Ah, those wisdom teeth! What use do we even have for them since they need to be removed so often? Carrefour Dentaire de Montréal explains everything you need to know about the extraction of wisdom teeth, from the causes to healing and the surgery itself.
Relics From the Past
According to many, wisdom teeth were a valuable tool when our diet consisted of uncooked meat and unprocessed foods. Our ancestors, who would often lose teeth along the way because of a more dangerous lifestyle and non-existent oral care, had plenty of room for two extra sets of molars. In this day and age, however, our narrower jaw no longer needs more chewing power to make it through lunch.
Wisdom teeth can cause pain and even migraines when they start to grow around the age of 18. They can put pressure on other teeth and increase the risk of cavities, abscesses, and diseases of the gums and jaw. These teeth are also more difficult to clean, and therefore more prone to infections. For all these reasons, it is routine for dentists to extract them.
A Quick and Safe Procedure
It would be quite an exaggeration to compare wisdom tooth extraction to a spa trip, but rest assured, this is a routine operation where your comfort and safety are guaranteed. Not only do dentists and maxillofacial surgeons use the most advanced technology, but the operation is performed under local anesthesia. Anxious patients can also ask for relaxants that will make the experience smoother.
To avoid further surgery, dentists usually remove all four teeth at the same time. He sometimes has to cut the gum tissue to extract them and uses absorbable sutures to seal the wounds. Then comes the time to wake up the patient, whose surgery will have lasted about two hours. Extraction costs up to about $400 per tooth, so ask if it is included in your insurance coverage.
What Is Healing Like?
Keeping the area clean and reducing bleeding will be your top priorities. Therefore, there are a few rules to follow. Do not engage in intense physical activities for a week. On the first day, eat nothing but soft foods and avoid any suction (don’t drink through a straw, for example). Wait until you feel completely ready to try semi-soft foods. Do not use tobacco, or if not as little as possible, throughout your recovery. Don’t forget to regularly change the gauze placed over the area to control the bleeding. Finally, if it hurts too much, take the medications prescribed by your dentist, carefully following the instructions.
And there you go! You will be back on your feet in a week. You won’t be able to blame your bad decisions on your wisdom tooth extraction, though: They don’t make people wiser, sadly!