01
They are impacted
Unable to grow through the gum because there is not enough space. As many as 90% of patients have one, according to the AAOMS.
Arrival
Wisdom Teeth
They arrive between 17 and 25, and as many as 90% of people have one that is impacted. Not all of them need removing — but all of them need watching.
Is this you
No pain does not mean no problem.
The practice’s own words: you might not notice any pain or discomfort around your wisdom teeth, but that does not necessarily mean they are healthy.
02
Partial eruption
Half through the gum, which leaves a flap that traps bacteria and leads to infection.
03
Crowding
Pushing the teeth in front of them out of line, and changing the bite.
04
They are hard to clean
At the very back of the mouth. An uncleaned tooth becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, infection and gum disease.
05
They are damaging the tooth in front
An impacted tooth pressing against its neighbour, or forming a cyst in the bone.
17–25When they arrive
And why wisdom tooth monitoring is part of a routine checkup through late adolescence.
The Treatment
Three states, three different procedures.
What the practice does
A specialised procedure with thorough evaluation through digital imaging and customised planning, with sedation offered. The aim is removing problematic wisdom teeth before they cause damage, discomfort or infection.
In the practice’s words
Wisdom teeth (third molars) are the last teeth to erupt and often cause complications such as crowding of other teeth, partial eruptions leading to infection, and impaction against neighboring teeth or bone.
At Mason Park Dental, wisdom tooth extractions are a specialized procedure involving thorough evaluation through digital imaging and customized planning. We offer sedation options to help you stay relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure. Our goal is to remove problematic wisdom teeth before they cause damage, discomfort, or infection.
How far through the gum decides the procedure
- Fully eruptedVisible and accessible above the gumline. A simple extraction: numbed, loosened, lifted out.
- Partially eruptedPart through. Usually a surgical extraction, and often the most infection-prone of the three because of the flap of gum over it.
- Fully impactedTrapped in bone or soft tissue. A surgical extraction with an incision, and sometimes a little bone removed to reach it.
Why This One
Why they are worth taking seriously.
The practice’s own argument, and it goes further than the mouth: an infection here does not necessarily stay here.
Infection is prevented
Rather than treated. Proactive removal is often recommended before symptoms develop at all.
The neighbouring teeth are protected
Impacted teeth cause damage to the teeth around them, and cysts in the bone.
The bite stops shifting
Crowding from wisdom teeth undoes orthodontic work that was already paid for.
Your general health
The AAOMS explains that oral bacteria entering the bloodstream can lead to heart, kidney and other organ infections.
Easier while you are young
Which is why monitoring runs through late adolescence rather than starting when it hurts.
Sedation is available
Oral, nitrous oxide or IV. See sedation dentistry.
Your dentist
Dr. Dave Cho, DMD
Dr. Dave Cho will also tell you when wisdom teeth can be left alone. Not every third molar needs removing, and the imaging is what decides it.
- 90%Have an impacted one (AAOMS)
- 3States, three procedures
- 17–25When they come in
Also on the teamDr. William Sung, DMDFellow of the Academy of General DentistryWhy examinations matter more than symptoms here
You might not notice any pain or discomfort around your wisdom teeth, but that does not necessarily mean they are healthy. Even wisdom teeth that fit properly can be the target of a future infection. It is essential to keep up with regular examinations so that a trained team can take a close look at them.
An impacted wisdom tooth is something to talk to the doctor about. Impacted teeth can cause infection and damage to surrounding teeth, and it is extremely important these issues are addressed early on. Your wisdom teeth are hard to clean at the back of your mouth, and an infected tooth not receiving proper care can be a breeding ground for bacteria leading to infection and gum disease.
An infection of your wisdom teeth can lead to oral diseases, but it can also lead to more serious complications: the AAOMS explains that oral bacteria getting into your bloodstream can lead to heart, kidney and other organ infections.
The Path
What happens, step by step.
Digital imaging
A thorough evaluation of where each tooth actually is, how it is angled, and what is next to it.
Customised planning
Which teeth, in what order, and whether they need to come out at all. Sometimes the answer is monitoring.
