Wisdom teeth are the last of your teeth to appear in the mouth. These teeth can be valuable assets to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but most often they are misaligned, as a result, they could become displaced or twisted and require removal.
Unfortunately, if the patient doesn’t remove wisdom teeth, partially erupted wisdom teeth can lead to a bacterial infection called pericoronitis. Which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness and general illness. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease because their hard-to-reach location and awkward positioning makes brushing and flossing difficult.
Here are the most common signs of your wisdom teeth coming in that needs to be introspected:
Your oral surgeon may recommend that your wisdom teeth be extracted even before the problem develops, based on the X-ray evaluation. This is done to avoid a more painful or complicated extraction, that needs to be done a few years later.
The complication of your wisdom teeth extraction depends on their position and stages of development. A wisdom tooth that is fully erupted through the gums can be extracted easily as any other tooth, however, a wisdom tooth that is underneath the gums and embedded in the jaw bone requires an incision into the gums and a small piece of the bone covering may also need to be removed. During the procedure, the tooth may be cut into small parts to make it easier to remove.
The pain during the procedure is relatively smaller as dentists numb the area before the extraction however if you do feel the pain during the wisdom teeth removal, inform the oral surgeon about the pain so they can give you more anaesthetic. The duration of extraction varies depending on the complexity of the cases. Simple procedures can take a few minutes, but they can take more time if its complicated.
Most people recover from wisdom teeth surgery in a few days, if you had a very complex wisdom teeth removal it could take a full week for the recovery. The wound from surgery won’t be healed for months, so you can still develop infection weeks after surgery. The patient should pay attention to any signs of trouble and notify their oral surgeon in case of any difficulties.
You can resume your daily activities but one shouldn’t get into any activity that could dislodge stitches or the blood clot over your head. Some swelling, pain, and bleeding is normal after wisdom teeth removal, however call your dental clinic immediately if the bleeding or pain is unbearable.
Staying hydrated and eating well is very important for recovery, though you might not have a very good appetite directly after surgery. Ask your doctor for specific instructions on what you can eat in the first few days after surgery. You should try to eat food that is very easy to chew and food which don’t disrupt the blood clots or stitches.
Wisdom teeth extraction can vary between $200 to $900 though it can be less per tooth if you have all 4 molars removed at the same time. But the good news is most dental insurance plans cover wisdom teeth extraction.
If you are looking to get your wisdom teeth removed check out, German Dental and Dermatology Centre.
Cover image credit: German Dental & Dermatology Center
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