Wisdom Tooth Extractions Des Plaines
Don’t Let Wisdom Teeth Endanger Your Smile
Are you experiencing symptoms like pain at the back of your mouth, swelling, or tender gums? If so, your wisdom teeth might be to blame. Fortunately, at Brite Smiles, we can remove your wisdom teeth so you can get back to enjoying optimum oral health. Call us today if you have concerns about your third molars or you simply want to learn more about wisdom tooth extractions in our Des Plaines, IL, dental office.
Why Choose Brite Smiles for Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
- Friendly, Honest Dental Team
- State-of-the-Art Technology
- Multiple Options for Sedation
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars, which develop at the very back of the mouth. Most people get one in each quadrant of their mouth. For ancient human ancestors, wisdom teeth were essential for survival; they helped people to consume a rough diet that consisted of things like nuts, leaves, and raw meats. Today, though, wisdom teeth have become unnecessary due to modern food processing techniques.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
The wisdom teeth attempt to erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. Unfortunately, at that point, there likely is not enough space in your mouth for new teeth. As a result, wisdom teeth often become impacted (stuck beneath the gumline) or grow in at improper angles. Not only is this painful, but it might also put your other teeth at risk.
Possible complications of wisdom teeth include:
- Pain
- Cysts and tumors
- Infections in the gums and teeth
- Jaw stiffness
- Facial swelling
- Persistent bad breath
Of course, wisdom tooth removal is not necessary in all cases. When you visit us for a consultation, we can let you know whether your third molars should be extracted.
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
If your wisdom teeth are not impacted, removing them should be fairly simple. We will lift each tooth with an instrument called an elevator before we grip it with forceps and carefully remove it from its socket. We use local anesthesia and sedation to make patients comfortable during this process.
If your wisdom teeth are impacted, we may need to make incisions in your gums or break them into pieces in order to successfully extract them. Again, we place a high priority on patient comfort throughout this procedure.
Recovering From Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Recovery from wisdom teeth removal usually takes three to four days, although it can take longer depending on the complexity of the procedure. You can use pain medication to relieve your discomfort, and you can use a cold pack to reduce any swelling. Eat only soft foods such as yogurt or applesauce for the first 24 hours; you can gradually start introducing other foods into your diet when you can tolerate them. After the first day, you should gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours to keep it clean. You should also avoid the use of straws and cigarettes during your recovery period.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions FAQs
How Should I Prepare for My Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
We shared above what you should do after your procedure, but is there anything you should do beforehand? The short answer is “yes!” To set yourself up for success, we recommend:
- Purchasing everything you need – from cold compresses to OTC pain medication
- Not smoking or drinking alcohol
- Arranging for someone you know to drive you to and from your appointment
- Fasting the morning of (unless instructed otherwise)
- Choosing something comfortable to wear
- Arriving a few minutes early to your appointment
Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?
Surprisingly, no! In fact, an article published in the Dental Research Journal estimated that between 5% and 37% of patients are missing at least one of their wisdom teeth. No one knows exactly why this happens, but genetics seems to play a role. So, if your parents or grandparents didn’t have all of their wisdom teeth, you might not either.
Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Painful?
If you struggle with dental-related anxiety, or you had a bad experience with another dentist, you might be hesitant to move forward with the procedure because you’re worried it will hurt. Rest assured, we do everything we can to make the treatment process smooth, comfortable, and pain-free – from numbing your mouth beforehand to providing you with helpful aftercare instructions before you leave our office.
Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed If They Don’t Hurt?
There’s a common misconception that you only need your wisdom teeth removed if you’re dealing with chronic jaw pain, discomfort when biting down, persistent sensitivity, etc. The truth is that there are several other reasons our Des Plaines dental team may recommend having your third set of molars extracted, including an increased risk of infection, cysts, and other serious oral health problems.
How Soon Can I Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Immediately following your wisdom tooth removal, the gauze pads should remain in place to slow down the bleeding. Plus, you shouldn’t eat anything until you’ve regained full sensation in your mouth. Typically, patients are free to eat extremely soft foods (i.e., seedless fruit smoothies, plain yogurt, applesauce) after about two hours.
How Do You Sleep After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
The aftercare instructions we provide will help keep you comfortable. That said, it’s normal to have difficulty sleeping following the procedure due to soreness, swelling, and sensitivity. Don’t worry though – there are several things you can do to get a good night’s sleep. The first is taking your prescribed or OTC pain medication about 30 minutes before bed (following the directions on the label, of course). The second is using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time. The third is sleeping upright in a chair or propping yourself up on a few pillows so your head stays elevated.
Tip: If you can, have someone you know and trust stay with you the first night. That way, they can wake you up when it’s time to change the gauze pads, take medication, etc.
