Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a number of symptoms, including pain at the rear of the jaw or visible shifting of teeth as the teeth continue to try to erupt. Wisdom teeth are also more susceptible to infection, and those signs can include swelling, redness or bleeding in the area, as well as bad breath and tender gums.
If you think you may have an impacted wisdom tooth, you should consult with an oral surgeon to learn about your treatment options. Impacted wisdom teeth increase the patient’s risk of infection, cysts, tumors and damage to surrounding teeth.
You don’t have to wait for symptoms to develop before having your wisdom teeth removed, though. Many patients pursue a preventive extraction if they want to avoid the potential negative outcomes associated with impacted wisdom teeth.[pullquote] Many patients pursue a preventive extraction if they want to avoid the potential negative outcomes associated with impacted wisdom teeth.[/pullquote]
In fact, it’s recommended that patients have their wisdom teeth removed before age 25, so many patients will not wait until they have pain or develop an infection to have their wisdom teeth removed.
Whether the teeth are symptomatic or not, the oral surgeon can develop a treatment plan for extraction. Impacted wisdom teeth must be extracted surgically in order to remove the bone that surrounds the tooth.
This procedure is typically performed in an outpatient setting and takes a few hours. Patients will usually opt for sedation during the surgery for maximum comfort.
Patients often can resume their normal routines within a matter of days after wisdom tooth extraction, although they may need to alter their diets and activity levels for a bit longer. Your surgeon will give you specific post-operative instructions, so follow those closely and ask any questions that you may have.
You will also get a list of symptoms that could indicate post-operative complications and warrant immediate follow-up with our office.
Are you having symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth? Or do you want to reduce your risk of developing such symptoms? Contact Texas Oral Surgery Specialists to be evaluated to see if wisdom tooth extraction is recommended.
