Wisdom Tooth Extraction – What To Expect

Wisdom teeth grow when a person has become a young adult. The first begins to grow between when a person is of ages of 21 to 23 years old.

Wisdom teeth are vestigial molars where they are not necessarily needed. Therefore, if your wisdom teeth grow without any problems, it is not necessary to remove them.

However, since a majority experience extreme pain and discomfort; extraction is the wisest solution.

NOTE: Unnecessary teeth removal is not advised and dentists warn people against it if they are not experiencing problems, discomfort, or pain. It is important to note that removing them is no-guarantee against future problems.

Many people believe that early extraction helps prevent teeth crowding. This is a false belief and unnecessary teeth removal can result in numbness and infections; especially if a nerve is damaged. However, if your wisdom teeth are wedged and creates trouble when growing, then dentists recommend tooth removal. In the case of infections, dentists will have to treat it before performing the surgery.

Before wisdom teeth removal, dentists administer a general or local anesthetic, and then the process begins. Gum tissues around the teeth will have to be opened and any bone covering the teeth. Your dentist may remove the teeth as a whole or break them into pieces for easier removal. After this, tissue around the teeth may be stitched, but antiseptics must be used after the process.

Just like any other surgery, wisdom teeth removal takes time to heal. This makes it susceptible to infections and that is why antibiotics must be used. The time it takes to heal varies from one person to the other; generally depending on aftercare and the health of the patient.

Who Qualifies For Extraction?

There are many factors a dentist will have to take into consideration to determine if you are qualified for extraction. Examples include; awkward angle growth, cysts, infections, and having small jaws that cannot accommodate wisdom teeth. Discomfort, pain, and swelling is another reason to have them removed. In a nutshell, to know if you need wisdom teeth removal, it is wise to consult your dentist.

Advantages Of Extraction

There are many benefits to having wisdom teeth extracted. Some of these include; offer fewer chances of damaging other teeth and jawbone. Avoid discomfort and pain. Avoid swelling, bleeding, and ulcers.

Risks Of Extraction

There are many risks associated with wisdom teeth extraction, even though some do not occur commonly. For example, general anesthesia increases chances of death (even though still low in percentage). Others include nerve damage, gum and face paralysis, dry socket and others.

Aftercare Basics

To guarantee proper healing, aftercare plays a big role. For example, bleeding should not exceed 24 hours after the surgery. If bleeding goes beyond this, call your dentist. Bleeding time can be shortened by avoiding lying flat and laying the head on a pillow.

Just like all post-surgical procedure, one is advised to avoid physical activity and rest for few days. It is important to note that heavy and sudden motions could cause bleeding. At the same time, infections could develop.

Avoid taking tobacco, cold or hot drinks, and foods, touching the area with your tongue or fingers. To prevent ease pain or swelling, consider using a warm compression or ice pack to the jaw. This is a great technique to avoid painkillers or other pain relieving tablets. Ice is a natural remedy used to reduce swelling.