Things You Want to Know About Wisdom Teeth Removal

What you need to know wisdom tooth removal

Wisdom teeth are notorious for causing more problems than any other molars and their removal is also more difficult. Here are some things that you should know if your dentist has just given you the bad news that you need one, two or all your wisdom teeth taken out.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Cause So Many Problems?

Our diet has changed a lot since we have settled down and switched from hunting and gathering to agriculture. We no longer need to use our wisdom teeth to grind seeds and other types of chewy food, but the teeth that served the purpose are still there, they are our wisdom teeth. Also called the third molars, wisdom teeth are located at each end of our rows of teeth, in places that do not play an active role in chewing. This lack of usage is also the main reason why wisdom tooth cause so many problems by either growing in the wrong direction or failing to erupt. Wisdom teeth are also very difficult to clean properly, therefore they are more prone to developing cavities as well as to infections that might affect not only the wisdom tooth itself, bit the gums, the jawbone, even the surrounding teeth.

How Are Wisdom Tooth Extracted?

In most cases, wisdom teeth are extracted the same way as any other tooth, but because their roots are more implanted into the jawbone and they are so much affected by growth problems, the extraction is usually handled by an oral surgeon, not by a general dentist.

The process of having your wisdom tooth extracted starts with an inspection of the affected tooth and with the discussion about any other medical conditions that are relevant for the intervention. In this phase, feel free to ask any questions that you have about the procedure, including the type of the anesthesia used and post-surgery care and recovery. The intervention itself starts with the administration of the anesthetic of choice, then the extraction is performed – it all takes about one hour. In most cases, patients who have had their wisdom teeth extracted spend a little more time in the doctor’s office until they regain full consciousness, then they can go home.

Recovery after the Surgery

You are likely to experience some pain, even a little swelling on the day after the wisdom tooth removal Buffalo Grove surgery and you will need to pay a bit more attention than usual to the wound in the extraction area. After any extraction, a blood clot forms form in the wound with the purpose of protecting the gap from infections. One of your most important tasks will be to protect that blood clot from falling out, therefore it is not recommended to do anything that would create negative pressure around the wound, such as drinking from a straw or smoking. Dairy products, sweets, hot and cold foods and beverages and hard foods should also be avoided for a couple of days and you should not brush in the area around the wound for a couple of days.

Wisdom tooth extractions usually take a couple of weeks to heal on the surface, but the complete healing of the gum and the jawbone might take up to 6 months.