If you need your wisdom teeth removed, the good news is that we can perform the procedure right here in house. Dr. Robert Berry has performed over 10,000 successful wisdom teeth removal procedures so far throughout his dental career. In fact, he considers it his best skill! While it doesn’t sound like good news to need your wisdom teeth removed, for many people it’s a necessary procedure. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know from pre-procedure to after-care! 

What are the Wisdom Teeth?

As we age we get smarter, or wiser, right? That also includes wisdom teeth. These teeth are the third set of molars that come in for most people around the ages of 17-21. According to Mouth Healthy, these teeth have long been called ‘wisdom’ teeth because they come through at a more mature age. 

Why are Wisdom Teeth Removed? 

When these teeth erupt and they are properly aligned, and if you have healthy gums, there is typically no need to remove your wisdom teeth; however, for most people, this isn’t the case. It is necessary to remove wisdom teeth when they cannot erupt properly or when their eruption may cause problems for your other teeth. Wisdom teeth may grow sideways, emerge only partially, or not even erupt at all. Any of these improper eruptions can cause several problems. 

If wisdom teeth are partially emerged, bacteria can grow around the opening, causing an infection and resulting in stiffness, swelling, pain, and overall illness. Improperly erupted wisdom teeth can also create pressure against neighboring teeth and cause them to move, ultimately requiring some sort of orthodontic or other treatment to realign your teeth. The most serious of problems from improperly erupted wisdom teeth include cysts or tumors; these can form around the wisdom teeth and end up damaging your healthy teeth and jawbone. 

By performing a removal procedure, our dentist can help resolve these problems. It is often recommended to remove wisdom teeth early on so as to avoid any of these or other problems in the future, which will also decrease the amount of risk involved in the removal procedure.

How to Prepare for Wisdom Teeth Removal 

Before your procedure, get your home prepared for life after removal. U.S. News & World Report explains that, for the first 24 hours, you’ll need to have a primarily liquid diet. Stock up on groceries that you can make smoothies with, and have plenty of canned soup. If you have a sweet tooth, now is also a good time to make sure you have ice cream and pudding around to easily eat as well. After the first 24 hours, you can then move to a soft foods diet for the next four-to-five days. For soft foods, consider mashed potatoes, pasta, scrambled eggs, and avoid chewy foods like steak. 

Since you will be sedated in one way or another at your removal, you’ll also need to prepare to have a family member or friend accompany you at your removal so they can drive you home and care for you afterwards. 

What is the Procedure Like? 

At our practice, we provide an environment of maximum safety and comfort for all our services. We also utilize modern technology and highly trained team to monitor your safety and anesthesia administration. Most removals can be performed using a local anesthesia, oral sedation, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), IV sedation, or general anesthesia. Our dentist will discuss your sedation options prior to your procedure, as well as some of the surgical risks, such as sinus complications and sensory nerve damage. On average, the procedure will take about 45 minutes. 

Post-Op Care 

After removal, our caring team will have you rest in our office for a short time until you are ready to go home; you will need to have a friend or family member drive you home after your surgery. When you are discharged, our team will send you home with a postoperative kit to care for your mouth; consisting of care instructions; antibiotics; a prescription for any necessary pain medication; and, if necessary, a follow-up appointment. Alternating ice and heat therapy can help with pain, as well as drinking plenty of fluids and staying hydrated.

After the removal, follow these dos and don’ts from WebMD:

DO:

• Use an ice pack to help with pain and swelling
• Try heat for your sore jaw
• Gently open and close your mouth to exercise your jaw
• Eat soft foods
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Brush your teeth starting the second day, being careful to not brush over blood clots
• Talk with your doctor about the medication you can take for pain

DON’T:

• Drink through a straw as sucking can loosen blood clots that help the healing process
• Rinse your mouth too harshly 
• Eat hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that may scratch your wounds
• Smoke 

Make an Appointment 

If your wisdom teeth are bothering you, make an appointment with Mountain Aire Dentistry to learn more about the removal process. Call now: (303)-731-7755.