How Long Does It Take Recover From Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Wisdom teeth removal is a standard oral surgery procedure. The removal is often recommended as a preventive measure to protect your remaining teeth from problems later and preserve your oral health. Recovery from wisdom tooth removal is generally quick, and you can return to your normal activities within a few days.

Explaining Wisdom Teeth Removal

Extraction of your third molars is called wisdom teeth removal. Your third molars are the final permanent adult teeth located in the posterior region of your mouth in the upper and lower jaw. Wisdom teeth erupt between 17 and 25, and most people have all four wisdom teeth. Approximately five percent to 37 percent of people have some of their wisdom teeth or none at all.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Erupt?

Our ancestors needed wisdom teeth because their diet consisted primarily of crunchy leaves, raw meat, and hard nuts. However, currently, we eat cooked foods using forks and knives to cut food into smaller pieces. As a result, the structures of wisdom teeth are considered vestigial or unnecessary parts of the body.

How to Determine Whether You Need Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Sometimes your wisdom teeth might erupt normally and not cause any problems. Unfortunately, they often erupt at an angle or remain fully or partially impacted in the jawbone or under your gums. Incorrectly erupted wisdom teeth cause various problems.

Your dentist might recommend wisdom teeth removal surgery if you have:

• You have dental pain near the posterior region of your mouth.
• Food particles and debris remain trapped around your wisdom teeth.
• You develop gum disease around the molars.
• You have a cavity in a partially ruptured wisdom tooth.
• You develop with fluid-filled sacs around one or more wisdom teeth.
• You sustain damages to the neighboring teeth or surrounding bone.

Many professionals also suggest wisdom teeth removal as a preventive measure. In such cases, the dentist’s office near you might suggest removing your wisdom teeth even when you don’t confront any symptoms. The removal helps reduce your risks of problems later, including infections and tooth decay.

How Much Time Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Require?

Wisdom teeth removed usually require an hour or less. However, complicated cases may require more time.

What Happens During the Teeth Removal Procedure?

After receiving intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, your dentist administers local anesthesia to numb your teeth and gums. Impacted wisdom teeth are exposed with incisions allowing your dentist proper access.

After your wisdom teeth are visible, the dentist carefully loosens the teeth with elevators and lifts them from their sockets with forceps. The extraction site is cleaned, and sutures are placed if required. The sutures will fall out by themselves in a few days.

What to Expect After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

You can expect mild discomfort from sight bleeding and swelling after wisdom teeth removal. Your dentist provides instructions on wisdom management to ease the pain. After the sedative effects have worn off, your friend or family will drive you home.

Expected Recovery Time after Wisdom Tooth Removal

You can expect comfort after three or four days after wisdom teeth removal. However, you may require a couple of weeks before your gums heal entirely. You receive comprehensive post-surgical instructions from your dentist to keep you comfortable.

What Do You Need to Do Immediately After Wisdom Tooth Removal?

Immediately after wisdom teeth removal, you must follow your dentist’s instructions which will include the following:

• For the first few days, you must rest as much as possible.
• You must avoid strenuous activity like bending down or exercising during the initial 48 to 72 hours.
• To reduce swelling, you can intermittently place a cold compress or icepack on your cheeks. However, the icepack should not remain on your cheeks for over 15 minutes at a time because it can cause tissue damage.
• The dentist advises medications and antibiotics for infections and pain. You must take the medications as prescribed without skipping doses.
• Brush your teeth normally by avoiding the extraction site.
• Do not swish vigorously because it can dislodge the blood clot and cause dry sockets, a painful condition requiring additional treatments from dentists.

What Can People Eat after Wisdom Teeth Removal?

When planning wisdom teeth removal or your dentist’s recommendation, it is a good idea to stock your pantry with soft foods like pasta, eggs, pudding, and yogurt. In addition, foods like ice cream can help soothe the surgical site.

However, it would help if you steered clear of crunchy, hard, and spicy foods because they can irritate your mouth tissues. Most importantly, do not use straws for drinking liquids because the suction can dislodge the blood clot.

Holger Dental Group — Minnetonka performs these procedures routinely if you must undergo wisdom tooth removal surgery. Kindly schedule an appointment with this practice to get rid of your wisdom teeth comfortably and recover as soon as possible with the dentist’s instructions.