Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that typically appear for someone in their late teens or early twenties. It is essential you don’t ignore your wisdom teeth as they can cause problems when they erupt through the gum tissue. Most adults have four wisdom teeth but it is possible to have less or more. Wisdom teeth can affect other teeth as they develop, becoming impacted. They must be extracted when this happens.
Every patient is different, but overall wisdom teeth need to be removed when there are signs of changes in the mouth such as:
- gum disease
- tooth decay
- pain
- infection
- cysts
- tumors
- damage to neighboring teeth
Extraction may not be necessary if the wisdom teeth are fully grown, functional, and painless. We recommending having our professionals determine whether or not extraction is necessary. If surgery is required, patients will be asleep or heavily sedated for the procedure.
Wisdom Tooth Removal Recovery
After the surgery is complete, you will be given specific steps to ensure a proper recovery. Wisdom tooth removal recovery can take approximately five to seven days. You may experience swelling in the face and jaw region. Swelling can be minimized by applying an ice pack for twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off. If you notice slight bleeding, we recommend biting on gauze or a moistened tea bag. This will help to promote blood clotting. It’s important to be gentle with the surgical area and avoid rinsing and brushing vigorously.
No matter how old or how young you or your family members are, we continuously look for innovative ways to make the dental office a fun and interesting place. Our office is bright, our staff is always happy, and our dentists are interested in the developments of your family as well as their dental health.
To make an appointment or learn more about wisdom teeth, call Avenues Dentistry at (801)-328-4173!