Wisdom Tooth Removal Guide

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars most people get. They usually start to come in sometime between the ages of 17 and 25 for adults. People usually have four wisdom teeth, but sometimes people have fewer than four. Regardless of how many wisdom teeth a person has, they are usually removed either by a dentist or an oral surgeon. They often are the cause of discomfort in a person’s mouth and jaw, and can cause damage to existing teeth as they begin to shift and come in. Oftentimes, people don’t have room for them in their mouths. For this reason, wisdom teeth removal is a very common practice, and most people have them removed at some point in their lives.

The procedure for wisdom teeth removal is actually fairly simple, and it is very routine. People often dread having their wisdom teeth removed, as they have heard horror stories from friends and relatives about how painful it was. The truth is, if you follow your dentist’s or oral surgeon’s instructions carefully, having your wisdom teeth removed isn’t such a big deal, and certainly not cause for major stress or worry.

Why Is Wisdom Teeth Removal So Common?

The reason why it is so common to have wisdom teeth pulled is because they can cause a lot of pain and complications. Oftentimes, a person’s jaw and mouth isn’t large enough to accommodate these late-coming molars. As a result, there can be a lot of crowding in the jaw as the teeth come in. If you have ever had braces in your life, the arrival of your wisdom teeth could very likely completely mess up the smile which you likely paid thousands of dollars for. They are also frequently difficult to reach in a person’s mouth to properly brush and floss. Because of their hard to reach location, they often end up full of cavities and require a lot of maintenance in order to keep them healthy. They are also prone to causing infections in a person’s mouth and jaw. Oftentimes, they only come in partially and a flap of gums will remain over part of the tooth. When this happens, food and bacteria can get lodged between the tooth and gum creating an extremely high likelihood for infection. The roots of wisdom teeth are extremely long, so they can also cause problems for people which sometimes seem unrelated to their teeth. For example, a person who suffers from frequent and chronic sinus pain and pressure may be experiencing the roots of their wisdom teeth growing into their sinus cavity. This is painful, and can result in cysts in the sinuses as well as significant pain. The roots of wisdom teeth have also been known to grow into eye sockets as well!

Because of all of the possible complications from maintaining wisdom teeth, they are removed in most adults. When a person decides to go forward with wisdom tooth extraction, they will either see a dentist or an oral surgeon, depending on how complicated the extraction will be. In many cases, wisdom teeth can be extracted at the dentist’s office with some novocaine. However, many people opt to visit an oral surgeon for the extraction, in which case they are usually sedated for the procedure. In either case, the patient rarely feels anything during the extraction, and will be given pain medicine for afterwards, as well as care instructions which should be followed as closely as possible.

How Quick Can I Recover From Wisdom Tooth Removal?

Most people recover from having wisdom teeth removed within 3-4 days. During that time, patients should rest as much as possible. They should eat soft, bland foods, and avoid smoking or drinking from a straw. Pain medications taken orally every few hours will help keep the patient comfortable, as well, and after 2-3 days is usually no longer needed. Many people are able to avoid pain medicines altogether after surgery, staying perfectly comfortable with over the counter acetaminophen and ibuprofen. After the first 24 hours, your dentist or oral surgeon will also likely recommend rinsing with a salt water solution. This will help gently remove bacteria from the mouth and will help keep the blood clots in the gums in place so there is not excessive bleeding or pain.

Wisdom teeth removal is a fairly common practice among adults. Most adults have their wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 17 and 25 because they are difficult to maintain and often have complications. It is a fairly easy procedure, and patients usually recover in 3-4 days. In the meantime, a diet of soft, bland foods will help avoid and pain. Pain medications keep the person comfortable in the days after the extraction, and stitches usually dissolve on their own. There are very few complications associated for wisdom teeth removal, and it is a highly recommended procedure for anybody having a hard time maintaining their wisdom teeth.