Your mouth goes through many changes throughout your lifetime. Around the age of 17-21 you might start to notice some sensitivity in the back corners of your mouth, which may indicate your wisdom teeth are coming in. But what exactly are the risks of keeping your wisdom teeth? When do they need to be removed before any damage can be done? What can someone expect during and after the extraction?
Most dentists will recommend the removal of wisdom teeth as soon as possible, as they can cause problems later on in the future, if they develop improperly. Keeping your wisdom teeth can result in problems such as impacted teeth, gum disease, cysts, cavities and infections. However, in some occasions there are those few lucky people that can actually benefit from keeping their wisdom teeth. It’s best to get your regular check up and consult with your dentist to determine what is the best recommendation for you to prevent any potential problems.
When do wisdom teeth need to be extracted before any damage can be done? Many teens around the ages of 16 or 17 will have their wisdom teeth removed as soon as they appear. This is because when wisdom teeth are in the early stages of developing, they can be easier to extract with less risk. Younger patients can have a faster and easier healing time.
Before a wisdom tooth extraction, your dentist will give you a series of instructions to follow the day of the surgery. When extracting a wisdom tooth, your dentist will first give you some anesthetics to get the area numb. They will proceed to cut through the gum to expose any bone that will need to be removed. Once the wisdom tooth is visible, it may be cut into sections to make the process to remove the tooth easier. When the entire tooth is out, your dentist will then stitch the area and cover it with gauze to help stop the bleeding. The after-care instructions will be explained and given to the patient to follow for the next few days. It is super important to follow the post procedure instructions to have a smooth recovery. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled to bring the patient back to do a check on the area.
