler I had 1 infected wisdom tooth and 3 very impacted wisdom teeth. Dr. Schuessler's clear expertise and calm bedside manner made the procedure very easy for me. I was comfortable the entire time, felt absolutely no pain, and assured that I was in good hands. Every time I have seen Dr. Schuessler, both before, during, and after my procedure, he has been patient and taken the time to answer all of my questions and address my concerns. Dr. Schuessler is a professional, kind, and confident surgeon, and I would gladly recommend him to anyone who needs their wisdom teeth extracted.
- Gabriella R
Patient Reviews
Dr. Kirsch and his staff are top notch! My son needed his wisdom teeth removed June 2020. This was an extensive procedure- not your ‘normal’ extraction. From the initial consultation, to the courteous staff, excellent communication, friendliness, efficiency, cleanliness, attention to health and safety to my son’s day of surgery we couldn’t have asked for anything better. He was prepared and knew what to expect as he watched a video in Dr. Kirsch’s office prior to his procedure. We were also provided with clear instructions after his surgery. He came home with minimal pain, and did not require any pain meds other than Motrin. He didn’t have any swelling or pain the next day and was back to work in two days! Dr. Kirsch is an amazing surgeon, has an excellent work ethic and is so very caring. We would never think to go anywhere else!
- Debbie R
Patient Reviews
I was impressed by the length of the recovery, it went way faster than I had anticipated!
- Bill W
Patient Reviews
The wisdom teeth removal process is great, no pain at all.
- Hui Z
Patient Reviews
made me feel very comfortable, easy procedure, and very friendly throughout the whole process
- Nicole R
Patient Reviews
It was a lovely experience
- Daniel R
Patient Reviews
Very great experience, made removing all 4 wisdom teeth weirdly enjoyable!
- Kaileen C
Patient Reviews
Great experience!
- Matthew O
Patient Reviews
I had no complications and staff was very friendly and professional!
- Michelle J
Patient Reviews
Felt safe and informed through the whole process!
- Lindsay B
Patient Reviews
Good vibe in the office, nice people
- Danny G
Patient Reviews
Staff and doctors were all very friendly and professional
- Ennis W
Patient Reviews
Great experience! Glad I picked NJ center for Oral Surgery.
- Barbara S