Tuesday, September 1, 2009
I’m 21 years old and I have pain in my wisdom teeth. My dentist said they’re impacted and has recommended extraction. What should I do?
An impacted wisdom tooth is stuck behind the tooth in front of it, or under the bone that’s covering it, and is unable to fully emerge through the gums. The pain you are experiencing is likely due to infection caused by bacteria that has accumulated between the gums and the bone. Chronic infection and decay are quite common for teeth in this situation and can lead to serious health complications, which is why most dentists recommend extraction.
Removing wisdom teeth while you are young has its advantages as the roots are not as well-developed, and younger people tend to heal more quickly. Waiting until you are in your thirties or forties may make the process a little more difficult.
You may experience some pain and swelling afterward which can be managed with ibuprofen and ice packs. After a few days of a soft diet and gentle care, most patients are back to their normal activities. Keeping the extraction site clean is crucial for better healing.
Occasionally, complications may develop. The most common of these is dry socket, a temporary painful condition that occurs when the blood clot is dislodged, leaving behind uncovered bone. If this happens, your dentist can apply some medication that will give you almost immediate relief.
Another complication might be numbness of the lip or tongue due to the nerve being disturbed during the extraction. This is usually a temporary condition, but there is a very small chance that the numbness might be permanent. This will be discussed with you prior to your procedure and assessed with x-rays or a CT scan.
Most wisdom teeth extractions go according to plan and problems, if any, are minimal. Good luck and keep smiling!
