Most wisdom tooth extraction Los Angeles specialists will tell you that this is one of the most common procedures they deal with. Wisdom teeth (or third molars) are the latest to come out and are located at the far end of the jaw.
hese teeth appear between the ages of 17 and 25. The problem, however, is that there is rarely enough space for them and as a result, they don’t fully emerge or grow at an odd angle. Human jaws are smaller than they were a couple thousand years ago, not due to evolution but because our modern diet lacks vitamin K2 that is responsible for absorbing calcium for jaw development.
Why do I need to remove my wisdom teeth?
Extracting wisdom teeth has become the norm, and it is rare to find adults in America with all 32 teeth coming in straight. There are three reasons why wisdom teeth need to be removed; they haven’t fully emerged, they have emerged at an odd angle, or they have cavities.
If the wisdom teeth do not fully erupt, there is the risk of the epithelial lining around the tooth becoming cancerous. It should be removed early to avoid a more complicated surgical procedure. Wisdom teeth growing at an odd angle will put pressure on the adjacent molars and can cause problems.
There is also the risk of partially concealed wisdom teeth developing cavities because the toothbrush cannot reach them.
Tooth Removal Procedure
If the wisdom tooth has already erupted, even partially, the procedure is not very complicated, and a general dentist can carry out the procedure. Otherwise, the services of an oral surgeon might be required.
Patients also prefer to be under heavy sedation, and the dentist should be conversant with general anesthesia for pain management during surgery. During an extraction procedure, you are likely to experience pain, swelling, bleeding, and numbness of the lower lip. The whole procedure will typically take less than an hour.
Recovery Tips After Wisdom Tooth Removal
Right after the procedure, the dentist will give you a piece of gauze to bite and hold down to stop the bleeding. Do not remove this gauze before 30 minutes are over and if the bleeding hasn’t stopped, use a clean piece of gauze dipped in water.
Bleeding can also continue for the first 24 hours after the removal procedure. Repeat the wet gauze procedure on the extraction site until the bleeding stops. Another viable remedy is to bite down on a teabag to stop the bleeding.
The naturally occurring tannic acid in the tea helps in blood clotting, and it is more effective than using gauze. Avoid taking hot drinks for 24 hours after the extraction procedure.
Wisdom tooth extraction Los Angeles dentists agree that recovery takes five days to one week. The gum can take three or four weeks to be fully healed. However, any damage to the jaw can extend the recovery period to over a year. Any non-dissolving stitches need to be removed after the operation.
You can also expect facial swelling during recovery and can use an ice pack to reduce the swelling. The dentist will prescribe pain medication for post operative pain management.