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Do Your Wisdom Teeth Really Need Extracted?

30 September 2015

Oscar Allen

You have probably seen the funny videos that go viral on the web of people after they have their wisdom teeth removed. Seeing the effects of the sedation wearing off and their mouths full of bloody gauze is entertaining, but is it something that everyone will have to go through at some point? Do wisdom teeth really need to be pulled?

Fortunately, not everyone will have to get their wisdom teeth extracted. The only reasons a dentist will extract wisdom teeth is when:

• The teeth aren't growing in straight.
• The teeth will crowd the rest of the teeth and cause them to become misaligned.
• The teeth are impacted – caught up on soft tissue in the jaw or gums and won't grow in properly. This can lead to serious infections and become very painful relatively quickly.

How do you know if your wisdom teeth need to be extracted?

When you visit your dentist for your regular cleanings, he or she will monitor the growth of the wisdom teeth. Typically, annual x-rays will be taken to see how well the teeth are growing into place and give the dentist a good idea about what will need to be done in the future.

You may be able to tell on your own if your wisdom teeth need to be pulled. If you feel excess pressure toward the back of your jaw and/or feel a bump growing behind your last molar, your wisdom teeth are likely getting ready to erupt. If you feel this and haven't been to the dentist recently, make an appointment to be seen soon. It is easier to have wisdom teeth pulled before they erupt fully than it will be later.

What is wisdom tooth extraction like?

In most cases, you will be sedated for the procedure. Your mouth will be numbed as it is during other dental procedures. The dentist will get the wisdom teeth extracted while you sleep, but when you wake up, you could feel a bit of pressure and pain, but nothing too major until all of the medications have worn off.

The day after your procedure, you will not be comfortable at all. You will not be able to eat solid foods, but this pain will recede quickly. A few days of taking antibiotics and pain medications prescribed by your dentist and you will be back to your normal self.

If you are unsure if your wisdom teeth need to be removed or are concerned about the procedure, talk with a dentist, like A Q Denture Services, to get the answers to any questions that you may have.

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