Has your dentist told you it’s time to have your wisdom teeth removed? If so, you probably have a ton of questions you’d like answered prior to the procedure. For starters, what are wisdom teeth, anyway? Wisdom teeth are a set of four adult teeth that erupt in the back of your mouth during young adulthood, around the age of 17-24. Also called third molars, not everyone has them and some people only end up with one or two. Why is it necessary to have them removed? Our expert for wisdom teeth extractions in Wilmington, NC explains below.
Not everyone who has wisdom teeth will need to have them removed – some wisdom teeth erupt fully with no issues. The teeth that don’t erupt fully run the risk of becoming impacted or partially impacted and growing in at an angle, leading to various potential issues including:
At your regular checkup, our dentist will advise you whether or not your wisdom teeth need to be removed. This is typically an outpatient procedure and, depending on the severity of your case, will be performed by our dentist or oral surgeon. Our expert will use general anesthesia, so the procedure will be painless and will last less than one hour.
Most patients will experience a certain amount of discomfort for about a week after the procedure. Our expert will provide various ways for you to manage your pain including ice packs to help minimize swelling and pain medications. Soft foods are recommended for a few days and you will be advised against drinking from a straw for two weeks to avoid developing a painful and dangerous dry socket.
To learn more about wisdom teeth extractions or to schedule an appointment with our experienced team, call 910-762-0958 or click here today. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have – we look forward to welcoming you to our family!