You just don’t need wisdom teeth. The two sets of permanent molars in each corner of your mouth are sufficient for all your dental needs. To the extent that wisdom teeth were ever important during human evolution, those days have passed. Today, wisdom teeth threaten to cause more problems than they’re worth For this reason, a dentist near you may have recommended that you have your wisdom teeth extracted. Here’s some important information to consider when thinking about that recommendation.
Wisdom tooth extraction is common
Just how common? According to one paper published in the United States in 2007, dentists remove roughly 10,000,000 molars in the United States annually. We have no idea how far they’d reach if they were placed end to end, and we don’t have statistics for the number of wisdom teeth removed from Canadians every year, but here’s the point. Removing unnecessary wisdom teeth to prevent or remedy problems caused by too many teeth in too small a jaw is a common procedure perfected by dentists and their staff, including your dentist in Chaparral.
Leaving wisdom teeth in too long can be unhealthy.
The arrival of wisdom teeth — usually between the age of 17 and 25 — can cause wide-ranging health problems whether they erupt completely or become impacted (stuck under another tooth in whole or in part). While health problems are more common in cases of an impacted wisdom tooth, even a fully erupted tooth can contribute to tooth decay and poor oral health because they emerge in locations that are hard to reach and clean.
An impacted wisdom tooth can cause problems far more serious than mere tooth decay and complicated oral hygiene. An impacted wisdom tooth can contribute to infections that can — if not detected and treated quickly — affect organs throughout your body. An impacted wisdom tooth can contribute to cysts, tumours, and damage gum tissue and other teeth. Preventing all of these negative effects of wisdom teeth is a primary reason to consider wisdom teeth extraction in Chaparral.
The best time to remove wisdom teeth is “early”
There is no precise time when wisdom teeth should be extracted that applies to everyone. Every person’s situation is different. One of the most common questions every dentist near you gets about wisdom teeth is “when should they be removed?” To get a fully informed answer, contact Chaparral Dental Wellness to arrange an appointment where a dentist will review your condition thoroughly. If you want a short and quick answer, it’s this: before you experience the potentially harmful effects of emerging wisdom teeth.
Don’t be fooled by not having any symptoms of problems
Don’t wait to experience symptoms of wisdom teeth problems before getting advice about what to do about them. Serious issues can be developing for a long time before any symptoms become apparent. For this reason, attending regular dental checkups is essential. And if you’re between 17 and 25 and haven’t attended a checkup in some time, contact a dentist near you for an examination and assessment. By the time you’re experiencing symptoms, it’ll be too late to protect you from potentially serious effects of complicated wisdom teeth issues.
Wisdom tooth extraction is painless
Thanks to advances in dental treatment and surgical procedures, undergoing wisdom tooth extraction near you is almost completely painless. Depending on the complexity of your condition and circumstances and your personal comfort needs, you’ll receive either local anesthesia, sedation, or even general anesthesia so you’ll experience no pain or discomfort.
It is completely normal to experience some discomfort and pain while recovering from wisdom tooth extraction. Most patients are able to manage that discomfort as simply as by eating cold foods like ice cream, smoothies, and yogurt. Cold foods like those can ease pain and discomfort, reduce bleeding, and minimize swelling. Any remaining discomfort can be eased with over-the-counter pain medication taken as directed, and by using cold compresses as needed.
Follow some simple instructions to speed up recovery
While every person’s recovery time will vary from person to person, there are a few steps that everyone who undergoes wisdom tooth extraction near you should follow to recover as quickly and completely as possible:
- Avoid strenuous activity for several days.
- Don’t smoke or suck on straws for several days.
- When brushing teeth at the back of your mouth, do so gently and carefully.
- Don’t poke and prod at the extraction site.
- Keep your head elevated when resting.
If you have any questions about your wisdom teeth or what to do about them, contact a dentist near you.