Since wisdom teeth can come in after your permanent teeth, they often do not have room to grow. This will cause them to become impacted and lead to pain, infection, or other dental problems. When they start to grow in, it’s likely that they will need to be removed to prevent any complications. A dentist or oral surgeon commonly remove these teeth and it’s often recommended to remove them even if they aren’t causing problems.
Before having the procedure completed, your dentist will review the indications and benefits with you. In most cases, wisdom teeth removal is done in teenagers or younger adults. This is a time in life when your wisdom teeth have started to grow but may not have roots or affected the health of your teeth. Since it’s best to be preventative in this area, it’s a good idea to have them removed early rather than waiting for problems.
However, if you don’t have the teeth removed early, you can still have them removed if you’re experiencing problems. Anyone who starts to have problems with their wisdom teeth should also consider having them removed. This could mean that they’re infected or crowding out the other teeth in your mouth. If the tooth requires an in-depth approach, you’ll probably have to undergo a more invasive procedure with a longer recovery time.
Almost anyone can have their wisdom teeth removed. If you have certain health conditions or risk factors, your dentist may send you to a specialist or recommend non-surgical management. However, most people are able to have this procedure done safely with a fairly low recovery time.
If you’re going to have the surgery, then you’ll probably want to know what to expect after the procedure. As you heal from the procedure, you can expect to see some bleeding from the side. The dentist will put gauze in place to minimize bleeding and this can be replaced periodically. You will also experience some pain from the procedure. You may be able to take normal pain medications or your dentist may prescribe a stronger pain reliever temporarily.
Swelling and bruising to your cheeks is also common. Use ice packs to minimize swelling. It can take a few days and up to a week to resolve. Most people will have to eat a soft diet for a few days but can typically have a normal diet after they recover from the procedure.
Although not every person’s wisdom teeth will grow in, they are usually removed by a dentist or surgeon to prevent any problems with your teeth. If you’re concerned about this procedure, check with a surgeon or dentist.
