What to Expect After Wisdom Tooth Removal?

You may find yourself wondering why we bother to grow wisdom teeth if they just need to be removed as we age. Wisdom teeth, our last set of molars, no longer have room in most jaws to emerge normally, causing a range of problems. Wisdom tooth removal can spare you these problems, and recovery is probably faster and easier than you expect. 

How Does Wisdom Tooth Removal Work?

In many cases, wisdom teeth are impacted, which means they are trapped in the jaw or forced out of position by your other teeth or a lack of room. During removal, Dr. Sonneveld often removes a small piece of the jaw and impacted tooth so he can break up the root and remove it. You will not have to worry about feeling any discomfort while this happens. 

What to Expect After Wisdom Tooth Removal

You can leave your wisdom tooth removal and return home after your procedure. You can expect to feel sore and swollen, especially for the first few days. Your team will instruct you on how to clean your mouth and avoid disrupting the blood clot that forms where the tooth was removed. This clot is important to normal healing. 

It may hurt to open your mouth or chew for a few days. Limit yourself to liquids at first, although you should avoid using a straw. You can start adding back soft foods when you feel comfortable. Avoid hard, crunchy foods or small items like seeds that could get trapped. Most people can eat their normal range of foods within a week. 
Most people are comfortable returning to work a few days after wisdom tooth removal. While you may still have some swelling, it will become less noticeable. The area where the teeth were removed is fully healed within about two weeks.

Am I a Candidate for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Anyone who has potentially problematic wisdom teeth can have them safely removed. While people with certain medical conditions may require accommodations, the procedure is safe and routinely performed. Because wisdom teeth usually start to emerge in the teens, candidates range in age from teenagers to adults. 

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

If your dentist or oral surgeon has looked at your x-rays and told you your wisdom teeth need to be removed, you might wonder what would happen if you left them alone. Because routine dental care detects wisdom teeth issues early, you might not have problems for a while. 

Eventually, impacted wisdom teeth can cause symptoms like:

• Tooth and jaw pain
• Difficulty maintaining oral hygiene
• Cysts or infections
• Gum irritation
• Crowding of other teeth that can push them out of position

Having wisdom teeth removed promptly prevents a range of issues and makes these unneeded teeth one thing you never have to worry about again. 

Take the Next Step

If you have further questions about wisdom tooth removal, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Faces Fort Worth. Call us at (817) 927-1818 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to taking care of you.