Whether you’re a parent of a minor getting their wisdom teeth removed or are getting your wisdom teeth removed, there’s often some hesitation or concerns about the procedure and what to expect. Rhoades Family Dentistry has been removing wisdom teeth for our patients for decades, younger and older. We’ve extracted wisdom teeth from teens, adults, and the elderly.
If you have questions or concerns regarding wisdom tooth extraction, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll give an overview of what to expect during the procedure and a survival guide for wisdom tooth pain management to cope with discomfort relief.
What is Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
If you’ve never had a wisdom tooth removed, there’s a lot to learn about the procedure itself to understand why it’s important to remove it. First, let’s discuss what wisdom teeth are. The average teen has around 28 teeth while adults have about 32 once wisdom teeth come in. Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to grow in the mouth, the last four on both the top and bottom quadrants of the mouth. Some people have impacted wisdom teeth that never break the gum surface.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a minor surgery that removes one or all four wisdom teeth. This surgery removes the impacted wisdom teeth and includes a local anesthetic or other anesthesia, extraction, and stitches. The procedure is often quick and done at a dental office with most patients experiencing little to mild discomfort.
Why Should Wisdom Teeth be Removed?
Wondering why wisdom teeth should be removed? Though they can be helpful for chewing, wisdom teeth aren’t necessary and can cause more harm than good. Dental professionals remove them because they can negatively impact other teeth, cause shifting, interfere with dental treatments, or cause pain.
Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed. However, if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, your dentist can assess your teeth and determine whether you’d be a good candidate for a wisdom tooth extraction surgery. There may be more benefits to removing wisdom teeth than keeping them, but that depends on the individual.
What to Expect from a Wisdom Tooth Extraction at Rhoades Family Dentistry
If you’re getting your wisdom teeth removed or are going to be caring for a family member who is, you might be wondering what to expect. Below is a general guide for what you can expect from a wisdom tooth extraction at Rhoades Family Dentistry:
- Before the procedure begins, we’ll give you a local anesthetic or other anesthesia for a pain-free extraction. Nervous about the procedure? No worries! We have nitrous oxide, oral sedatives, entertainment media to enjoy during the procedure, and even IV sedation available to ease dental anxieties.
- Next, one of our dentists will make the incision in your gums to remove the impacted wisdom teeth if they haven’t come in. If you already have your wisdom teeth, we’ll carefully extract them.
- After we remove the wisdom teeth from their sockets, we thoroughly clean the incisions and the gums.
- If necessary, we’ll stitch any incisions.
- Lastly, we’ll put some gauze over your sockets to help with bleeding.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a quick procedure and patients are in and out quickly. We’ll give you post-op instructions before you leave the office. Coping with wisdom tooth pain can be uncomfortable, but following the tips above and the instructions you receive post-op will result in a quick recovery with less pain.
A Survival Guide for Wisdom Tooth Pain Management
Believe it or not, most patients experience no or mild discomfort following a wisdom tooth extraction procedure. You will experience some bleeding immediately following surgery. Below are some tips for wisdom tooth pain management:
- Ice your jaw, moving it from side to side to reduce swelling and help with pain
- If prescribed medications, be sure to take them
- Over-the-counter pain relievers can help alleviate discomfort
- Don’t use a straw – this could cause a very painful dry socket
- Choose soft foods to avoid painful crunchy foods
- Get as much rest as possible the first couple of days following surgery
Our team at Rhodes Family Dentistry can help with your wisdom tooth extraction. We offer exceptional dental care while treating our patients with the utmost care. Our team will help with wisdom tooth removal recovery and offer advice for wisdom tooth discomfort relief.
If you need dental care for the entire family, Rhoades Family Dentistry would love to be your family dentist! We’re family-owned and operated with a team of dedicated professionals who are members of the American Dental Association, American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, and many other dental associations. Our staff has undergone extensive training to provide all our patients with the best dental care.
Book an appointment today by scrolling up and clicking “BOOK AN APPOINTMENT” on the top left of your screen or by calling (913) 782-8900. We look forward to serving you by providing excellent dental care and giving your family healthy smiles!
