4 Questions About Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Do you have an upcoming appointment to have your wisdom teeth removed? If so, you probably have one of these common questions that people have before they go into this oral surgery.
Why Do Your Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Removed?
If your dentist has recommended that your wisdom teeth be removed, chances are that there is some sort of problem that they are going to cause if they continue to grow in. You could end up with an impacted tooth, where a tooth grows sideways into a rear molar. You could also end up with crowding, where the wisdom teeth throw off the alignment of all your other teeth because there is no room for them to come in. Wisdom teeth are also removed because they are hard to clean and floss around, which causes them to be a problematic source of tooth decay later in life.
Do All Four Wisdom Teeth Need To Come Out At Once?
It is up to you about how many wisdom teeth you want to have removed in a single procedure. Some people prefer to have them all removed at once, because they just want to get it over with and save money by having a single procedure done. Another person may want an easier recovery and only have one side of their wisdom.
It's also possible that you do not have four wisdom teeth growing in, and you are missing one or two. If so, you'd have the visible wisdom teeth removed and monitor the other teeth moving forward at your dental checkups.
Does The Procedure Hurt?
The dentist will numb your mouth before performing the wisdom tooth extraction procedure, which means you are not going to feel anything. However, you can also get dental sedation that will help you become sleepy and not remember the procedure at all. If you use a strong form of dental sedation, you'll need to have someone drive you home after the procedure is finished, because you will not be allowed to drive a vehicle in your current state at the time.
What Complications Can Happen Afterward?
There are two main things you want to watch out for when you have wisdom teeth removed. The first is an infection, which is often due to people not taking the full prescription of antibiotics after the surgery and stopping when they feel better. The other is dry socket, which can happen when the blood clot is dislodged and causes you to feel pain. The best way to avoid dry socket is to take it easy, avoid using straws, and not spitting to put pressure on your mouth.
For more information about sedated wisdom teeth extraction, contact a local company.