Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars to emerge in the mouth. This typically occurs between the ages of 16 and 20. Unfortunately, nearly 85% of wisdom teeth should be considered for removal. In fact, wisdom teeth extraction is common that it is sometimes seen as a “rite of passage” for older teens and young adults.
A lack of jaw space is the primary reason why wisdom teeth don’t always behave and need to be removed. These back molars can become impacted, grow sideways, partially erupt through the gum or get trapped beneath the gum and bone.
Why a Proactive Approach?
Not surprisingly, the improper eruption of the wisdom teeth doesn’t come without consequences and complications. If x-rays reveal that your wisdom teeth are not going to have enough space to properly emerge, extraction will likely be recommended. Removing problematic wisdom teeth can help patients avoid disruptive dental issues such as misalignment, jaw cysts, bone loss, gum infection and more. Most dentists feel at ease taking such a proactive approach because these back four molars don’t serve a real purpose or functional role in the mouth. In other words, they tend to cause more harm than good. Therefore, if there is any suspicion of complication, your dentist may plan to have the wisdom teeth extracted before outward symptoms present themselves.
What to Expect After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Just like our other general and restorative dental procedures, our team takes extra care to provide the most comfortable experience possible. Sedation dentistry combined with local dental anesthetics can eliminate patient discomfort and anxiety during teeth extraction.
You can expect some swelling or discomfort in the first few days after surgery. However, your recovery duration and experience will largely depend on how closely you follow your post-op instructions from your dentist. In general, you’ll need to adhere to the following your wisdom teeth extraction procedure:
- Avoid strenuous activity
- No smoking
- No drinking through a straw
- Ice swelling
- Eat soft foods
- Stay hydrated
- No hot foods or drinks
To learn more about wisdom teeth extraction or find out whether yours need to be removed, please call Haven Dentistry. We are fully equipped to treat your smile at every stage of life!
