What to expect when getting wisdom teeth out

Wisdom teeth removal isn't likely to be high on your to-do list if they're not bothering you. After all, your wisdom teeth are kind of like the appendix of your mouth: They’re there, but there’s really no reason for them—you can live a totally healthy life without them. Sometimes your wisdom teeth will just, you know, exist in your body without bothering you much. Other times, though, they can unleash utter chaos upon your body. That’s why so many dentists recommend people undergo a wisdom teeth removal procedure, even if their wisdom teeth aren't causing any problems—depending on how your wisdom teeth are situated, they can cause trouble for you and your mouth down the road if you leave them in there. Here’s what to know if you’re considering a wisdom teeth removal.

Why is wisdom teeth removal necessary sometimes?

FWIW, you might not even have the molars (flat teeth in the back of your mouth) known as wisdom teeth. They aren't necessary for your overall chewing ability, so not everyone develops them. But if you do, these four teeth—two on top, two on bottom—are the third and final set of molars you'll get. They usually erupt (which is a very vivid way of saying they’ll push through your gums) when you’re in your late teens or early 20s, the American Dental Association (ADA) says.

Sometimes wisdom teeth can be impacted, which happens when they try to squeeze into a spot where there’s no room, crowding the rest of your teeth, the Mayo Clinic says. This might happen when they grow in at an angle or flat on their sides, or they might stay in their lane but get trapped within the jawbone instead of fully erupting. All of this can lead to complications like pain, fluid-filled cysts, or damage to the nearby teeth or bones, the Mayo Clinic says.

This can also make it harder to clean your teeth properly, which can lead to periodontitis (gum disease) symptoms like swollen and bleeding gums and bad breath. It can even cause difficulty opening your mouth, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The truth is that wisdom teeth can cause discomfort when they come in, even if they do so properly. And if they become infected on top of that, well, you may unfortunately be in for some serious aches and soreness. “When that occurs, there’s no question those teeth have to come out,” Mark S. Wolff, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, tells SELF. To avoid this painful rigmarole, your dentist may recommend having your wisdom teeth removed before they can make trouble, even if you feel totally fine.

If you need your wisdom teeth removed, it really is...wise...to have the procedure done when you’re younger if possible rather than put it off. As you get older, the roots of your teeth form more fully and can make extractions tougher, Dr. Wolff says. You'll also have less vascularity in your jaw, so healing tends to take a little longer, Susan Maples, D.D.S., author of Blabber Mouth! 77 Secrets Only Your Mouth Can Tell You to Live a Healthier, Happier, Sexier Life, tells SELF. Plus, the longer you leave wisdom teeth in, the greater your chances of developing cysts and abscesses. “Even if one of four [wisdom teeth] acts up in your lifetime, you would be happier to have them out earlier,” Dr. Maples says.

How does wisdom teeth removal work?

Wisdom teeth removal is a surgical procedure to remove one or more of those wisdom teeth, the Mayo Clinic says. The whole process starts with an exam. Whether you’re having pain or not, your dentist will typically want to do an X-ray to see what’s going on with your wisdom teeth, the ADA says—namely, how your wisdom teeth are positioned and how much room you have for them to grow. If you're experiencing symptoms or your dentist foresees problems with your wisdom teeth, you’ll schedule an appointment to actually have them removed. This will be done by either your dentist or an oral surgeon, depending on how your teeth are positioned and how often your dentist actually does this procedure. Make sure you go to someone who knows what they’re doing. While your go-to dentist may be amazing, they also might not do this very often. If they say they typically do a few wisdom teeth removals a month, you should ask for a referral to an oral surgeon, Dr. Maples.

How do I prepare for wisdom teeth removal?

Wisdom tooth removal is almost always done as an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll go home the same day, the Mayo Clinic says. Given that this is still technically surgery, you’ll probably want to take the day off from work ahead of time, Dr. Wolff says.

Wisdom teeth are the last set of permanent teeth to appear in your mouth, usually coming up when you are between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people do not have them at all or have no problems with their wisdom teeth, but most of the time, they grow in a way that requires your dentist to extract them. To help you prepare for going through a wisdom teeth removal procedure, we have compiled the best health information to know what to expect.
Reasons for Wisdom Tooth Removal

Your dentist may have several reasons to recommend getting your wisdom tooth removed. Wisdom teeth may become impacted, which could mean several things, including when the wisdom teeth grow:

• towards another tooth

• towards the back of the mouth 

• at a right angle within the jaw bone

• straight but remain trapped in your jaw

Your mouth can also be too small to accommodate another set of molars, or the wisdom tooth could become rotten or diseased because of difficulty reaching it with toothbrushes and dental floss. They can also cause cysts, complications with other dental treatments, and significant pain.

