The wisdom teeth are the back molars that erupt later on in life, usually between the ages of 17-21. Unfortunately, a lot of people need to get them removed. Sometimes, their position makes it very hard to clean them properly, making your wisdom teeth more likely to suffer tooth decay, but the problem can also have to do with your teeth overcrowding or their failure to properly get through the gums.
Most of the time, extracting a wisdom tooth is a relatively quick procedure. Most patients can be out of the office in around 30 minutes or so.
However, healing after an extraction can take as long as 2 weeks, and you will need to take certain precautions to make sure the healing process goes uninterrupted. No matter why you’re getting your wisdom teeth removed, there are a few things you can expect with the aftercare process from our Oak Creek office.
Your dentist or oral surgeon will recommend that you go home and rest after getting your wisdom teeth removed. It’s best not to take part in any strenuous physical activity for at least a day.
There is a blood clot that’s formed in the extraction site. This clot protects the bone and nerves underneath, and taking part in sports or over-exerting yourself can dislodge it. So be sure to take the day of your surgery off and to go home and rest.
Soft foods that don’t require a lot of chewing are the best choice right after wisdom tooth extraction. You’ll also want to avoid chewing on the side of the extraction site to prevent food particles from disturbing the area as much as possible.
You can gradually start eating more solid foods, but you should chew carefully on the other side, and gently rinse the mouth to remove any debris.
The extraction site can be terribly sensitive, so you won’t want to brush directly on top of it. However, you should still clean the mouth to remove unwanted bacteria from causing an infection.
Brush the rest of your teeth gently, and use saline water to cleanse the mouth and remove food particles that could have made their way to the back.
Usually, the gums will begin to heal and close in a few days after the extraction. But, it’s important to monitor the site and contact your dentist if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Your Oak Creek dentist will tell you more about the best aftercare tips for your particular situation so you can experience a swift recovery after getting the wisdom tooth removed.
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=logo}
