Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are your third and last set of molars. They often don’t come in until your late teens or early twenties. If your wisdom teeth come in properly, then there is nothing to worry about, but oftentimes, they don’t erupt correctly which can cause dental issues.

There are a variety of ways that your wisdom teeth can become misaligned. They could move into a horizontal position, start angling towards or away from the molar next to them, or be angled towards the inside or the outside of your mouth. In either of these situations, it’s a concern because your teeth could become crowded or your surrounding teeth, jawbone, or nerves can get damaged.

Besides misalignment, wisdom teeth can also become impacted, which means they only partially erupt. This is a problem because it means that bacteria can enter through the opening and lead to an infection. This infection could cause pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and even illness. Impacted wisdom teeth are also more difficult to brush and floss because of their location in the back of the mouth and their misalignment. That makes them more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

What to Expect

If your wisdom teeth are not coming in properly, we can remove them in a safe, standard procedure. We first numb the teeth and surrounding tissue using a local anesthetic, which will prevent you from feeling discomfort. We also have sedation options available to manage any fear or anxiety you might have. 

How do you know if your wisdom teeth are coming in? 

Pain in the back of the mouth is one of the most common signs that your wisdom teeth are growing in, but there are a few other signs that can indicate that your third set of molars are erupting. If you notice that your gums are sore or bleeding a lot, you have jaw pain or swelling, or you are experiencing sudden bad breath or difficulty opening your mouth, those are signs that your wisdom teeth need to be extracted or another dental issue is occurring that needs to be treated. However, it’s also common for patients to need a wisdom tooth removal and not experience any symptoms, which is why it’s important to visit the dentist regularly for dental exams and X-rays.

What’s the recovery time like for wisdom teeth removal?

It depends on how many teeth are removed at one time and if they were impacted or not. It is generally recommended that patients allow themselves to take it easy and recover for at least three days before going back to school or work. Once you return to your daily routine, you may find that it is still hard to eat or participate in strenuous physical activities for up to a week or longer, which is perfectly normal. If you have any questions about recovering from a wisdom tooth removal, our team would be happy to answer them for you.

What can I eat after a wisdom tooth removal?

Your mouth will feel sore after a dental extraction, so we recommend eating soft foods that require little to no chewing for as long as you need to. Foods like cream of wheat, yogurt, mashed potatoes, applesauce, avocados, scrambled eggs, and pudding are all fine to eat after you have had your wisdom teeth removed. We also tell patients to try to use the other side of their mouth if they only had one or two teeth extracted on the same side and to avoid very hot and very cold food and drinks to help minimize sensitivity. Do not drink anything through a straw during your recovery time, as this can cause a painful complication called a dry socket.