What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are molars that usually come through during your late teens and early twenties. Wisdom teeth are located the furthest back in your mouth. Their position can easily influence how your other teeth are aligned.
When your wisdom teeth grow, they can push the other teeth into your mouth. Wisdom teeth are not considered an essential part of your mouth and are deemed “vestigial.” This term refers to a part of the body that was useful at one point but not anymore. The leading theory on why our wisdom teeth developed was because our ancestors were scavengers and ate a lot of uncooked and tough food.
How are they removed?
Wisdom teeth removal is a common dental procedure performed to address impacted, painful, or overcrowded wisdom teeth. Depending on how the teeth have developed, the procedure may be completed by a general dentist or an oral surgeon. Before the procedure begins, anesthesia is administered to help ensure comfort throughout the treatment while the dental team carefully monitors the patient.
Once the area is prepared, a small incision is made near the back of the mouth where the wisdom teeth are located. In many cases, the teeth are divided into smaller sections to allow for a smoother and more controlled removal process. Each piece is carefully removed from the socket while minimizing pressure on the surrounding area.
FAQ's
Have you got a question? We have an answer!
Wisdom teeth can be seen in your mouth as you enter your teenage years. They will typically begin to erupt in your later teen years. The easiest way to tell if your wisdom teeth are growing is if you have a dull ache at the back of your mouth that comes and goes.
When your wisdom teeth are growing, you’ll often experience symptoms that babies that teethe experience. Symptoms like itchy, painful gums and a need to chew to relieve the pain are signs that your wisdom teeth are coming in.
Impacted wisdom teeth present a bit of a challenge. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it has grown at an odd angle or is stuck below the gum line. We take a more precise approach when we take out an impacted wisdom tooth. Removing an impacted wisdom tooth is better for your overall oral health.
Not every person needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. However, it’s very common for people to get their wisdom teeth removed as they can present discomfort and mess with the alignment of your teeth. For patients with braces or Invisalign, wisdom teeth can undo the progress of orthodontic intervention. It’s best to check with your dentist to see if they need removal.
There are ways you can help your mouth heal faster. We first suggest avoiding foods or activities that can dislodge the clotting on your wound. Clotting on the wound helps heal as it protects the site and allows the new tissue to cover it.
Begin icing your face as soon as you get home. Swelling does help in the healing process but can also be a hindrance if it goes on too long. Reducing the amount of swelling is a great way to promote healing.
Keep the wound site clean; this is the most significant way to promote healing. We suggest doing a warm salt-water rinse a few times daily during your healing process to help the site stay clean. What will prolong the healing process is if you get an infection in the wound. Keeping it clean should keep it infection-free.
It’s good to keep up on pain management for the first couple of days after surgery. Sleeping after a wisdom tooth removal can be uncomfortable. Keeping your pain under control keeps you comfortable. Getting adequate rest is essential to the healing process.
What is the healing process?
The healing process for wisdom teeth can take between three to seven days. The healing time is dependent on the state of your wisdom teeth. Before you leave the office, we’ll instruct you to keep slight pressure on the wounds with gauze. We want the wound to clot so that your body heals. On the day of your procedure, you’ll feel some pain and discomfort after the anesthesia wears off. It’s entirely normal for some bleeding to continue. We suggest taking a few days off work or school to help your healing. We’ll prescribe you pain medication to keep you comfortable. To help heal the site, we suggest warm salt water rinses to keep the stitches and wound site clean. Do not consume any alcohol or smoke for the week after your procedure. It’s best to avoid any hot drinks, straws, soda and solid foods for 5-7 days. Your mouth will be sore, and solid foods can cause stitches to dislodge prematurely. Your stitches should begin falling out between 7-10 days after your surgery. You can return to your routine after all your stitches have fallen out. It’s also normal for your cheek or jaw to bruise after surgery. Use an ice pack twice a day to calm down swelling and bruising.