Wisdom teeth are molars found in the very back of your mouth. They usually appear in the late teens or early twenties but may become impacted (fail to erupt) due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry. The most common type of impacted wisdom tooth removal is “mesial,” which means the tooth is angled forward toward the front of your mouth. Now that doesn’t sound very fun, right? Although it may not sound fun, we’re here to share 5 perks of having your wisdom teeth removed.
Avoid Pain
When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it will need to be removed. If it is not removed, you may develop gum tenderness, swelling, or even severe pain. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and even gum disease.
Make Extraction Easy
Each patient’s situation is unique. We will usually take a panoramic X-ray to determine whether your wisdom teeth will need to be removed. If we recommend the removal of your wisdom teeth, it is best to have them removed sooner rather than later.
Have a Short Recovery Time
Wisdom teeth are typically removed during the late teens or early twenties because there is a greater chance that the roots have not fully formed and the bone surrounding the teeth is less dense. These two factors can make wisdom tooth extraction easier, as well as the recovery time much shorter.
Local Anesthetic
To remove a wisdom tooth, we first need to numb the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic. We can use additional medication, such as nitrous oxide, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, to sedate you safely during the extraction if you are feeling nervous about the procedure.
Ice Cream
Once your wisdom teeth have been extracted, the healing process and ice cream eating begins.
Healing time varies, depending on the degree of difficulty related to the extraction. We will let you know what to expect and provide instructions for a comfortable, efficient healing process.