Wisdom Teeth Gastonia NC Wisdom teeth growth can take up to a year to grow fully. Their growth in individuals is different, with some experiencing discomfort while others may never relate to the pain. Here at our Gastonia, NC office, Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery will help you understand everything you need to know about wisdom teeth for your best course of action.Why Do My Wisdom Teeth Hurt?The growth of wisdom teeth is similar to that of a baby growing its first set of teeth. You will experience mild pain as your wisdom teeth erupt through your gums. A portion of your gums may remain on top of the tooth's concave surface as it erupts, causing soreness. In this state, cleaning can be challenging, resulting in inflammation, swelling, and even more pain due to a possible infection. This pain can last up to seven days but is manageable with over-the-counter medication. However, if your pain is severe, you should schedule an appointment with us to evaluate the possibilities. While you will experience pain as your wisdom teeth erupt, the pain can worsen with impacted wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth result when your wisdom teeth grow at an angle, pushing adjacent teeth over the others. Impaction can also occur if the wisdom tooth does not come out fully. These teeth can trap food particles and bacteria, posing a high risk of cysts, tooth decay, and gum disease. Given the complications around wisdom teeth eruption, you should keep your gums clean to prevent infection. This you can achieve by brushing your mouth and gums with a soft-bristled brush. The pain from such complications will continue until our team addresses the issue. We will evaluate your symptoms and x-ray your teeth to check the impaction. We will schedule the procedure where extraction is feasible, and the pain should fade afterward. Do I Have to Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?Wisdom tooth extraction is a procedure that removes wisdom teeth at the top and bottom corners of your mouth. We recommend the procedure for partially or fully impacted wisdom teeth. Given their time of growth, wisdom teeth in some people will lack room for growth and become impacted, causing pain, infections, and other dental issues. We also recommend wisdom teeth removal in an asymptomatic case, where the wisdom teeth do not cause any pain or symptoms. The latter is preventive care, as there is a likelihood of future dental problems. After wisdom teeth extraction, you may experience some soreness and mild discomfort, manageable with over-the-counter medication. Keeping the extraction site clean and watching your diet are advisable to promote healing. What Are Wisdom Teeth?Wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth that erupt in the mouth. Usually, this eruption happens between the ages of 17 to 25. The late eruption gives these teeth their name as individuals are a little older and wiser by this time. Wisdom teeth will erupt normally without issues in some people. For others, these teeth may never develop, while others develop impacted wisdom teeth. Since wisdom teeth are less useful than your other teeth, you can do without them. Hence, wisdom teeth extraction remains a healthy procedure. Impacted wisdom teeth lack adequate space for eruption or normal development. These teeth will grow at an angle towards the second molar, toward the back of your mouth, or straight up like the other teeth but trapped in the jawbone. You will know you have impacted wisdom teeth if you experience pain, damage to the surrounding bone, a cyst, gum disease or infection, food trapped behind the wisdom tooth, or complications, especially with orthodontic treatments. Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Hurt?Estimates by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons reveal that 60%-80% of Americans have had at least one wisdom tooth removed. While you may dread being a part of the above population, you need not worry, as wisdom tooth extraction in the hands of our experienced team is a painless procedure. You will likely feel some pressure as we rock the tooth back and forth during removal, but the process should not hurt as we will administer anesthesia. An impacted wisdom tooth necessitates segmenting it into pieces rather than pulling it whole. Our team will make an incision into your gums to access the wisdom tooth. After extraction, they will stitch the cut and place a gauze to control bleeding for about 30 minutes. This kind of removal is safe. The surgery site will require up to 10 days to heal, after which you can resume your regular diet. If, after surgery, you experience extreme pain that does not fade after taking painkillers, contact our team, as it could be a sign of infection. You should also talk to us in case of extreme swelling, fever, bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. What Can I Eat after Wisdom Teeth Removal?Immediately after your surgery, you can keep the gauze against the extraction site to stimulate clotting, which slows the natural bleeding. Over time, the clot will morph into tissue and fill the gap left by your wisdom tooth. Hence, to promote healing and avoid a dry socket, you should exercise care to avoid disrupting the clot. Part of this care is watching your diet, as a poor diet will delay your healing. After the wisdom teeth removal, stick to a healthy diet to provide nourishment, promote healing, reduce swelling, and minimize the risk of complications. Your food choice after surgery should be soft and easy to chew. Your first five days after surgery are delicate as your wound is fresh. Consider liquids and gradually introduce soft, mashed foods. These foods include blended soup, broths, pudding, yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, applesauce, and seedless fruits. You can introduce moderately soft foods like scrambled eggs, toast, instant oatmeal, and cheese as you heal. Contact Our Professionals for the Best AdviceWisdom teeth can be painful, affecting your quality of life. Whether you have impacted or normal growing wisdom teeth, you may require an extraction, given that the latter can pose risks in the future. Contact our oral surgeons here at Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery in Gastonia today at (980) 448-3144, and schedule an appointment with us for personalized care. Our office is proud to offer other services, including Botox, dental implants, and more! |
