If you or your teenager are experiencing pain in the back of your jaw, it might be time to evaluate your third molars. The thought of oral surgery often brings a wave of anxiety, but at Mason Dental Care, we believe your experience should be entirely different. We prioritize your comfort, peace of mind, and total health.
One of our greatest advantages is our comprehensive approach to your care. You can have your wisdom teeth removed by the same doctors and team you already know and trust, without having to be referred out to an oral surgeon. We handle your procedure right here in our familiar, welcoming office environment.

A common question we hear is whether these third molars absolutely must come out. The short answer is no, not always—but they very often do. If your mouth has enough room for them to erupt straight and healthy, you might be able to keep them. However, most people simply do not have the jaw space to accommodate these extra teeth.
When there is not enough room, these molars often become trapped beneath the gum line or jawbone. We call these impacted wisdom teeth. They can grow sideways, push against your healthy molars, and create deep pockets where harmful bacteria thrive. This leads to painful infections, severe decay, and permanent damage to your surrounding teeth. If you have impacted wisdom teeth, we strongly recommend removing them. Our highly skilled team at Mason Dental Care is fully equipped to safely remove impacted molars without the need for an outside referral.
Even if they are not fully impacted, we may recommend wisdom teeth removal if they are:
We generally recommend having your wisdom teeth pulled in pairs (both upper and lower on the same side). If we remove a bottom molar but leave the top one, the top tooth will eventually drift downward looking for a chewing partner. This shifting can cause bite misalignment, jaw pain, and damage to your gums. Removing them together prevents these long-term complications.
Fear of pain is the number one reason patients delay necessary extractions. At Mason Dental Care, your comfort is our highest priority.
To ensure you feel completely relaxed, we offer advanced sedation dentistry. We provide oral conscious sedation and IV sedation right here in our office. These sedation options are perfect for patients who feel anxious about dental work or pain. They also allow us to comfortably complete multiple lengthy procedures at a time, meaning you can have all necessary extractions done in a single, stress-free visit while you rest peacefully.
Furthermore, Dr. Hillis uses various methods to effectively manage pain both during and after your procedure. From precise, gentle extraction techniques to a carefully tailored post-operative care plan, we control inflammation and keep you comfortable every step of the way.
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Your recovery timeline depends on the complexity of your extraction, but most patients return to their normal daily routines within three to four days. Complete healing of the gum tissue and jawbone takes a few weeks, but you will feel significantly better long before then.
To ensure a smooth, fast recovery, we provide specific, easy-to-follow instructions:
Rest: Take it easy for the first 24 to 48 hours. Avoid strenuous exercise, which can increase blood pressure and cause bleeding at the extraction site.
Diet: Stick to a soft food diet. As Dr. Hillis advises, incorporating soft proteins immediately helps speed up your recovery and improves overall healing. Great options include scrambled eggs, Greek yogurt, and protein shakes.
Pain Management: Take any prescribed or over-the-counter pain relievers exactly as directed by our team to stay ahead of any soreness.
Care: Avoid using drinking straws, spitting forcefully, or smoking, as these actions can dislodge the healing blood clot and cause a painful condition known as dry socket.