Wisdom Teeth: When & Why Removal May Be The Best Option

If your wisdom teeth are giving you trouble, you should look into having them removed.

"Wisdom teeth" is the common term for the very rearmost molars in the back of your mouth. For a variety of reasons, these teeth often struggle to properly emerge into your mouth, unlike the rest of your adult teeth. They can emerge much later than the other teeth, and in many cases, they become impacted and unable to properly settle into place.

This can cause substantial pain, as well as crowding the rest of the teeth in your mouth, creating orthodontic problems.

So, the most common solution is to simply have your wisdom teeth removed. This is a simple and well-understood surgical procedure with near-perfect success rates. However, like any surgery, you should know what you're getting into.

What to Expect from Wisdom Teeth Removal

The procedure itself will be performed under anesthetics. This might be local - where you're awake - or you may be fully put under with an anesthetic IV. Your oral surgeon will decide which is best for your situation.

Be aware that if you'll be put under, you will be asked to refrain from any food or drink for at least 12 hours before the surgery. Your stomach must be completely empty for the IV anesthetic to work right.

The procedure itself is relatively simple. After you are numbed, your oral surgeon will cut away the gum surrounding the wisdom tooth. They'll remove some of the nearby bone to make removal easier, then extract the tooth. Finally, they'll stitch up the wound.

Typically, this should only take an hour or so. If you're put under, you'll take a few hours to wake up, and you must have someone available to drive you home. You won't be OK to drive until the next day.

Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Surgery

Full recovery typically takes 2-4 weeks, although you'll be able to function fairly normally within a week.

You'll be given gauze to keep on the wound, to reduce bleeding, and given a list of do's and don'ts to make recovery easier. You may be limited in what you can eat or drink, until the wound closes.

There will likely be some pain, but it won't be bad, and can almost always be managed with basic over-the-counter painkillers. The immediate pain should fade in a few days, although the site will still be sore for a few weeks.

To learn more, you should talk to an expert. Contact Plainsboro Dental Care 609-799-4422 for a consultation!