Are your wisdom teeth causing you discomfort or oral health problems? Our Ottawa dentists offer some advice about signs that your wisdom teeth should be removed.
What are wisdom teeth?
For most people, their third set of molars (wisdom teeth) will begin to emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. If they are healthy and straight when they erupt, wisdom teeth are generally harmless. However, if your wisdom teeth come in misaligned, or cannot erupt completely, dental surgery may be recommended so your wisdom teeth can be removed.
When should I have my wisdom teeth removed?
Removing problematic wisdom teeth, your dentist can help preserve your oral health – and prevent issues in the future. In some cases, a patient will undergo another procedure (example: corrective jaw surgery) that requires their wisdom teeth to be extracted so they won’t be in the way.
Ideally, wisdom teeth should be removed before they cause pain or discomfort, and before an infection develops. Even if your wisdom teeth aren’t causing pain, they may still eventually cause crowding, which can lead to tooth decay as crowded teeth can be difficult to clean.
You’ll want to schedule your wisdom teeth extraction in advance, and allow a few days for recovery.
When do most people have their wisdom teeth removed?
Generally speaking, the best time to have wisdom teeth removed around the age of 18. This is because the tooth roots haven’t completely formed and hooked to the jaw bone. Once this happens, the procedure and recovery process can be more difficult.
What signs indicate that I should consider having my wisdom teeth removed?
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your dentist, as your wisdom teeth could be causing problems:
- Sinus problems
- Headaches
- Bad breath (caused by plaque bacteria collecting on the wisdom teeth, or infection)
- Pain in teeth or jaw
- Difficulty eating
- Gum inflammation
- Facial swelling (caused by impacted wisdom teeth that remain below the gum surface)
- Misaligned wisdom teeth
Is it painful to have your wisdom teeth removed?
Tooth extractions are far less painful today than ever before, due to the use of sedatives and anesthetics. In many cases, patients who have wisdom teeth pulled experience little to no discomfort, and perhaps only minor bleeding.
Before the tooth is extracted, the area around the tooth will be numbed with an injectable or topical anesthetic to ensure comfort.
Once your dentist has removed the tooth, they will discuss tooth replacements options with you if they feel a tooth replacement could benefit your smile. These may include bridges or dentures.
How long does recovery from an extraction procedure?
Many dentists use techniques such as IV sedation so that the extraction procedure is as comfortable for patients as possible.
You can expect to be in and out of your appointment in about an hour under most circumstances. Recovery takes a few days, with some potential discomfort and swelling within the first 2 to 3 days.
During healing, eat soft foods, refrain from strenuous physical activity, and follow your dentist’s advice and post-care instructions. If you do these things you should have a smooth recovery process.