Wisdom teeth can cause serious problems to the surrounding bone, infections or damage to adjacent teeth. A consultation with one of the doctors will include a specialized x-ray and clinical examination to determine if the wisdom teeth are likely to cause problems. If so, their removal can nearly always be done in the office. During the procedure, one or more of the following is used: local anesthesia to numb the area, nitrous oxide (sometimes called "laughing gas"), intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. Modern outpatient anesthesia techniques make it possible to perform these procedures with little or no discomfort.