According to medical experts, you should get rid of your wisdom teeth as soon as they emerge, whether they are impacted or not. In any case, they are like the appendix of the mouth – you can live everyday happy life without them. Since they are the last set of molars at the back of your mouth, they play no role in your chewing ability.
Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 16 and 21, commonly referred to as the wisdom years. Because they are the last ones to develop, they are forced to squeeze through the small spaces left at the back of your mouth. This prevents them from developing normally, resulting in swollen, bleeding gums, bad breath, and jaw pain. This is what experts refer to as impacted wisdom teeth. So, to avoid these problems, you should remove them as soon as possible.
Here are some important facts about wisdom teeth removal you need to know before you go for the procedure.
It Prevents Serious Oral Complications
Many dentists recommend removing your wisdom teeth to prevent severe oral problems that result from impacted wisdom teeth. Some of the most common complications include crowding of neighboring teeth, gum diseases, cysts, cavities, teeth decay, difficulty with brushing and flossing teeth, and other infections.
It Involves Surgery
Removing a wisdom tooth, whether impacted or not, involves a surgical procedure performed by a dentist or a maxillofacial surgeon. In most cases, a patient is given local anesthesia to numb the specific area being operated on. But in some special cases, a patient may be given general anesthesia to put them to sleep throughout the procedure, especially if it involves the removal of several teeth.
The surgeon then opens your gum tissue and removes any bones covering the tooth. They also detach the tissues linking the tooth to the bone and remove the tooth. The empty socket is cleaned thoroughly with an antiseptic solution and stitched up.
You Need to Rest After Surgery
For you to recover fully, you have to follow all the recovery guidelines given by your doctor. You also need to relax and avoid heavy physical activities for at least one week. During the recovery process, your diet should only include soft foods and thin soup. Change the dressing in your mouth occasionally, and don’t use straws.
Lastly, although wisdom tooth removal is not a complex procedure, it should be performed by an experienced and competent surgeon to avoid future complications.
