The wisdom teeth are the last teeth or molars that people get in their teenage years or in their early twenties.  When they are aligned properly in the mouth, they can be an asset to the mouth and the teeth, but it is more often the case that they become misaligned and need to be extracted.




Wisdom tooth extraction is quite common and for most people, it is not terribly difficult to undergo.  The problem begins when the molars get misaligned and start to become angled poorly and can actually be positioned horizontally, facing inward or outward.  The improper positioning of the wisdom teeth can damage the teeth next to them and can also affect the jawbone and surrounding nerves and tissues.

If the wisdom teeth become impacted, they can become infected.  In most cases, impacted wisdom teeth do not show any symptoms until an infection starts to occur.  Some symptoms can be bleeding, bad breath, swelling and bleeding gums and swelling of the jaw.

When preparing for the day your have your wisdom removed, your dentist or oral surgeon should be able to give you an idea of how easy or difficult the procedure will be.  Sometimes if the teeth are underneath the gums or imbedded in the jawbone, there has to be an incision made in the gums in order to extract the tooth from the surrounding bone that covers it.

What concerns most people is the wisdom tooth extraction recovery.  This is perhaps the most critical phase of dealing with wisdom tooth extraction.  You will certainly be in quite a bit of pain, depending upon how impacted they are.  At least for the first several hours and the first day and evening, you will be in the most discomfort.  You have to gargle very gently with salt water and be careful not to spit or suck from a straw.  You must refrain from smoking cigarettes if you are a smoker.
You may be given antibiotics, which you should take until the prescription is completed.  Painkillers may also be prescribed and should be taken as directed, if necessary.