Back in the day, our ancestors needed wisdom teeth to chow down on raw plants and tough meats. Picture gnawing on branches! Nowadays, we're more likely to be munchin' on a burger, and our bodies have changed—our jaws just can't handle the same number of teeth. So, when these third molars try to pop up, they can end up all squished and out of sorts, causing pain and crowding.
Hmm, wondering how many you've got? Most folks have four wisdom teeth, but it's not unheard of to have fewer or even none. And in some oddball cases, people get extra ones for a total of more than four! Imagine dealing with that (Dr. Wisdom Teeth).
If you're having trouble with your wisdom teeth or just curious why people often yank 'em out, dig into our other guides about signs you need wisdom teeth removed.
Getting rid of wisdom teeth isn't just a spur-of-the-moment trip to the dentist. There are steps involved to make sure everything goes smoothly. Timing? It matters! Cervically, getting them out before the roots are fully there is smart—it usually makes things easier (Dr. Wisdom Teeth).
What's in Store:
Things might go bump occasionally, like infections or jaw stiffness, but that's pretty rare. Knowing this helps you keep calm about the whole deal (Dr. Wisdom Teeth).
Knowing what’s up reassures you and helps with decisions, making everything less scary. For further reading on the nitty-gritty of why taking out these teeth sometimes is worth it, check out our why wisdom teeth removal is necessary.
Getting ready to tackle those troublesome wisdom teeth? Let's chat about what you can do to make the whole experience as easy as apple pie.
When it's time to wave goodbye to those pesky teeth, you’ll wanna be comfy. Here's what the anesthesia fairy can offer:
Local Anesthesia: The dental version of the invisible man, numbing just where it’s needed. You stay wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, but the numbed zone won't feel a thing (Dr. Wisdom Teeth).
IV Sedation: This is like taking a relaxing train ride to La-La Land. Sedatives are sent straight into your veins, keeping you relaxed without any memory of the action. Many go this route for a smoother ride and faster ticket back to normal (Dr. Wisdom Teeth).
General Anesthesia: Lights out! You’re snoozing through the whole shebang. This is saved for tricky surgeries or if you think dentists are scarier than spiders.
Anesthesia Type | State of Being | Ouch Factor | Memory of it all |
---|---|---|---|
Local Anesthesia | Awake & Aware | Area goes sleepy | Yep, you'll recall |
IV Sedation | Semi-Conscious Relax | Cloud Nine Comfort | Nada |
General Anesthesia | Completely Knocked Out | Total Snooze-fest | Nope |
Getting set for your wisdom teeth farewell tour? Here's how to roll out the red carpet:
Consultation with Your Dentist or Oral Surgeon: Have a chinwag about what’s gonna go down, your chill-out options, and anything nagging at you. Ask about symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth and why wisdom teeth removal might be in your future.
Pre-Operative Instructions: Follow the gossip from your dental crew. They might tell you to skip breakfast if they're using serious sleepy meds (Dr. Wisdom Teeth). Dial into our guide on getting set for wisdom teeth surgery.
Arrange Transportation: Plan for a buddy to play chauffeur afterward, as driving under the influence of sleepy meds isn’t on the cards.
Stock Up on Post-Operative Supplies: Gather goodies like jello, ice packs, and any meds your dental wizard prescribes. Peek at our piece on prepping before wisdom teeth removal.
Plan for Recovery Time: Pencil in some couch hugging and Netflix binging after the deed. Learn how long you’ll need to play hermit for a thorough plot.
Face wisdom teeth removal head-on by keeping an eye on the prize: smooth sailing with the right prep and a good anesthesia choice.
Ah, the mysterious world of wisdom teeth removal. It's not as scary as it sounds, promise! Getting to know how it all works can make the whole thing feel less like a horror flick and more like a well-rehearsed routine. The game plan is simple: get those pesky teeth out with as little fuss as possible.
Here's the rundown of what usually happens. First, your friendly oral surgeon will make a teeny cut in your gum to get to the tooth and the bone. Sometimes, if the tooth is being stubborn or playing hide and seek, it gets chopped into bite-sized bits for an easy escape route. This is super handy when dealing with teeth that are trying to escape the mouth party at an awkward angle.
Step | What Happens |
---|---|
Small Cut | A little slice on the gum to meet the tooth. |
Chop Chop | Tooth gets divided for an easy exit. |
Out You Go | Tooth pieces get kindly shown the way out. |
Stitch It Up | A few stitches help the gum heal quickly. |
Wanna dig deeper into how this tooth-tugging works? Check out our nitty-gritty details on wisdom teeth removal vs extraction.
Now onto a biggie: how much does it hurt? Spoiler: not much, thanks to modern magic, aka sedation options. These guys make sure you barely feel a thing and maybe even get a nice nap in.
Chat with the tooth doc to see which chill pill fits you best. And hey, don’t forget, ice packs and fluffy pillows are your best friends after the deed is done.
