Although the thought of oral surgery can be overwhelming, removing your wisdom teeth can help you avoid the complications of impacted or partially impacted wisdom teeth.
Our team Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery removes wisdom teeth at our Burke, Reston, and Alexandria, Virginia offices, and if you’re concerned about your wisdom teeth, we encourage you to visit us.
In the meantime, we created this guide to explore the top five reasons to consider wisdom tooth removal.
1. You have pain
Wisdom teeth can cause pain for a variety of reasons. Just like a teething baby experiences discomfort, a wisdom tooth emerging through the gum can cause tenderness and pain. Wisdom teeth also cause pain if:
- The wisdom teeth are growing at an angle and press on a nerve
- An infection develops (you might notice swelling, too)
- They are pressing on other teeth
- A cavity develops (partially impacted teeth are prone to decay)
- Pericoronitis develops
If your wisdom teeth are contributing to your pain, we can help you find relief. And if there’s another culprit, we can discuss the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan with you.
2. Your wisdom teeth are partially impacted
Partially impacted wisdom teeth mean that your teeth didn’t fully emerge. Partially impacted teeth can be hard to clean, and the bits of debris and bacteria that build up can increase your risk of gum disease, cavities, bad breath, and infections.
3. You have a small jaw
If your mouth is small, it’s unlikely that a set of third molars will have enough space to emerge fully without crowding your other teeth. If there’s no room in your jaw, wisdom tooth removal can help you avoid the issues associated with overcrowding.
4. Your wisdom teeth are impacted
Impacted teeth are located completely below your gums. Panoramic and digital x-rays can depict where your wisdom teeth are located and what angle they are pointed. Some wisdom teeth may be angled horizontally. Impacted teeth increase your risk of developing tumors and cysts. Dentigerous cysts, for example, form over the top of unerupted teeth.
5. You have dedicated time for recovery
Wisdom tooth removal is performed as an outpatient procedure, and you can expect to feel back to normal within about one week. For this reason, you should consider wisdom tooth removal when you are about to allocate some time for healing and rest. Because facial bruising can occur, you shouldn’t schedule wisdom tooth removal before a big event such as a graduation or wedding.
Healing timelines can vary. For example, if you develop a dry socket or if your extraction site becomes infected, your recovery may take longer. You can, however, take precautionary steps to ensure you have a smooth recovery:
- Avoid spitting, swishing, or sucking for at least the first 24 hours
- Avoid using a straw (this can dislodge your protective blood clot and increase your risk of developing dry socket)
- Take any medications or antibiotics as instructed
- Keep the extraction site clean
- Rinse with salt water (after the first 24 hours)
- Take time to rest
- Sleep with your head elevated (to reduce swelling)
- Use facial ice packs
If wisdom tooth removal is the best course of option for you, we can walk you through all of your options. Depending on the complexity of your wisdom teeth extraction, we may suggest local anesthesia, intravenous (IV) sedation, or general anesthesia.
If you have questions about your wisdom teeth, call our Burke, Reston, or Alexandria, Virginia office to schedule a consultation. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment online anytime.