Decision time on your wisdom teeth: To pull or not to pull

Do make a decision that’s right for you

Although 75 to 80 percent of Americans are unable to maintain their wisdom teeth, not everyone requires an extraction. Some people never experience problems with their wisdom teeth; however we encourage patients to get ahead of any complications while they are in their late teens to early 20s. That’s because these roots are less developed and the jaw bone is not as dense, making it easier for dentists to remove wisdom teeth.

Consider your age and take into account any pre-existing medical conditions. If you’re older than 30, the likelihood of you experiencing complications with wisdom teeth greatly diminishes.

Consult with your local dentist and get a second opinion before undergoing any surgery. He or she may be able to demonstrate how to position your jaws to clean wisdom teeth and potentially avoid removal.

Do consider your health

If you have a medical condition that may get worse over time (e.g. diabetes, cancer, or heart defect) it may be best to have the extraction performed while you’re at your healthiest. Possible complications from wisdom tooth extractions include, but are not limited to, dry socket, infections, bleeding or numbness. Recovery from a wisdom tooth extraction could be delayed or magnified by these medical conditions.

Do understand the reasoning

A wisdom tooth extraction is not an evil plot devised by your local dentist – there’s actually some reasoning behind it.

If left untreated, wisdom teeth can break halfway through your gums, causing an extra flap of tissue to grow over them. This causes food and germs to get trapped under the gums and become red, swollen and infected. They can also come in at an awkward angle, damage adjacent molar teeth, or become impacted (unable to break through gums), resulting in an infection, cyst, the removal of additional teeth or damage your jaw bone.

Do know your options and what to expect (post) surgery

Getting your wisdom teeth pulled is a huge accomplishment, but you should be aware of post-surgery symptoms and plan accordingly as you may need to take additional time out of school or work.

Depending on your body’s reaction to the surgery, you may experience pain or swelling in your gums and the tooth socket where your wisdom teeth were removed. Other common symptoms include slow healing gums, difficulty opening your jaw, heavy bleeding, dry socket and numbness in the mouth and lips.

Many dentists are starting to use dental lasers to open gums over impacted wisdom teeth or to remove them with less damage to the surrounding bone and gums, resulting in faster healing and less swelling and bleeding.

Do not assume your dentist can remove wisdom teeth

If your wisdom teeth are exposed above the gum line, a dentist can usually remove them safely. If not, you may have to go to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who has a great deal of experience performing surgery both inside and outside of the mouth. Oral surgeons typically undergo 4 to 6 years of training beyond dental school and are permitted to perform sedations and extract third molars (wisdom teeth). General dentists can train to perform this procedure as well, however, most do not.

Consult with your local dentist to see if he/she is trained to extract third molars. However, if you would like sedation or have a “high risk” for injury, it may be best to have these teeth removed by an oral surgeon.

Do not disregard post surgery instructions

It’s very easy to forget or disregard the instructions of your dentist or oral surgeon, following a wisdom tooth extraction, but it’s important that you take heed as it can be the difference between a fast or slow recovery.

Be sure to relax but avoid lying flat on your back as this may increase bleeding; prop your head with a pillow. When eating meals, gravitate toward soft foods such as gelatin, pudding or soup, which all help with the healing process; however, be sure to stay away from straws as they can loosen the blood clot, further delaying your healing.

Smoking is strongly discouraged as well as touching the socket with your fingers. Both can bring germs and contaminants that can lead to infection and a prolonged recovery.

Do not ignore the risks

There are a number of risks that come with getting your wisdom teeth removed. Many are minute, but if ignored, could cause big problems later down the line.

You can expect bleeding to be pretty heavy and last for hours after the extraction of your wisdom teeth, but call your local dentist or surgeon if it lasts more than 24 hours after surgery. This may be an early sign of an infection, nerve damage or extreme irritation in the socket.

Be sure to monitor for any symptoms that last longer than 2-3 days after surgery such as numbness, bleeding or soreness. Consult with your local dentist or doctor immediately as these could be signs of a bodily bacteria infection, a fractured jaw or opening into the sinus cavity.

Do not assume your insurance is onboard

Medical insurance does not always cover wisdom teeth procedures, but most dental plans cover at least some of the costs of an extraction. Be sure to connect with your insurance provider beforehand to understand what is and is not covered. If the procedure is not covered, talk to your dentist about a payment plan or less expensive options that may be available.