Anaesthetic, and sedation if you want it
Local anaesthetic as standard, with oral, nitrous oxide or IV sedation on top.
The removal
Simple or surgical, depending on how far through the gum the tooth is.
Recovery
Cold compress, soft food, and no smoking or straws for 24 hours — suction is what causes dry socket. Full aftercare on the extractions page.
Get them looked at.
An examination tells you whether yours are a problem now, a problem later, or not a problem at all.
Book an appointmentOr call (281) 769-8878
The Alternatives
Sometimes the answer is to leave them.
This page is not an argument for taking every wisdom tooth out. It is an argument for knowing what yours are doing. Some erupt cleanly, sit in line, and can be cleaned — those get monitored, not removed. What decides it is the imaging and the examination, not the presence or absence of pain.
What you can do meanwhile
The practice’s own advice, and it is unglamorous.
- Keep the examinationsThe practice cannot overstate this one. Wisdom teeth are assessed at every routine visit.
- Stay vigilant with hygieneDaily, and especially at the very back where the brush barely reaches.
- Mention any changePressure, a bad taste, a gum flap that is sore. These are early and easy to treat.
- Do not wait for painEven wisdom teeth that fit properly can be the target of a future infection.
The Cost
What it costs, before it starts.
Quoted after the imaging, because a fully erupted tooth and a fully impacted one are not the same procedure or the same price.
After the imagingQuoted up front
Once we can see the position and angle of each tooth, the price for the procedure actually recommended.
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What moves the number
How many teeth, whether each is simple or surgical, and whether you choose sedation.
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Insurance and financing
Insurance assistance and processing, with flexible payment plans. See insurance and financing.
The Proof
What Katy families say about being here.
Everyone there is very nice. They were able to see my son within a day of calling. My son had a horrible experience with an extraction as a little boy and he was nervous to have a tooth pulled again. They made him feel at ease. Afterwards he said he didn’t feel a thing. Updated 11/1/23 — I visited the office for myself this time. Karen was gentle while cleaning & explained everything really well. Next I’ll be bringing my other son. 5 out of 5 recommend coming here for your dental needs. 8/19/2026 Coming here is always a pleasure. The staff is amazing.
Very friendly staff and were willing to help in every way! Felt more comfortable here than at any other dentist office in the past, highly recommend!
Gabriel Sanchez
I’ve been coming to this dental office ever since childhood and I always have a great experience with Gen and Dr. Cho 👍🏻 Highly recommend
Alli Chun
Great, Jenn and Dr Cho are very kind and communicative. Clean and friendly clinic
Ammaar Ahmed
Questions
Questions patients ask before they decide.
Do all wisdom teeth have to come out?
No. Some erupt cleanly, sit in line and can be cleaned properly, and those are monitored rather than removed. Dr. Dave Cho assesses them on imaging and will tell you which yours are.
Mine do not hurt. Is that fine?
Not necessarily. You might not notice any pain or discomfort around your wisdom teeth, but that does not mean they are healthy — even ones that fit properly can be the target of a future infection. This is why the examination matters more than the symptom.
What does impacted mean?
A tooth unable to grow properly through the gums because of a lack of space. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, as many as 90% of patients have an impacted wisdom tooth.
When do wisdom teeth come in?
Typically between the ages of 17 and 25. Wisdom tooth monitoring is part of routine care through late adolescence for exactly that reason.
Can a wisdom tooth really affect my general health?
An infection can. The AAOMS explains that oral bacteria getting into the bloodstream can lead to heart, kidney and other organ infections. A tooth that is hard to clean and gets infected is not only a dental problem.
Will I be awake?
That is your choice. Local anaesthetic is standard, and oral sedation, nitrous oxide or IV sedation are all available — see sedation dentistry. Say what you would prefer when you book.
The Invitation
Ask about this one.
If you are somewhere between 17 and 25 and nobody has imaged your wisdom teeth, that is the appointment. It is a great deal easier now than it will be later.
- Hours
- Mon to Wed 9am to 6pm
Thu 9am to 5pm
Fri to Sun Closed - Emergencies
- Call the practice. We keep same day slots for pain, breaks and knocked out teeth.
