Removing wisdom teeth is a routine treatment for dental patients. A required treatment for many Alcoa, TN men and women, wisdom tooth removal may help to enhance your oral health and comfort. Removing wisdom teeth is not necessary in all instances, but it might be recommended to provide relief from problematic issues or protect the future health of the smile. When you or your family are looking for relief from wisdom tooth discomfort and require extractions in order to restore or maintain your dental health, you might be wondering about the treatment and healing process. DentalWorks – Alcoa is pleased to provide the following facts about what to anticipate during wisdom teeth extraction and the healing process.
INDICATIONS OF UNHEALTHY WISDOM TEETH:
Various symptoms can be related to unhealthy wisdom teeth, such as gum, jaw, and facial inflammation, wisdom tooth pain, and pressure in the jaw. Additionally, you could also experience difficulty when eating, issues with opening and closing your mouth, and foul breath.
REASONS WHY WISDOM TEETH MAY NEED TO BE REMOVED
Often referred to as the third molars, wisdom teeth are situated in the back area of the mouth. Even though many patients develop two upper and two lower third molars, a number of individuals only develop between 1 – 3 wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are often not utilized for oral function and may be problematic for surrounding teeth or overall oral health. In a patient’s early adolescent years, our dental team will start evaluating the location and eruption of the wisdom teeth using 3D images or similar x-rays. When they aren’t on schedule to erupt properly in the mouth or are creating harm to neighboring tissues, wisdom teeth are frequently removed when individuals are within the ages of 17 – 21.
BEFORE AND DURING YOUR EXTRACTION PROCESS
In your initial consultation, our Alcoa, TN team will obtain an x-ray of your teeth and gums and talk with you about your options for dental numbing and sedation. Before your extraction, we will administer your chosen sedation method and numb the back of your mouth to maximize comfort. Next, our dental team will use advanced surgical techniques to carefully extract your wisdom teeth (often all during the same appointment) while reducing the impact on surrounding teeth, gum tissues, nerves, and jaw.
FOLLOWING YOUR WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTION: THE RECOVERY PERIOD
If you require extractions to treat impacted teeth, an infection, or additional problems, having troublesome third molars taken out is able to provide pain relief. Full recovery from a wisdom tooth extraction procedure could take up to numerous weeks, but you will begin to feel less pain with each passing day. It is important to pay extra attention throughout this time to allow for effective healing. Our dentists at DentalWorks – Alcoa recommend that you stick to the appropriate instructions as you continue through the wisdom teeth extraction healing period.
DIRECTLY AFTER THE TREATMENT
If you undergo your wisdom teeth removal using sedation dentistry, you will require a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you until the sedation completely wears off. You will typically feel groggy and may sleep for the next couple of hours. At the time you are released, your removal sites will be protected with gauze, which will need to be changed multiple times throughout the next 24 hours. You should not be alarmed if your treatment sites bleed some for the following couple of days. This is common and to be expected.
ADHERE TO SPECIFIC AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
Following your procedure, you will be provided with the necessary post-op instructions by a member of our dental team. These instructions are crucial to observe to allow for an easy, comfortable recovery experience. Be sure to take any medications prescribed by our dental professionals exactly as instructed and contact our Alcoa, TN team as soon as possible if you have any unusual pain, excessive bleeding, or other problems. Instructions on ways to best care for your mouth as you recuperate will also be given to you.
POSTOPERATIVE VISIT
Our dental team will plan a postoperative appointment about 1 – 2 weeks after your wisdom teeth removal so that our dentists can monitor your healing and progress. It may take a few months for the bone tissue to fill back in the space where your wisdom teeth were located. Our team will be able to give you advice on the ways to best prevent food collection in these sites to preserve the health of your mouth and diminish the risk of dental problems.
CHOOSE A SKILLED PRACTICE FOR YOUR WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTIONS
Our dental team at DentalWorks – Alcoa has years of experience in extracting wisdom teeth to enhance oral health and wellness. If you or a family member have a wisdom tooth infection, too little room for ideal development, or are just wanting relief from wisdom tooth pain, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our qualified team for a procedure consultation.
