Wisdom teeth are an essential part of our mouth that most people have to deal with at some point in life. While some people never experience any severe issues with wisdom teeth, others may experience significant pain associated with wisdom teeth. Typically, between the ages of 17 and 21 is when you can expect to see wisdom teeth completely grown in. This article will tell you about everything you should know about wisdom teeth and the process of getting them removed if necessary.

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the set of molars in the back of a person’s mouth that come in pairs on the top and the bottom. Molars are a certain kind of tooth that are designed for grinding and chewing up food which is why they are the widest and toughest teeth in a person’s mouth. Hence the name, wisdom teeth usually don’t fully come in until a person is anywhere from 17 to 21 years old as you’re thought to be much “wiser” at this point in your life. While they are important teeth for properly breaking down food, many people have to have this set of teeth removed due to a variety of reasons.

Why do wisdom teeth have to be removed?

There are a few different reasons for having a person’s wisdom teeth removed rather than keeping them in the mouth. One reason is that maybe there’s not sufficient space in a person’s mouth for all of the wisdom teeth to grow in. It could be that they are able to partially come through the gum to make an appearance to the surface or they could be completely impacted in the mouth.

What are impacted wisdom teeth?

Impacted wisdom teeth are extremely common among individuals and a crucial reason for getting having wisdom teeth completely removed. When this is the case, a person’s wisdom teeth are unable to fully come through in the mouth. This can be caused by crowding of teeth in the back of the mouth that prevents the wisdom teeth from having enough room to come in. Also, the wisdom teeth could be trying to grow at a vertical angle of some sort which also creates problems in correctly and completely breaking through the gums. Therefore, impacted teeth can cause a wide variety of issues when these wisdom teeth are trying to grow in.

How do deal with wisdom teeth growing in?

During the process of wisdom teeth growing in, there can be a significant deal of pain and swelling that a person can experience. There are many home remedies a person can use to deal with this pain before actually getting the wisdom teeth removed. These home remedies for dealing with wisdom teeth growing in include:

•         OTC pain relievers
•         Numbing gels
•         Ice pack
•         Tea bags
•         Saltwater rinse

In some cases, these home remedies may not completely remove or alleviate the pain. Therefore, it’s important to make an appointment with your dentist to assess the situation and understand the extent of your wisdom teeth impact and what the next course of action should be so that you are pain-free.

What is wisdom teeth surgery like?

Wisdom tooth removal requires the assistance of your dentist or oral surgeon to make a cut in your gums in order to remove each tooth. This surgery will only take around 45 minutes and the proper pain medications and general anesthesia will be given to the person in order to lessen the pain associated with this process. After all the wisdom teeth are removed, your doctor will stitch the areas of your mouth where the incisions were made in order to speed up the healing process. You will be sent home with proper medications and instructions on how to take care of your oral health and mouth post-surgery.

How to take care of wisdom teeth post-surgery?

It’s very important to take proper care of your mouth post-surgery to prevent blood clots and dry socket. It is recommended to not drink out of a straw after surgery in order to lessen the chances of getting dry socket which can increase the healing time. Your doctor will provide a comprehensive post-surgery packet that will detail all of the important oral care practices to keep up on in order to heal quickly and as painless as possible.

Need an extraction?

If you live in the metro Detroit area and need to have a wisdom tooth extraction, please contact one of our three locations to set up an appointment.