Centuries ago, early man needed wisdom teeth replace back molars that were worn down due to dietary options. Today, however, we no longer need them, and they can often cause many oral health issues such as impaction, gum disease, crowding, and increased cavities.
The good news is that you can protect your healthy teeth with wisdom tooth extraction. Your dentist can remove these unnecessary teeth and prevent them from causing harm to your oral health.
Your wisdom teeth are four “third molars” that erupt at the back of your mouth at around age 17 to 26. Historians believe that they initially developed as a set of backup teeth to replace the second set of molars that may have become worn down due to diets heavy in roots, plants, and tough meats.
Over the centuries as cooking methods and food options have changed, modern man no longer needed these backup teeth, and with time the human jaw got smaller and less able to fit them. Today, they are not just unnecessary, but they often cause many oral health problems due to this lack of space.
While they may seem harmless, wisdom teeth can often cause a lot of damage to your existing adult teeth. They can grow sideways (impaction) causing surrounding teeth to become crowded or break. Due to their position, they can also be very difficult to brush and floss around, leaving your teeth vulnerable to cavities and your gums at risk for gum disease.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a very common procedure. When you arrive, your dentist will numb your mouth and ensure that you are adequately sedated. Once you are unable to feel any pain or discomfort, your dentist will then remove your wisdom teeth and stitch the sites closed with a dissolving suture. These sutures do not need to be removed and will completely dissolve within about a week or so.
Your mouth will then be packed with gauze to bite on to stop any bleeding, and you will be able to return home to rest and recover.
Wisdom tooth recovery is generally well tolerated. Make sure you follow the care instructions provided by your dentist and stay on schedule with your pain medication. Be sure to avoid hot beverages for the first 24 hours after your extraction and avoid caffeine for two or three days. Do not drink from a straw for at least one full week.
Your recovery diet should consist of soft foods or liquids for the first few days. If you are in any discomfort, apply cold compresses to your cheeks over the extraction sites for greater pain relief. Make sure that you get plenty of rest and do not participate in any strenuous activity for at least two to three days.
Dental insurance providers typically cover a portion of the cost of medically necessary treatments, including wisdom tooth extractions. So, if you are insured, it’s worth taking a look at the fine print on your plan to see what is and isn’t covered. Since our team at Sage Dental Care welcomes most traditional dental insurance plans, we can help too!
Since wisdom tooth extractions are often viewed as a rite of passage, you might assume that everyone has a third set of molars. That’s not the case. In fact, one article published in the Dental Research Journal estimated that anywhere from 5% to 37% of the population doesn’t have wisdom teeth!
There are a few things we recommend doing prior to your appointment, like not drinking alcohol, smoking, or overindulging on sugary treats. Instead, we recommend setting yourself up for a stress-free experience by arranging for someone you know and trust to drive you home from your appointment, stocking your pantry with soft foods, and getting plenty of rest the night before. The morning of, eat a healthy, well-balanced meal (unless instructed otherwise) and wear something comfortable.
Whether we’re removing one tooth or all four of your wisdom teeth, the first step of the entire process is always the same: numbing your mouth. So, you won’t feel any pain during your time in the treatment chair. The most you will feel is some slight pressure from time to time as we work to remove the tooth.
Important note: If you are feeling anxiety, stress, or worry, don’t hesitate to ask us about sedation dentistry. Calming solutions, like nitrous oxide, won’t just ensure that you feel relaxed and at-ease, they also make it feel like the time is going faster during longer visits!
Sometimes, when wisdom teeth are trapped beneath the gumline or are growing in sideways, patients experience considerable discomfort. However, that’s not always the case. We also recommend having them removed if they increase your risk of cysts, infections, and other oral health problems. So, even if moving forward with the restorative care we recommend doesn’t seem urgent, it is!
If you ever have any questions for us about your oral health – whether it’s regarding the restorative treatment we’re recommending or the cost of your care – don’t hesitate to let us know! We want you to feel completely confident moving forward, not left in the dark and unsure about your choices.
Since your mouth will still be numb when you leave our office, it’s important that you don’t eat anything right away. Once you regain full sensation, however, you’ll be able to eat extremely soft foods, like plain yogurt, seedless smoothies (without the straw), and vegetable soup. As you heal, you’ll slowly be able to introduce more and more foods back into your diet.
