What To Expect When Getting Your Wisdom Tooth Removed

As the old saying goes, “With age comes wisdom.” One of the major milestones we experience as we come of age is the appearance of wisdom teeth that usually arrive between the ages of 17 and 21. If your wisdom teeth come in correctly, they will help you chew your food, but if they arrive with little to no space to grow, you could experience some pain and discomfort.“If your dentist says your wisdom teeth are impacted, he or she means they are trapped in your jaw or under your gums” (HealthyMouth.org).

If and/or when your wisdom teeth come in, your dentist here at Midlothian Dental Center will be monitoring for the following:

• Are the wisdom teeth trapping food between teeth? (This can lead to cavities.)
• Do the wisdom teeth make it difficult for a patient to floss?
• Have the wisdom teeth only partially come in? (This makes it easier for bacteria to enter the gum line, which could lead to infection.)
• Are the teeth impacted? (This could potentially cause a cyst on or near the tooth.)

While each situation and patient is different, the most common reasons for needing to have a wisdom tooth removed involve pain, infection, cysts, tumors, damage to other teeth, gum disease, and tooth decay.The good news is that if your dentist determines your wisdom teeth need to be removed, the recovery period should only last a few days. You should heal and feel back to normal quickly. Because having your wisdom teeth is technically oral surgery, your dentist may refer you to an Oral Surgeon who would perform your procedure in office.Before your wisdom tooth removal, your surgeon will cover the entire process, including discussing any health problems you may have and any drugs you take on a regular basis. They will also discuss your options for anesthesia (local, IV sedation, or general), and how long you’ll need to take off from work or school.The surgery should take around 45 minutes, and if your surgeon has to cut the wisdom teeth out you’ll receive stitches so the wound heals quickly. Depending on the type of anesthesia you have will determine whether or not you can drive yourself home. Make sure to discuss this with your dentist ahead of time so you can plan for a friend or family member to drive you home if need be. You should also have very little pain after the surgery, but you may experience some mild discomfort for the next few days.

Here are some tips for after surgery:

• Use an ice pack on your cheeks to reduce any swelling
• Gently open and close your mouth to exercise your jaw
• Eat soft foods like pasta and soups
• Drink plenty of water
• Brush your teeth starting the day after surgery, and don’t brush away any blood clots

If you have any questions about your wisdom tooth removal, please give our office a call at (804) 794-4588.