While not all dentists agree, there are also arguments for removing wisdom teeth that are not actively causing problems, especially since they are visible early with x rays. Surgery performed in younger people is much less likely to result in complications than surgery for older adults. However, despite only occurring rarely, having your wisdom teeth removed could result in complications such as dry socket, infection, or damage to nearby teeth.

Preparing for Surgery

Your dentist can carry out wisdom teeth removal in her office, but deeply impacted wisdom teeth or complicated procedures may require the services of an oral surgeon. While scheduling the tooth extraction procedure, you and your dentist will discuss your health history. Be sure to ask how many teeth need to be removed, how long the procedure will last, if your other teeth have suffered any damage, and if any other dental treatments will be necessary. Your dentist’s medical advice will also include sedation methods used to make your surgery more comfortable.

Additionally, you should prepare for the recovery necessary after your surgery. Schedule time off work or school, set up proper care for your pets or children, and arrange for a ride home if needed after anesthesia. You will also need soft foods that do not require chewing for the first 24 hours after surgery and semisoft foods for the rest of your recovery. 

Types of Anesthesia

Depending on the complexity of the wisdom tooth extraction, your comfort level with the procedure, or other factors, your surgeon will work with you to decide which type of anesthesia to use. These include:

• Local Anesthesia: administered with an injection near your wisdom tooth site after the dentist applies a numbing agent to the gums. You will be awake during the tooth extractions and feel movement and pressure, but no pain.

• Sedation Anesthesia: given through an IV line in your arm in addition to local anesthesia. You will become drowsy and may sleep through parts of the surgery. Your memory of the procedure will be limited, and you will not feel pain.

• General Anesthesia: inhaled through a mask, injected into your veins, or both. You will be completely unconscious during your wisdom tooth removal and have a local anesthesia applied to your gums to reduce postoperative pain.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

After administering the anesthesia, your dentist or surgeon will begin the procedure. First, they will make an incision in your gum line to expose the wisdom tooth and the surrounding bone. If necessary, to provide better access to your tooth, they may remove sections of your jaw bone to reach the roots of the tooth. Similarly, they may choose to divide the wisdom tooth into sections if removing your impacted wisdom teeth in pieces will be easier than removing all of them at once.

Your dentist will complete the wisdom teeth removal, then clean the surgery site of any debris from your removed tooth or bone. Your wounds will be closed with stitches to promote proper healing, although sometimes this step is unnecessary. The doctor will place gauze on the extraction site to control its bleeding and make it easier for blood clots to form. If you have taken general or sedation anesthesia, they will take you into a recovery room after the procedure. If they gave you local anesthesia, you should still be alert enough to leave the room yourself.

Wisdom Teeth Recovery

Unless your reaction to local anesthetic leaves you groggy and unresponsive, you will be able to go home as usual. Exposure to sedation or general anesthetic means that you will have to arrange for someone else to drive you home. You can expect some pain and swelling around the wisdom tooth extraction site. You can alleviate this pain with prescription painkillers, over-the-counter pain medication, or applying an ice pack to your face. Your dentist or oral surgeon is likely to use stitches that dissolve independently within a few weeks, but make an appointment with your doctor if they need to remove the stitches manually. Call your dentist or oral surgeon immediately if you experience a fever, excessive bleeding, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or blood or pus in your nasal discharge.

You should also expect some blood to keep oozing out of the surgery site on the first day after removal, so be sure to replace the gauze as directed by your doctor and avoid excessive spitting that could dislodge a blood clot. You could also dislodge the blood clot with the suction of drinking with a straw, heavy exercise, or being too rough while you brush your teeth and gums near the tooth socket. To gently rinse your mouth, use salt water, and let the water slowly trickle out of your mouth instead of spitting.

In the first 24 hours, eat soft food such as applesauce, and include semisoft foods when you can chew with minimal pain for the first few days. You should also avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods as they can irritate your gum tissue or get stuck and cause gum disease. Drink water regularly to remain hydrated, but do not drink alcoholic, carbonated, caffeinated, or hot beverages for 24 hours after your surgery.

If you need your impacted wisdom teeth removed or just want more information,contact Dr. Silmans' Smile Spa . You can schedule an appointment with our professional dentists through our website or over the phone.

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