Removing wisdom teeth is a common treatment for dental patients. A necessary treatment for numerous Cary, NC patients, wisdom tooth removal could help to improve your dental health and comfort. Extracting wisdom teeth may not be necessary in all cases, but it may be recommended to provide relief from problematic conditions or protect the overall health of the mouth. When you or members of your family are wanting relief from wisdom tooth discomfort and need extractions in order to enhance or preserve your oral health, you may be curious about the treatment and recovery process. DentalWorks – Cary Crossroads is proud to provide the following facts about what to anticipate regarding wisdom teeth extraction and the recovery process.
INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMATIC WISDOM TEETH:
A number of symptoms may be associated with unhealthy wisdom teeth, including gum, jaw, and facial inflammation, wisdom tooth discomfort, and stiffness in the jaw. Additionally, you might also experience difficulty when eating, trouble with opening and closing your mouth, and halitosis.
WHY WISDOM TEETH MAY NEED TO BE EXTRACTED
Often referred to as the third molars, wisdom teeth are located in the back part of the mouth. Although many patients develop two upper and two lower wisdom teeth, a number of individuals only develop from 1 – 3 wisdom teeth. These teeth are commonly not used for dental function and could be problematic for neighboring teeth or general dental health. In a patient’s early teenage years, our dental team will begin examining the positioning and eruption of the wisdom teeth through panoramic images or traditional x-rays. If they aren’t on schedule to erupt correctly in the mouth or are creating harm to surrounding tissues, wisdom teeth are typically removed when patients are between the ages of 17 – 21.
BEFORE AND DURING YOUR REMOVAL PROCESS
During your initial consultation, our Cary, NC team may take an x-ray of your mouth and review your choices for numbing and sedation methods. On the day of your extraction, we will deliver your preselected sedation method and numb the back of your mouth to maximize comfort. Next, our dental team will utilize innovative surgical skills to carefully take out your wisdom teeth (typically all during the same visit) while minimizing the effect on nearby teeth, gums, nerves, and the jawbone.
FOLLOWING YOUR WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTION: THE HEALING PROCESS
If you need extractions to remove impacted teeth, an infection, or other concerns, having problematic wisdom teeth taken out is able to ensure pain relief. Full healing after a wisdom tooth removal procedure might take up to a few weeks, but you will start to feel a little better with each passing day. It is crucial to pay special attention throughout this period to allow for ideal recovery. Our dentists at DentalWorks – Cary Crossroads suggest that you adhere to the appropriate guidelines as you continue through the wisdom teeth extraction healing period.
DIRECTLY FOLLOWING THE EXTRACTION
If you receive your wisdom teeth extractions using sedation techniques, you will need a reliable adult to escort you home and stay with you until the sedation completely subsides. You will typically feel groggy and may sleep for the next couple of hours. When you are released, your extraction areas will be covered with gauze that needs to be changed multiple times during the following day. You should not be worried if the treatment sites bleed a bit for the following few days. This is typical and expected.
OBSERVE THE RECOMMENDED AFTERCARE GUIDELINES
Following your extractions, you will be provided with the appropriate post-op instructions by someone on our qualified team. These rules are important to follow to create a speedy, favorable recovery period. You need to be sure to take the medications provided by our dentists precisely as instructed and contact our Cary, NC team as soon as possible if you experience any unusual pain, abnormal bleeding, or further concerns. Instructions on how to ideally tend to your mouth as you recover will also be given to you.
POSTOPERATIVE VISIT
We will make a follow-up appointment about 1 – 2 weeks after your initial procedure so that our dental professionals can examine your healing and progress. It could take a few months for the bone tissue to fill back in the area where your wisdom teeth were located. Our dental team can give you recommendations on the ways to best prevent food collection in these sites to preserve the health of your mouth and minimize the risk of oral issues.
SEEK TREATMENT FROM A QUALIFIED DENTAL TEAM FOR YOUR WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL
Our team at DentalWorks – Cary Crossroads specializes in removing wisdom teeth to improve oral health and well-being. Regardless of whether you or a family member have a wisdom tooth infection, too little space for adequate development, or are just seeking relief from wisdom tooth pain, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our experienced team for a procedure consultation.
