Wisdom teeth , also called third molars, are the last teeth to grow in your mouth. They generally come in between the ages of 17 and 25. Impacted wisdom teeth occur when the wisdom teeth do not have enough room to break through the gums as intended. According to the American Association Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, nine out of ten people will have at least one impacted wisdom tooth sometime in their lives. Therefore, many people undergo an oral surgery called wisdom teeth removal, or wisdom teeth extraction, where the problematic wisdom teeth are removed.
It is necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth because, if untreated, they can cause infection as bacteria collect around the wisdom teeth. Furthermore, swelling, pain and jaw stiffness may result. Tooth decay and gum disease are legitimate concerns if the wisdom teeth only partially erupt from the gums, as brushing and flossing will be difficult. If wisdom teeth impact horizontally, as they did in my case, then adjacent teeth and nerves can be crowded out and damaged. Therefore, those with impacted wisdom teeth ought to undergo wisdom teeth extraction.
If wisdom teeth removal is done early (before they erupt from the gums), then your oral surgeon will have to remove some of the bone that is above the wisdom teeth. For this reason, your wisdom teeth may be extracted in parts in order to decrease the area of the bone that has to be removed in order to proceed with the wisdom teeth extraction. During the actual surgery, local anesthesia and possibly a sedative will be used in order to numb the area of surgery and reduce anxiety problems, respectively. You should be prescribed painkillers, such as hydrocodone, and possibly antibiotic medication, such as penicillin, to take after your wisdom teeth removal.
After the surgery, take your medication as prescribed and rest. Apply constant pressure on pieces of gauze over the empty tooth sockets in order to control bleeding; bleeding may still continue for hours or even a couple of days regardless. Furthermore, remember to ice your face around the area of wisdom teeth extraction in order to help control swelling and pain. You should consume a liquid diet for at least a day and also continue carefully brushing your teeth while avoiding the teeth neighboring where your wisdom teeth used to be. Finally, remember to check up with your oral surgeon a few days after the wisdom teeth removal in order to see if you’re at risk for certain problems like dry socket, where a clot in an empty socket is dislodged or dissolved, or nerve damage, where the surgeon accidentally nicks a nearby nerve, causing prolonged, unintended numbness.
I myself very recently underwent wisdom teeth extraction on all four of my wisdom teeth! My oral surgeon strongly advised me to take the sedative in order to fall asleep during the surgery, and I happily agreed! I don’t recall any memories of the actual surgery, and was only disoriented for a few hours (from the local anesthesia and sedative used) after the surgery. As for painkillers, I was prescribed hydrocodone and ibuprofen. I barely felt any pain during the days after the surgery thanks to my following the prescribed dosages of the painkillers. And due to my eating a liquid diet almost exclusively for a few days after the wisdom teeth removal, I further decreased any chances of oral infection. By doing everything that my oral surgeon advised, I survived my wisdom teeth extraction without a hitch!
In conclusion, following your oral surgeon’s suggestions, as well as the ones I have outlined, is the best way to avoid any problems after wisdom teeth removal. Wisdom teeth removal may seem like a scary procedure for many people; for many it is their first surgery. But I can assure you that there is nothing to be afraid of as long as you go to an accredited oral surgeon and follow these simple rules that I have outlined. Best of luck to all you with impacted wisdom teeth!
