Extractions/Wisdom Teeth Removal

Why do I Need a Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

The wisdom teeth are found at the very back of all your teeth. They are the last molars and usually they are found on both sides of your mouth. They do not usually appear until a person reaches their late teen years or their early twenties. Sometimes, a person has all four of them and many times a person has fewer than four wisdom teeth.

What are the signs I might need to have my wisdom teeth out?

When your wisdom teeth come in only part way, they can come in crooked. This can lead to crowding, pain and disease. If you have the wisdom teeth removed before you are 20 years old, there are usually far fewer complications. This is partly because they are easier to remove since they do not have roots that are totally developed. It is usually recommended to have wisdom teeth examined to see if they need to be extracted between 16 and 19 years of age.

What to Expect when Wisdom Teeth are Pulled

The dentist or oral surgeon will administer either a general or local anesthesia. This will make the procedure much more comfortable. Once they wear off, you will likely feel some pain, swelling and discomfort for a few days. You’ll be instructed to eat soft foods for a few days and you won’t want to brush your teeth for the first day following the surgery. You should start feeling better in 3 to 4 days if there are no complications. Some people experience discomfort up to a week following a wisdom teeth extraction. The actual recovery period will rely a lot on how badly the teeth were impacted and how far they had erupted before the surgery was performed.