Wisdom Teeth
What you need to know about wisdom teeth extractions
Did you know that over five million people have their wisdom teeth removed every year? Most people get them removed between the ages of 16 to 25. Having wisdom teeth removed is a common dental procedure.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of 4 molars that emerge in the back corners of the upper and lower normal adult mouth around the age of 16-20. Did you know that some people have less than 4 of these pesky molars and even some people are born with none?
Why do most wisdom teeth need to be removed?
Unfortunately, most people have these teeth and experience problems with them. Why do they cause problems? Because people do not have enough room in their mouths. These molars erupt too close to existing permanent teeth, causing crowding, improper bites, teeth moving, and other problems like pain and cavities.
What if you don’t have any problems?
In many cases, you may not experience any symptoms or discomfort, so it may come as a surprise when your dentist suggests the removal of these teeth. On your x-rays, your dentist can see how much room or lack of room is in your jaw. In a lot of cases, these teeth are coming in crooked. Many young teens will be told they need to have their wisdom teeth taken out after they are done with wearing braces so that all the hard work of straightening their teeth isn’t reversed when wisdom teeth come in and start moving teeth again.
What are some problems these teeth can cause?
These molars may cause a problem because they can sometimes become impacted. Impacted teeth can be extremely painful. Symptoms are easy to spot: pain, inflammation, and some kinds of infections.
Even if your wisdom teeth are not impacted, when they come in, they can cause other issues such as crooked or crowded teeth due to lack of space, or dental decay and disease due to difficulty cleaning the teeth because they are so far back in your mouth.
When should wisdom teeth be taken out?
Most people get their wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 16 – 20. At this time your dentist has a good idea from x-rays if your teeth are causing problems or could be troublesome in the future. It is also easier for your dentist to remove the teeth at this age rather than waiting until later in life because your bones aren’t as dense and the roots of the teeth are not as deep.
Why do all 4 wisdom teeth need to be taken out together?
In previous decades the thought was to remove two molars at a time, requiring two different surgeries. Currently, removing all four teeth at once is standard practice. The surgery itself usually takes less than an hour. Afterward, your dentist will prescribe pain medications and recheck your healing progress in about a week.
When can you go back to school or work?
Typically you would have a four-day recovery time. So if you had your wisdom teeth removed on Thursday you’d be back to school or work by Monday. If your teen has anxiety about this procedure, please let us know so that we can put their fears to rest.
What is a dry socket and how do you know if you have one?
When you have a tooth extraction procedure, getting a dry socket is a possible complication. Dry socket occurs approximately 2–5% after a tooth extraction.
Symptoms can include bad breath, fever, pain, and an unpleasant taste. Risk factors include smoking, poor dental care, and an infection in your mouth. If you have any of these symptoms, call your dentist to set up an exam right away so they can get you the proper care.
Give our office a call today to set up your free exam.
If you’re interested in watching some funny videos, go to your favorite form of social media and search “funny wisdom teeth removal videos.” These hilarious movies are of teens still under the influence of general anesthesia after having their wisdom teeth removed.
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