Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure: What to Expect

Wisdom teeth removal is a surgical procedure. Your third set of molars comes in the back of your mouth and can often come in at an angle, pushing all of your other teeth forward and creating discomfort. For this reason, we offer and highly recommend one of our different sedation methods to help eliminate any potential pain. When you come in for a consultation before the actual surgery, your dentist will discuss sedation options to ensure we do best for you. 

The actual surgery is quick, and you should not be able to feel anything. The surgeon will begin the process by cutting open the gum line, exposing your jaw bone. Sometimes entrance to the jaw bone is necessary, but your dentist will only widen the tooth socket to make the removal process more accessible. The dentist can then easily extract each tooth. The holes created will then be cleaned and sewn shut. Again, you will feel little to no pain during the procedure. 

Recovery Time

After your surgery, you will not be allowed to drive due to the sedation drug. Make sure you arrange a ride home from the office. The time it takes for each patient to heal completely from the wisdom teeth removal surgery varies, but the average recovery period is about one week. Following the removal of your wisdom teeth, you may suffer sensitivity in your mouth as well as swelling. Our team recommends ice or a cold compress to help with the swelling. Your jaw bone may be stiff as a result of the removal. The doctor will prescribe a pain medication to help with any lasting pain. You must follow the instructions strictly.  

The first several days after surgery, we recommend just consuming soft meals at room temperature. You should not use a straw, as the sucking sensation can promote dry sockets and cause your stitches to fall out. We also recommend rinsing your mouth with saltwater throughout the day to minimize infection. Be sure to get a lot of sleep and drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated and sleeping will help speed up the recovery time. If you have any questions or concerns during your recovery, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. 

Why Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?

• By the time your wisdom teeth erupt, you’ll already have all of your teeth in place. If you do not remove your teeth, overcrowding and misalignment can occur.
• When wisdom teeth erupt at an angle, they can push all of your other teeth forward, causing severe tooth pain.
• Wisdom teeth are in a difficult-to-reach region. They are more likely to develop decay if they do not receive proper oral hygiene.

We are fully qualified to remove wisdom teeth at Paso Robles Dental Care. We understand that the procedure may seem inconvenient, but it has the potential to spare you from a variety of oral issues in the future. Please visit our office in Paso Robles, California, if you have any questions.