Getting your wisdom teeth pulled out is not that big of a deal and it is a process that most people go through during their lifetime. Thanks to modern medicine and technology, getting your wisdom teeth pulled no longer hurts and very often you won’t need to get a shot that will put you to sleep for half an hour.
When you see your dentist, he will let you know when you need to see an oral surgeon to get your wisdom teeth pulled out. If you are told that they need to come out, it is not a bad thing and you shouldn’t worry about it. If you wore braces and had to go to an orthodontist, you will probably need to see an oral surgeon. There is a great chance that your wisdom teeth will interfere with the new alignment of your teeth as caused by the braces. Sometime the process of pulling your wisdom teeth can be easier than other times. Some people have wisdom teeth that break sharply with their other teeth and the teeth clash against each other. However, if that has not yet happened, you are in luck because the sooner they are taken out the better. Wisdom teeth are similar to tonsils because some people need to take them out but they are not required for daily functions. You do not need your wisdom teeth to chew food and wisdom teeth do not grow until a person is an adult or almost 20 years of age.
When you see an oral surgeon to have your wisdom teeth taken out, you will have the option of taking out all 4 wisdom teeth at the same time (2 on both sides) or you can separate it into two visits. If you decide to make two visits to the oral surgeon, then wisdom teeth are pulled out one side at a time. There is a wisdom tooth in the top and bottom of the back of your mouth on both the right and left side of your mouth.
When you are in the waiting room of the oral surgeon, you will have to fill out a form asking if you have any allergies. This is done to make sure that you won’t be allergic to any medicine or painkillers that the doctors might give you. You will have to give them insurance if you have it. Dental expenses are increasing and getting any kind of procedure or just seeing your own dentist can become very expensive if you don’t have dental insurance. The process of getting your wisdom teeth pulled can cost as much as $600 if you don’t have dental insurance. However if you do have dental insurance, you are in luck because it will only cost around $150 for the procedure.
When you see the dentist, you will have to stand or sit next to an X-ray machine that will take a picture of your mouth and tooth structure of your wisdom teeth. Then you will have to have a shot that causes your wisdom teeth to numb. This is done so you don’t feel the pain when the teeth are being taken out of your mouth. If you are awake during the procedure, then you might feel some discomfort or pain from the pushing of the dental instruments against the side of your mouth. As the surgeon pulls the teeth out of your mouth he is using his instruments to pry the teeth out of the gums. The whole procedure shouldn’t take more than a half an hour. The surgeon will give you a cotton swap to bite down on the side of your mouth. Your gums will probably be bleeding so you will need to hold the cotton piece or napkin in your mouth to absorb the bleeding. You will also be given an instructional booklet detailing what to eat and what to do. You cannot perform any strenuous activity like sports or working out. You need a full 24 hours of doing nothing but sitting around in the house. You cannot drive because the painkillers they will give you if you are in pain will make you drowse. You will also be given an antibiotic so that your mouth does not get infected. Finally, you will have to hold an icepack wrapped in a paper towel by your jaw so that it doesn’t swell. If swelling occurs, then use a heating pad to reduce the swelling.