For more tips on staying comfy, mosey over to our guide on prepping for the big day. Got burning questions like whether you can chow down beforehand, or what the healing scene might be like? We’ve got the scoop.
Being in the know about how your teeth are gonna be schooled and what sedatives are in store can help you step into the whole affair feeling calm and collected. Smooth sailing ahead!
Getting those pesky wisdom teeth yanked can be like a rite of passage, and bouncing back usually takes about a week. Expect some puffiness, aching, and a smidge of bleeding. To save yourself from any extra ouch, stick to the doc's instructions. Dr. Wisdom Teeth swears by these tips, saying they help cut down recovery time like a pro chef slices onions.
Recovery Timeline | What to Expect |
---|---|
Day 1-2 | You're gonna feel a bit puffy, with some bleeding and pain. Meds and ice packs are your best buddies now. |
Day 3-5 | Swelling's chilling out, pain's thinking of moving on. Enjoy soft foods like you're five again, and don't go lifting a couch just yet. |
Day 6-7 | Feeling more like yourself! Stitches could be disappearing by now. Start doing your usual activities, but ease into it. |
Being on your A-game with post-op care is where the magic happens. Here’s how to be the healing rockstar you are:
Dodge hurdles like dry sockets or infections by playing by the rules. Curious about pre-op stuff? Check out our guide on what to expect before wisdom teeth removal surgery.
Keep these tips in your back pocket, and you'll be back to biting burgers in no time. Hungry for more wisdom on wisdom teeth, like the pain factor or getting back to norm? Take a peek at our detailed article on how painful is wisdom teeth removal.
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last set of teeth to erupt in the mouth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. They often cause problems because there is insufficient space for them to fully emerge or they may grow in an improper position. This can lead to various issues like pain, infection, tooth decay, gum disease, and damage to adjacent teeth. Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure to address these concerns.
If you are experiencing pain, swelling, infection, damage to neighboring teeth, or overcrowding, it is advisable to consult with a dental professional who can examine your mouth and take X-rays to determine the position and condition of your wisdom teeth. Based on their assessment, they can recommend the need for wisdom teeth removal. If you do not have a dentist, please call us and set up a FREE consultation and x-ray to determine a plan that is right for you.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, third molars are referred to as wisdom teeth because their common age of eruption is between 17 and 25. Aristotle explained it this way 2500 years ago!
"The last teeth to come in man are molars called ‘wisdom-teeth’, which come at the age of twenty years, in the case of both sexes. Cases have been known in women upwards of eighty years old where at the very close of life the wisdom-teeth have come up, causing great pain in their coming; and cases have been known of the like phenomenon in men too. This happens, when it does happen, in the case of people where the wisdom-teeth have not come up in early years."
— Aristotle, The History of Animals.
Third molars helped our human ancestors to grind plant tissue during a time when leafy greens were a more important part of our diet. It is thought that the skulls of our ancestors had larger jaws with more room to accommodate more teeth which helped them to chew foliage more efficiently. This was important because humans lack the ability to efficiently digest cellulose, an important part of plant cell walls. Since the advent of agriculture, almost 10,000 years ago, our diets have become softer and include a larger amount of sugar and high energy foods. These diets have resulted in smaller jaws and not enough room for the wisdom teeth. So when they begin to erupt, they are often painful or crooked and do not fit properly in the mouth. Their removal becomes mandatory for a healthy mouth.
The process for wisdom teeth removal involves a surgical procedure performed by a dentist or oral surgeon. It typically includes making an incision in the gum tissue, removing any bone that blocks access to the tooth, cutting the tooth into smaller pieces and then removing the pieces and suturing the incision. This procedure ensures the complete removal of the impacted or problematic wisdom tooth.
No, although 4 is the most common number (one in each corner of the mouth); some people have 1, 2 or 3 wisdom teeth and some people don’t have any at all! In rare cases people develop additional teeth in the area of the wisdom teeth call ‘para-molars’ and may have 5 or more!
Wisdom teeth removal usually requires some form of anesthesia or sedation to ensure patient comfort during the procedure. Your dentist will discuss the options with you, which may include local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth or general anesthesia to render you unconscious during the surgery. We provide an IV sedation for each patient we see. This guarantees you maximum comfort, no memory of the procedure and a faster recovery.
The recovery period after wisdom teeth removal varies from person to person, but it generally takes about a week to fully recover. During this time, you may experience some swelling and discomfort. Following the post-operative instructions provided by your dentist or oral surgeon, such as taking prescribed pain medications and applying ice packs, can aid in a smoother recovery process.
Like any surgical procedure, there are potential risks and complications associated with wisdom teeth removal. These include infection, dry socket, nerve damage, sinus problems, and temporary or permanent jaw stiffness. However, these complications are relatively rare, and your dental professional will take necessary precautions to minimize the risks.
