Wisdom Teeth Removal: A Complete Guide

Wisdom teeth are third molars between 17 and 25 years of age. Our ancestors used wisdom teeth to chew raw roots, leaves, and meat. But with evolution, there is not much need for wisdom teeth. Now, we eat cooked food and use forks and knives to make small pieces while eating.

This article will help you understand why you need wisdom tooth extraction. You will also learn about the steps for extracting and why it becomes essential to get wisdom teeth removed. Let us explore more about wisdom teeth.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth erupt during the early twenties, much later than other teeth. They are compared to your maturity and wisdom. This is why it is called a wisdom tooth. There are a total of four wisdom teeth.

Most people usually do not have any issues associated with them. But sometimes crowding, an eruption at an angle, or lack of spacing makes tooth eruption difficult. It can also result in impacted or partial eruption of wisdom teeth. You must consult a dentist if you have pain, extreme discomfort, or any sign indicating a problem with wisdom teeth.

Why You Need Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

There is not one but many reasons associated with wisdom teeth removal. Pain, decay, and impacted teeth are some of the top reasons that might lead to the need for extraction. Here are some other problems that can lead to wisdom teeth extraction:

• Presence of chronic soreness at the back of your tongue
• A bad taste or foul breath due to food particles that have become trapped can lead to tooth decay
• Teeth crowding or shifting due to lack of space
• Having trouble eating, opening your mouth, or talking
• Bleeding and inflammation of the gums around the wisdom teeth
• Presence of cysts or fluid-filled sacs around the wisdom teeth eruption area.
• Infected or gum diseases due to crowding and lack of proper oral hygiene

Steps For Wisdom Tooth Extraction

• The first step for any tooth extraction process is to visit your dentist. You must consult your problems and help them determine if you need any extraction procedure. They will conduct a thorough diagnosis and take some tests such as X-rays to understand your issues in depth.
• Once they get all the reports, they will plan the correct procedure for you if your dentist recommends that you proceed with extraction procedures,
• The dentist will then use anesthesia to numb the area around the impacted tooth and then make incisions to cut your gums.
• This will expose the trapped teeth. They will then proceed to disinfect the area to avoid infection.
• The dentist will cut and lift your wisdom teeth one by one to remove them properly and then stitch up the surgical site if required.
• You must follow post-surgical guidelines properly to avoid any risk of infections or problems.

Tips For Aftercare

There are some tips for post-surgery aftercare. These tips will help you quickly heal your wounds and resume daily activities. With practical tips, you can avoid the risk of infection and ensure a better success rate for your surgery.

• You need twenty-minute intervals to apply ice packs to your cheeks to control swelling and pain management. Your dentist will prescribe pain medication, which you should consume only as directed to relieve pain.
• You must stick to soft foods for the first few days. It will include mashed potatoes and yogurt, together with smoothies since these will help prevent irritation of the extraction site.
• Avoid hard, crunchy, or hot foods as they may interfere with healing.
• A saltwater rinse with warm water will clean the extraction site following its first 24 hours. Delay brushing in the extraction site region during the first few days to stop potential infections from occurring.
• The first recovery period should involve rest and completely avoiding physical activities for 24-48 hours following surgery.
• You must not involve yourself in physically demanding tasks or exercise as it can lead to bleeding complications.
• You must maintain proper oral hygiene and brush and floss every day. You also must follow all prescribed post-op guidelines to avoid any infection risk.
• Do not use straws. And avoid drinking carbonated or alcoholic beverages.

Conclusion

Wisdom teeth removal is a simple process that takes one or two weeks for recovery. The duration of surgery depends on the complexity of each case. Some procedures take less than an hour. At the same time, some might take over a few hours or even multiple sessions. If the wisdom teeth get stuck in an angled position, they can only be removed in several sections.

You must consult experts at Victoria Dentist TX, to get a proper diagnosis of your wisdom teeth. You can also visit the dentist post-op to get your surgical site checked. With effective postoperative instructions, the risk of infection is minimized.