A month before Christmas is perhaps the best time for you to consider wisdom tooth extraction if you have been recommended the procedure by your dentist. Dentists are looking forward to making the festive season happier for you by offering discounts on the procedure along with spending some time with you to dispel any misunderstanding or myths that exist about wisdom tooth extraction. Therefore, if you have been recommended wisdom tooth extraction for any reason we suggest you consider the same seriously because you may find financial relief because of the discounts available.
Why Do Dentists suggest Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
This procedure is recommended to remove one or more wisdom teeth out of the four adult teeth located in the back of your mouth the upper and lower jaw. When wisdom teeth do not have sufficient space to grow they can result in pain, infection, and other dental problems. They could even become impacted in which cases your dentist or an oral surgeon will recommend extraction of the tooth.
In many cases, dentists recommended wisdom tooth extraction despite no problems being reported by the patient leading to misunderstandings that the dentist was only attempting to subject the patient to a painful procedure or for generating some extra revenue for himself or herself.
Why Wisdom Teeth Are Extracted?
The third molars are the wisdom teeth and the last permanent teeth to appear in the mouth. Wisdom teeth generally appear between the ages of 17 to 25 and some people never developed them. The eruption is normal for many but many people develop impacted wisdom teeth that do not have enough room to develop normally. The impacted tooth may erupt partially or not at all. It can also cause some problems as mentioned below:
- Grow at an angle towards the next teeth.
- Grow towards the back of the mouth.
- Grow at an angle towards the other teeth as though it is lying down inside the jawbone.
- Stay trapped within the jawbone.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Problems
If you are experiencing problems such as the following if it becomes necessary for you to have the wisdom teeth pulled out. The problems are:
- Pain.
- Infection or gum disease.
- Food and debris trapped behind the wisdom tooth.
- Damage to a tooth nearby and surrounding bone.
- Development of a cyst filled with fluids around the wisdom tooth.
- Problems with orthodontic treatments for straightening other teeth.
Dental specialists disagree about the need to extract wisdom teeth that are not causing any problems. However, as they are unable to predict problems in the future they are expecting them as a preventive measure. However, it must be understood that even impacted wisdom teeth that are asymptomatic can cause problems and harbor disease making it difficult for the individual to clean around it properly. Younger adults may face serious complications with wisdom teeth less frequently, unlike older adults who experience difficulties with and after the surgery for the removal.
Are there Risks Associated with Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Long-term complications are not expected with wisdom teeth extraction. However, extracting wisdom tooth that is impacted may require a surgical approach causing the oral surgeon to make incisions in the gum tissue and removing the bone. Complications can sometimes include:
- A painful dry socket or exposure of the bone if the post-surgical blood clot is lost from the site.
- Bacteria could infect the socket which could have trapped food particles.
- Damage to the nerves, teeth, sinuses, and jawbone.
Preparing for the Extraction
Dentists perform wisdom tooth extraction as an outpatient procedure indicating that you will be able to go home the same day. You will be provided with instructions from the dental staff about what you should be doing before the surgery on the day of the procedure. However, you can be prepared with any questions you have especially if you believe you need help after the wisdom tooth has been extracted. Questions such as Will you need to make arrangements to be driven back home? Do you need to fast before arriving for the procedure? Should any prescription medications be avoided before the surgery? These are questions you must be prepared to ask for your good because anesthesia of some kind will be administered to you during the procedure.
After The Procedure
If you’re administered sedation anesthesia or general anesthesia you will be required to rest in a recovery room after the procedure. The recovery time after local anesthesia is brief and will remain the same as the dental chair. You must follow the post-treatment tips provided by your dentist as you begin to heal from the surgery. You may notice some bleeding from the site after the day the wisdom tooth was extracted. Try to avoid excessive spitting to avoid dislodging the blood clot from the socket.
You will be suggested over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or prescription painkillers from your oral surgeon. These medications are particularly helpful if some bone has been removed during the procedure. Using an ice pack against your jaw will also help to alleviate the swelling. It is recommended that you rest for a day before returning to your normal activities but avoid strenuous activity because it can be a cause for the building in your mouth again.
For the initial 24 hours after the procedure to not brush or rinse your mouth, quit smoking for at least 72 hours and hard foods for at least a week to avoid affecting the wound.
You can call your dentist if you are facing any problems such as difficulties with breathing and swallowing, fever, severe pain, pus or swelling that worsens after a couple of days, and persistent numbness or loss of feeling. Your dentist will recommend the steps you need to take or even visit him or her for an appointment to evaluate your condition.
The recovery period after wisdom tooth removal is just about a week and you should be back to normal in about seven days. With an entire month left for Christmas to arrive this is the appropriate time for you to approach your dentist for wisdom tooth removal and take advantage of any discounts being offered by the dentist.