Initially, you’ll need to stick to a soft or liquid diet for the first few days after the surgery to facilitate healing. As you progress in your recovery, you can gradually reintroduce solid foods into your diet. It’s important to avoid straws and hard, crunchy, or spicy foods that could irritate the extraction sites. Your dentist or oral surgeon will provide specific dietary guidelines to follow.
Prior to wisdom teeth removal, your dental professional will provide you with detailed instructions tailored to your specific situation. These instructions include: fasting 5-6 hours before the surgery, avoid smoking or using a straw post-surgery, take regularly prescribed medications, apply ice packs, maintain proper oral hygiene, and call us if you encounter any problems on our 24/7 after care nurse line. Adhering to these instructions is crucial for a successful recovery.
The procedure itself is usually painless due to anesthesia or sedation. However, it is common to experience some discomfort and swelling after the surgery. Your dentist may prescribe pain medications to manage any post-operative pain. Additionally, using home remedies such as applying ice packs and rinsing with warm saltwater can help alleviate discomfort during the recovery period.
In certain cases where the wisdom teeth are fully erupted, positioned correctly, and not causing any problems, they may not need to be removed. Regular monitoring and good oral hygiene practices are essential to ensure they do not cause complications in the future. However, if extraction is recommended, it is typically the most effective solution to prevent potential issues associated with impacted or problematic wisdom teeth.
Your dentist will classify a tooth by the degree to which it has been able to grow out of your jaw bone. If a tooth remains trapped in the bone, usually by a lack of space or close proximity to other teeth, the tooth is considered to be ‘impacted’. If your wisdom teeth are impacted and need to be removed, you will experience some degree of swelling around the lower wisdom teeth. Sometimes patient’s refer to this as the “chipmunk effect” because after surgery you look like you are packing nuts in your cheeks like a chipmunk!
This is always a hard question to answer, simply because we can’t see into the future. However, if an X-ray indicates that there is inadequate room for the wisdom teeth to develop then a few criteria may indicate the ideal time to remove the wisdom teeth. Your doctor will help you decide when the time is right - They are best removed before the roots have fully developed. Ideally, when root development is between 25% and 50%. Undeveloped roots increase the chances that your surgery will be successful and you will not suffer any long term negative effects.- If possible, allowing the tooth to erupt as much as possible before it gets ‘stuck’ is also favorable. The closer the tooth gets to erupting, the simpler the surgery to remove it will be.- Age is a consideration and patients in their late teens are ideal candidates for removal. However, in some instances patients as young as 10 years old or as old as 90 may require wisdom tooth removal.- Oftentimes patients will remove the wisdom teeth to prepare for braces at the request of their Orthodontist.- …And, if your wisdom teeth are hurting…this is a great time to remove them!
If you wait until your adult years to remove your wisdom teeth several things become more complicated about your surgery.- First, at some point in your late-late teens or early twenties, your lower wisdom teeth will grow root tips and finish developing. Once this happens, the risk of the root tips interfering with the nerve in your mandible raises the risk of temporary or permanent numbness in your lower lip and chin.- The older you become, generally the more dense your bone becomes. Increased bone density will increase the difficulty of removing the wisdom teeth and could cause additional swelling and healing time.- Younger patients heal faster and with less complications overall than older patients. Younger patients generally experience less dry socket, pain and swelling than older patients.
A dry socket (local alveolar osteitis) occurs when the blood clot is lost from the hole left in the jaw after a wisdom tooth is extracted. It generally results in a dull, uncomfortable ache. It is easily treated in the office where you had your wisdom teeth removed.
We see very few dry sockets in our practice! We are excited to provide you with a state of the art procedure called Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) to reduce your chances of dry socket from 1 in 10 to 1 in 100! We offer this procedure at no charge to you! After placing your IV, we will draw a small amount of blood. That blood will be put into a centrifuge and spun very fast until it separates into distinct layers. One of the layers, the Platelet Rich layer contains numerous white blood cells, neutrophils and other key components of healing. This portion of your blood will be put back into the socket to stimulate bone growth and healing, reduce pain and inflammation and dramatically reduce your chance of dry socket. Dr. Hendrickson believes PRF is so beneficial that he provides this service to all of his patients at no cost. Thanks to PRF treatment we see a very small number of dry socket.
We have 2 locations. Our Provo & Murray offices are located...
Provo Location:
2230 N University Pkwy #8A
Provo, Utah
84604
(801) 370-0050
Murray Location:
5888 S 900 E #101
Murray, UT
84121
(801) 370-0050
We are open Monday - Friday 8:00 am -5:00 pm MST.
Surgeries are scheduled on Thursdays (Provo) and Fridays (Murray).
Provo Location:
2230 N University Pkwy #8A
Provo, Utah
84604
(801) 370-0050
Murray Location:
5888 S 900 E #101
Murray, UT
84121
(801) 370-0050