You may have a small mouth, and if you have third molars, then there is not enough space for the teeth. Some individuals are born without third molar tooth buds, but other individuals have one to four of these teeth. Occasionally, an individual will have more than four third molars. Wisdom teeth are located toward the back of the mouth at the top or the bottom. You need molars to help you chew food, but there are other molars that perform this task. When you start to have pain toward the back of your mouth, you should have a concern about these teeth. Here are some of the symptoms that are associated with third molar impaction:
- Swollen gums
- Foul taste in the mouth
- Bad breath
- Earaches
- Grinding the teeth
- Headaches
- Jaw pain
- Excess saliva
- Difficulty opening the mouth
In some cases, you can look in your mouth and see the cusp points of a wisdom tooth that is trying to erupt from your gums. However, many third molars will turn sideways trying to erupt from the gums because there isn’t enough space.
What Are the Good and Bad Things about Third Molar Removal?
When you visit a dentist, you learn the pros and cons of having wisdom teeth extraction. Here is a list of the good and bad things that can happen with surgery to remove your impacted third molars.
1. Eliminating Pain
If you don’t have your third molars removed, then the pain will get worse as the teeth try to push through a tiny space. The wisdom teeth may press against the other teeth in your mouth, causing excruciating pain. With surgery, you will notice a reduction in chronic discomfort within a few days.
2. Pain from Surgery
There is some pain from having surgery to remove the third molars. Our dentist will need to use an instrument to pull these teeth from your gums, and if the teeth are located below the gums, then an incision is made during the procedure.
3. You Receive Anesthesia
When you have surgery to remove the third molars, our dentist will give you anesthesia so that you are sedated during the procedure. We will also numb your gums with a special medication so that you won’t feel any pain while the teeth are pulled.
4. Your Entire Face Hurts after Surgery
You will return home to recover from your surgery, but after sleeping for a few hours, you will wake up and feel groggy. In addition, your entire face will hurt for a few days. Our dentist provides ice packs with an elastic strap so that you can keep the items on your swollen jaw.
5. The Risks of a Dry Socket
The major complication from wisdom teeth extraction is having dry sockets. These are the holes where blood clots should form to help the gum tissue heal properly. After your third molars are pulled, these sockets bleed profusely, but our dentist packs the sockets with gauze. At home, you will need to change this gauze frequently for one or two days until the bleeding stops. This is when the blood clot is forming, but it is a delicate substance that requires special care.
6. You Must Follow a Special Dietary Plan
After having dental surgery to remove your third molars, you must follow our special dietary plan. First, you should drink a lot of cool liquids, but you must not use a straw to drink anything. Drinking with a straw can dislodge the delicate blood clots in your gums, leading to a painful dry socket condition. You can also eat soft foods such as soup, mashed potatoes or applesauce. Within one week, you will begin to feel better, so you can return to a normal diet.
7. Life Returns to Normal without Your Wisdom Teeth
Your life will return to its normal routine within a week or two, and no one will notice that you have had your third molars removed. You won’t have pain from the impaction of the teeth, and you won’t need to worry about having dental malocclusions from the pressure of the wisdom teeth.
Choose Our Dental Offices for Your Wisdom Teeth Extraction
When you are having surgery to remove your third molars, you should choose a great dentist who understands the procedure. First, you will need a complete examination with X-rays to determine where the third molars are located in the gums so that our dentist can perform surgery efficiently. If your wisdom teeth are impacted, then our dentist will schedule surgery right away to alleviate your pain. Contact Dental Specialty Associates in Arizona with locations in:
- Phoenix – 602-795-5995
- Gilbert – 480-633-9977
Schedule an appointment with us today to learn more.
