Many people have questioned the necessity of removing wisdom teeth. One common reason for Wisdom Tooth Removal in Wichita KS is that the tooth or teeth have become impacted. How do you know if your wisdom teeth are impacted? What is an impacted wisdom tooth?
An impacted wisdom tooth occurs when the tooth did not break through the gums in the manner that it should. Not every patient with impacted wisdom teeth will need to have them removed, but others will. It depends on if the patient is experiencing the negative symptoms that can sometime occur.
The symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth include:
* Jaw and gum pain
* Bitter breath
* Swollen gums
* Common headaches
* Swollen glands
If you have these symptoms, it is important that you contact your dentist soon. Allowing impacted teeth to remain in your mouth could cause problems with the surrounding teeth. They could become infected, begin to decay, or gum disease could begin to develop in the area.
When wisdom teeth are removed, you will sleep through the procedure. Very few dentists will remove wisdom teeth without some kind of sedation. Some may choose to keep you awake, though heavily sedated. You will be aware of what is going on around you, but you will not care or be able to fight the process.
The days following the extraction, your mouth will be sore and your face will be swollen. Ice packs can be applied several times through the day to help decrease the discomfort and the swelling. Your dentist will likely prescribe a pain medication and antibiotics to ensure that an infection does not develop in the area where the tooth has been removed. You will follow a soft food diet and slowly work your way back to chewing solid foods.
Oftentimes, your dentist will see the wisdom teeth before they begin to come through the gums. This is one reason for the regular x-rays at your regular cleanings. The dentist can keep an eye on the growth pattern and judge whether or not the wisdom teeth will need to be extracted. If you would like to learn more or discuss Wisdom Tooth Removal in Wichita KS, Click here.
