Are you in need of wisdom teeth removal? At Midtown Dental, we offer safe and gentle wisdom tooth removal in Logan, UT. In this blog post, we explain what wisdom teeth are, how to know if they need to be removed, and what you can expect for recovery after their removal.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third and last sets of molars that emerge in your late teens or early twenties. You can have anywhere from zero to four of these third molars.
Do My Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
These teeth may need to be removed if they are misaligned, cause crowding, or do not emerge properly. Problematic wisdom teeth can cause serious oral health issues such as nerve damage and an increased risk of cavities and gum disease.
For example, a crooked wisdom tooth trapped beneath the gums can grow into neighboring teeth, causing damage. Likewise, a partially erupted third molar creates pockets between your gums and tooth. Bacteria can build up in these pockets, leading to inflammation, pain, infection, and eventual bone loss. If your wisdom teeth do fully erupt but they are difficult to keep clean because your mouth is small, removal may still be necessary to protect your teeth from decay.
During your consultation, our team will take X-rays and assess the positioning of your wisdom teeth to determine if you would benefit from their removal.
Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Full recovery after wisdom teeth removal will take several weeks. For the first few days after surgery, you can expect mild bleeding and varying degrees of pain, swelling, and nausea.
Mild bleeding is expected after removal of any teeth. Place a folded piece of gauze over the extraction site, changing as necessary, until the bleeding stops. Do not spit or rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours to allow for proper blood clot formation. This blood clot is necessary for healing. You may have some oozing overnight and see traces of blood for a few days, especially after eating. But if bleeding increases or seems profuse, notify our office!
Post-operative oral pain will begin when the local anesthetic wears off a few hours after the surgery. You may experience more discomfort on the second or third day but will decrease as you heal. While this pain can often be managed with an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as extra-strength acetaminophen, we may prescribe pain medication for your comfort.
Swelling will typically peak two to three days after surgery. For the first 24 hours, continuously apply an ice pack, such as a bag of crushed ice or frozen peas, to the outside of your face. Rest with your head and shoulders slightly elevated for the first 48 hours.
There are a few other things you can do to promote a smooth recovery after wisdom teeth extraction:
- You can brush your teeth the night of your surgery, but avoid the extraction sites. Typically, the sites will be ready to be gently brushed and irrigated 5-7 days after surgery.
- After the first 48 hours, begin gently rinsing with a mixture of salt and water, increasing in intensity each day.
- Avoid straws, smoking, strenuous activity, lifting, and bending.
- Eat only soft foods and drink lots of water.
Contact us today with any questions about wisdom teeth removal in Logan, UT, or to schedule an appointment at Midtown Dental.
Contact Us
