Wisdom Teeth - General Information

The third set of molars that usually spring up in your teens and early 20s, are called “Wisdom Teeth.” While these molars can be important to proper dental health, if aligned properly. If they are misaligned, they can cause a whole host of problems. Not everyone requires their wisdom teeth to be removed, unless issues arise.

Wisdom Teeth Symptoms

If you start to feel teeth rubbing against your cheek, pain or stiffness in the rear area of your gums or infected gum swelling; you may need to see your dentist to inquire about wisdom teeth removal. Other complications can include impacted wisdom teeth, headaches and even fevers. In addition, infections can be created because it may be difficult to clean that area of the mouth, causing further pain or worse. It is critical to see your dentist right away if you experience any of these symptoms signaling wisdom teeth pain.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

After identification, and prior to removal, your dentist will inject your gums with a local anesthetic. This insures minimal pain during extraction on top of keeping the area free from possible additional infection. You may also be prescribed a sedative such as a Valium or Nitrous Oxide to help calm any nervousness you may be feeling. The wisdom teeth will then be extracted section by section to help decrease the amount of bone that needs to be broken in order to remove them.

Wisdom Teeth Recovery

After wisdom teeth extraction, bleeding may occur for up to 24 hours afterwards. This can be minimized by placing clean gauze on the area, and biting down to put pressure against the wound. Do not rinse or suck on the area for 24 hours. You may experience swelling around the site and in your cheek area. Place an ice compress over any swelling to help it subside. You can take a pain reliever if minor pain is experienced, or your dentist may prescribe something stronger. Stick to a liquid diet for about 24 hours. You can brush your teeth, however, avoid the extraction site until 24 hours have passed.

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