Wisdom Teeth: What They Are and What to Expect

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that come in when most people are in their late teens or twenties.  They are the final set of molars and if they come in properly, with the right alignment and without causing infection, then you can live your whole life with them.  Unfortunately, wisdom teeth aren't always so cooperative.  Most of the time they come in misaligned, growing in the wrong direction or getting stuck in the jawbone, which means they need to be removed.  When they grow at the wrong angle they can crowd your existing teeth, shifting their alignment and making it harder to properly clean all of your teeth which can lead to infection.  When the wisdom teeth get trapped in the soft tissue or the jawbone they are called “impacted,” which can make it easier for bacteria to infect the tooth.  The bottomline?  Wisdom teeth can be more trouble than they are worth.  Even when they grow in properly, they can be extremely hard to reach for cleaning, which can leave your mouth open to infection.  Because of this most dentists recommend that they be removed before they cause problems down the line.

When to get them removed

Your wisdom teeth may have already grown in before you seek to have them removed.  Sometimes your dentist will recommend removing them before they get the chance to grow in, especially if x-rays suggest that they are going to create problems.  Removing them when you are young is easier because the root hasn't fully developed.  Recovery can be a longer process when the wisdom teeth have had the chance to become rooted.

What to expect when they are removed

The process of removal will vary from person to person, dependent upon the positioning of the wisdom teeth.  If they have already grown in completely then removing the wisdom tooth is much like removing any other tooth.  If one or more of the four wisdom teeth is impacted, then part of the bone has to be removed.

The wisdom teeth and surrounding area will be numbed locally and often times a sedative will be administered to the patient to relax them during the removal process.  IV sedation dentistry is a popular way to ease the patient's anxiety.

Recovery process

The recovery process and the length of your recovery depends on how difficult the removal process was.  Generally though, you can expect bleeding to occur for several hours after the extraction takes place.  You can control the bleeding with clean moist gauze.  If heavy bleeding continues, however, contact your dentist.  One of the complications that can occur with wisdom teeth removal is “dry sockets.”  This is when the clot that has formed over the bone and nerves to protect them is dislodged too early. Dry sockets can cause extreme pain and infection.  Therefore it is important to avoid sucking motions, like drinking through a straw and smoking, for several days after extraction.  Facial swelling can occur after wisdom teeth are removed as well as pain.  Sometimes over the counter pain relievers are enough to ease the discomfort but, if necessary, your dentist may prescribe a stronger medication.  Additionally, for the first twenty four hours a liquid diet is recommended and then only soft foods for the next several days.    

Your individual case will dictate how long your recovery process will take so be sure to follow your dentist's instructions carefully.