The wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that typically emerge in a person’s late teens or early twenties, and it’s not uncommon for their mouth to not have enough room to accommodate all of them. In cases like this, it’s usually best to remove the wisdom teeth to prevent chronic pain as well as destructive oral infections. Here’s a brief guide to how the wisdom tooth extraction process works and how you can keep your recovery process as smooth as possible.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
Before people learned how to cook food, they had to rely on a diet of course and raw plant and animal matter for survival. During this period of history, the wisdom teeth served to provide the additional grinding power needed to grind tough food into an easily digestible pulp. However, the average jawbone has become smaller over the thousands of years that have passed since humans figured out how to prepare their food, so many people today do not have enough room in their mouths to fit all their wisdom teeth.
How Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?
The way your wisdom teeth will need to be removed depends on how they are situated in your jaw. For example, they may only require a simple extraction if they have emerged properly. To do this, your dentist will administer an appropriate anesthetic to ensure your comfort before lifting the wisdom teeth from the gum tissue with a device called an elevator and working them loose from their connective tissue. After your dentist closes the surgical wounds, you’ll be sent on your way with detailed aftercare instructions.
Impacted wisdom teeth, on the other hand, have failed to emerge properly from the gums and typically require surgical extractions. While this procedure is a lot like a simple extraction, it involves making incisions in the gum tissue so the wisdom teeth can be accessed, and your dentist may have to remove them from the jawbone if they are especially deep in your tissue. Surgical extractions typically involve more lengthy recovery periods than simple ones.
How Can I Stay Comfortable After Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
While you can expect discomfort after having your wisdom teeth removed, the best way to manage this issue is to strictly adhere to your dentist’s aftercare instructions. These will probably include:
- Taking prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication as instructed.
- Sticking to a diet of soft, cold, mild foods until you can chew spicy, hot, and tough fare comfortably.
- Being careful when chewing or brushing around the surgical sites.
- Rinsing with warm salt water every few hours to remove germs and debris from your extraction sites.
- Avoiding spitting or drinking through a straw, as these actions can disturb the clot forming over your wounds and lead to a severely painful condition called dry socket.
Wisdom tooth extraction may be the most effective way to end chronic pain and preserve your oral health. If your dentist recommends this procedure, you can rest assured that it is in your best interest.
About the Practice
The Elegant Dentistry offers the finest oral health services in Oak Point. Led by Dr. Pankti and Jainisha Patel, the staff ensures that each patient receives compassionate care and courteous service in a clean and friendly office. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as wisdom tooth extractions. To learn more about the extraction process, contact the practice online or dial (469) 598-1023.