Removing wisdom teeth is a common treatment for dental patients. An essential procedure for many Cranberry Township, PA individuals, wisdom tooth removal can help to improve your dental health and comfort. Extracting wisdom teeth may not be needed in all cases, but it may be recommended to provide relief from problematic issues or protect the complete health of the mouth. If you or members of your family are seeking alleviation from wisdom tooth pain and require extractions in order to improve or maintain your oral health, you could be curious about the treatment and healing process. DentalWorks – Cranberry Township is pleased to offer the following facts about what to expect with wisdom teeth extraction and the healing process.
SYMPTOMS OF UNHEALTHY WISDOM TEETH:
Various symptoms can be associated with problematic wisdom teeth, such as gum, jaw, and facial swelling, wisdom tooth pain, and pressure in the jaw. Additionally, you may also notice problems when eating, issues with opening your mouth, and foul breath.
WHY WISDOM TEETH SOMETIMES NEED TO BE REMOVED
Commonly known as the third molars, wisdom teeth are located in the back part of the mouth. Even though most patients have two upper and two lower wisdom teeth, some men and women only get between 1 – 3 wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are typically not used for dental function and can be an issue for neighboring teeth or overall oral health. Throughout our patients’ early teen years, our dental team will begin examining the positioning and eruption of the wisdom teeth using 3D images or traditional x-rays. If they aren’t on schedule to erupt normally or are creating harm to neighboring tissues, wisdom teeth are often removed when patients are within 17 – 21 years old.
BEFORE AND DURING YOUR REMOVAL PROCEDURE
During your initial consultation, our Cranberry Township, PA team of dental professionals may obtain an x-ray of your mouth and review your options for oral anesthetic and sedation. Before your extraction, we will deliver your preselected sedation method and numb the treatment areas for your comfort. Next, our dental team will utilize innovative surgical skills to carefully remove your wisdom teeth (frequently all during the same visit) while minimizing the impact on surrounding teeth, gum tissues, nerves, and jaw.
AFTER YOUR WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTION: THE HEALING PROCESS
If you need extractions to remove affected teeth, a wisdom tooth infection, or alternative concerns, having troublesome wisdom teeth taken out can offer pain relief. Full healing after a wisdom tooth removal procedure may last numerous weeks, but you will begin to feel improvements with each passing day. It is crucial to pay appropriate attention throughout this time to ensure proper healing. Our dental professionals at DentalWorks – Cranberry Township suggest that you adhere to the appropriate guidelines as you continue through the wisdom teeth extraction recovery period.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE
If you receive your wisdom teeth removal using sedation methods, you will require a capable adult to take you home and stay with you until the medication fully wears off. You will likely feel tired and may sleep for the next couple of hours. At the time you are released, your extraction areas will be protected with gauze, which should be switched out various times during the following 24 hours. Do not be concerned if the removal sites bleed a little for the next couple of days — this is normal and to be expected.
FOLLOW SPECIFIC AFTERCARE GUIDELINES
Following your wisdom teeth removal, you will be provided with the necessary post-op instructions by a member of our dental team. These rules are essential to observe to ensure an easy, comfortable healing process. Be sure to take the medications prescribed by our dental team precisely as instructed and contact our Cranberry Township, PA team right away if you experience any unusual pain, excessive bleeding, or other concerns. Instructions on ways to properly care for your mouth as you recuperate will also be provided to you.
FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT
Our dental team will schedule a post-treatment appointment about 1 – 2 weeks following your wisdom teeth extractions so that our dental professionals can gauge your healing and progress. It may take a number of months for the tissue to fill back in the area where your wisdom teeth had developed. Our team will provide you with tips on how to best not allow food to collect in these sites to preserve the health of your mouth and decrease the risk of dental issues.
FIND AN EXPERIENCED DENTAL PRACTICE FOR YOUR WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTIONS
Our dental team at DentalWorks – Cranberry Township has advanced expertise in extracting wisdom teeth to improve dental health and well-being. If you or someone in your family has a wisdom tooth infection, not enough space for adequate development, or are just needing relief from wisdom tooth pain, we invite you to meet with our dental team for an extraction consultation.