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Despite the value that their name implies, you don’t need your wisdom teeth and wisdom teeth removal is normal. Still, you might wonder why you need to remove them if they don’t hurt to be there. Well, for many people, they do. They can cause all sorts of problems. That’s why many dentists recommend removing them.

If you’re thinking about getting yours removed, here are some things you should know.

Why You Need Wisdom Teeth Extraction

You don’t need your wisdom teeth to chew effectively. In fact, you don’t even need your molars for that. That’s why they don’t even develop in some people. For those who do develop them, these two pairs of teeth (wisdom teeth and molars) are the last pair of teeth to develop. They usually pop out in older teenagehood or young adulthood.

Wisdom teeth may become impacted if there’s too little space for them to grow into causing a need for wisdom teeth removal. As a result, they might crowd out your other teeth. In this case, they might come out at an angle or horizontally. Or they might lodge in the jawbone and fail to fully emerge. This causes problems, such as pain, teeth or bone damage, or cysts that fill with fluid.

Impacted wisdom teeth can also make it hard to clean your teeth properly. Worse, opening your mouth may become difficult.

Even when they grow properly, wisdom teeth may cause some difficulties. Furthermore, in cases where they become infected, you may end up with severe aches and soreness. For these reasons, dentists recommend you remove your wisdom teeth the first chance you get, even if they’re not causing you any trouble now.

The younger you are when you have wisdom teeth removal, the better, for several reasons. First, the roots of your teeth are yet to fully form. Second, a younger jaw is less vascular, so it usually heals faster. Third, the longer you have your wisdom teeth, the more likely they are to develop abscesses and cysts.

How Wisdom Teeth Removal Works

Wisdom teeth removal, Frisco, TX, involves a surgical procedure in which one or more of the wisdom teeth are removed. First, the dentist carries out an exam. They usually do an X-ray to determine the condition of the teeth and plan how to remove them. Either a dentist or oral surgeon does the procedure. For the best results, visit a dentist that has extensive experience with wisdom teeth removal. Ask your dentist how frequently they carry out the procedure. If they do it only a handful of times every month, it is advisable to seek a referral to a qualified and highly experienced oral surgeon.

Preparing for a Wisdom Teeth Extraction

A wisdom teeth removal is an outpatient procedure. That means that after the procedure, you’ll go home. Nonetheless, it’s still a good idea to ask for a day off from work as it is still technically a surgery. Once you choose a dental clinic and schedule an appointment, the staff will give you instructions on how to prepare for the surgery before and during the day of the procedure.

To be sure, ask whether you need to have someone take you home afterward. Find out if there’s anything you should avoid eating or drinking before and after the surgery. In case you’re taking any prescription medication, be sure to let the staff at the dental clinic know about it when you schedule the appointment.

What Wisdom Teeth Extraction Feels Like

During the procedure, you either be sedated or get local or general anesthesia. The level of difficulty of the procedure will determine which one you get. Moreover, depending on the type of anesthesia you will receive, the dentist may instruct you to avoid eating or drinking for a specified number of hours before the surgery.

Once the sedative or anesthesia takes full effect, the dentist will disconnect your wisdom tooth from the surrounding tissue using a special tool. Then they will pull out the tooth. It’s a delicate procedure that should not involve any pain. After extracting the tooth, the dentist will stitch you up and fill up any holes.

Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction

You want to take things easy after this procedure. You need time to heal. Immediately after the surgery, you may experience some grogginess, depending on the type of sedative or anesthesia you received for the procedure. Have someone take you home. It’s imperative that you don’t drive yourself home after this procedure.

Additionally, you will likely experience some pain. Depending on how much pain you experience, you may receive a prescription for pain medication. Some bleeding may also occur, in which case avoid spitting too much so that you don’t dislodge a clot. Some swelling and bleeding are also expected after the surgery. An icepack may help with that.

As you recover from the procedure, be wary of a condition called “dry socket.” This condition occurs when a clot over the site of extraction dislodges. As a result, your bones and nerves become exposed. This can be extremely painful. Stick to using a straw for a week or so after the procedure.

Don’t clean your mouth too soon. When you do start to clean your mouth, do so gently. Let the dentist advise you when to start your regular oral hygiene routine. In case a dry socket occurs, the dentist will plug the socket with a medicated paste that promotes healing. In a few cases, the dentist might need to pull some tissue over the socket to seal it.

Of all the complications that may occur following your wisdom teeth removal, dry socket is the most common. So, it’s imperative that you carefully follow your dentist’s post-operation instructions on what to do after the procedure. Get plenty of rest. Don’t plan anything for the rest of the day. Drink a lot of water and stay away from carbonated, caffeinated, alcoholic, and hot beverages for at least 24 hours after the procedure.

Do you still have your wisdom teeth and don’t know whether you should have them extracted? Contact NextGen OMS and they will give you guidance on wisdom teeth removal, Frisco, TX.