What to Expect with Wisdom Teeth Removal

While it’s usually desirable to preserve your natural teeth, dental extractions are sometimes necessary and in the best interest of your oral health. This is especially true when it comes to problematic wisdom teeth.

Reasons for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are the last set of permanent teeth to sprout. Typically, wisdom teeth develop between the ages of 17 to 26. But some patients do not have them at all! But if you do, you have likely heard that wisdom teeth removal is a treatment you’ll have to prepare to encounter. Problematic wisdom teeth are infected, decayed, difficult to clean, growing in crooked, and/or overcrowding your mouth and could cause damage to neighboring teeth.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Process

Depending on the position of the wisdom teeth, you may need a basic extraction or surgical one. With either extraction, sedation options are available to help maximize your comfort. A local anesthetic will also be used to minimize pain or discomfort.

Once numb and comfortable, one of our experienced dentists will begin the extraction to remove the tooth, clean the area, and stitch it shut.

The entire procedure time will depend on the number of teeth extracted. It’s likely you can expect to be in the chair for at least an hour and plan for the first 48 hours after the extraction to rest and recover.

This includes arranging for someone to drive you home, alleviating pain with prescribed medications, and following our wisdom teeth recovery instructions.

Recovery Tips After Wisdom Teeth Removal

• Eat soft foods such as mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, applesauce, eggs, yogurt, and smoothies
• Stay hydrated with water
• Avoid super hot or cold temperature food or drinks
• Reducing swelling with cold compresses and sitting/sleeping with an extra pillow
• Maintain good oral hygiene
• Prevent dry socket by avoiding straws, forceful rinsing and spitting, bending, lifting, and vigorous physical activity
• Get plenty of rest

Wisdom Teeth Removal in Houston, TX

Is it time for your wisdom teeth to be removed? Get in touch with our team at The Smile Club Dentistry and Orthodontics for an evaluation. If you need your wisdom teeth removed, we can go over sedation and treatment options to help you have a smooth extraction!

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Wisdom teeth image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Categorised in: Restorative Dentistry