Wisdom teeth are usually the last set of teeth that grow in and most commonly appear in your late teens or early 20s.
There are usually two sets of wisdom teeth, so four teeth in total – two from the top of your mouth and two from the bottom.
Not everyone will develop all four wisdom teeth and some people may not develop any wisdom teeth at all. If you do develop them, however, they can cause an issue.
The human mouth is usually too small to comfortably accommodate these new teeth. Due to this, as the teeth start to grow in, your jaw might start to throb and ache. At this point, it’s essential to get in touch with your dentist and come up with a wisdom tooth removal plan.While there are several factors that can impact wisdom teeth removal cost, on average, you can expect to spend between $250-$500 per wisdom tooth.
Factors that impact this price include the complexity of the removal, whether or not the tooth is impacted and what type of anaesthetics need to be administered. If you are administered a general anaesthetic, the wisdom teeth removal cost can rise to between $1,500 and $3,000 per tooth.
There are some occasions in which you can leave your wisdom teeth as they are, without any negative consequences.
If your dentist says that you can leave them in, you should be okay to continue as you are. However, if the dentist recommends that you get them pulled out, even if they haven’t been causing you issues so far, it’s essential to get them pulled out as soon as possible.If you don’t opt for wisdom teeth removal even when advised to do so, you can experience major dental issues. These include:
For most people, there’s simply not enough space in their mouth to accommodate extra teeth – especially if all four wisdom teeth start to grow in. Overcrowding can lead to significant problems, including impacted and crooked teeth.
Most teeth come in vertically from your gums, which is how they are meant to. Wisdom teeth, on the other hand, can sometimes come in sideways instead. This can damage neighbouring teeth, your bite and cause other dental issues that will be more costly to fix.
Even when perfectly formed wisdom teeth come in, they can be challenging to reach when brushing and cleaning your teeth. This can, in turn, lead to food and bacteria getting trapped between the teeth and your gums, which can cause major bacterial infections.
Once you get your wisdom teeth removed, you will have to follow all the post-operative instructions provided to you by your dental surgeon. These guidelines will help limit the risk of complications and help you recover faster.
While tooth removal may seem like a minor procedure, it is often considered a surgical or invasive procedure, especially when extracting impacted wisdom teeth. An invasive procedure carries risks, which means it’s crucial to follow guidelines to prevent issues such as an infection. The best place to start is with an x-ray.In general, you should be able to return to your normal routine in just under a week. However, actual recovery time differs from patient to patient and can take up to two weeks. That said, it is possible to speed up this timeline. Some steps you can follow to do so include:
Staying hydrated.
Avoiding hot foods.
Avoiding alcohol and tobacco products.
You should be ready to follow all your dentist’s guidelines after getting your wisdom teeth removed. You can expect to experience some discomfort over the next few days, such as the below.
You can expect oral bleeding for as long as two days (48 hours) post-wisdom tooth extraction. If bleeding continues for longer, place ice packs over the area on which surgery was performed and bite down on a moistened tea bag, which helps your blood clot and stops bleeding.
Pain is common post-wisdom tooth removal, and your dentist will likely prescribe your pain medications to help control it. If the pain worsens over time, instead of easing, contact your dentist for help.
Your face will likely swell post-wisdom tooth extraction and continue to do so until it reaches its maximum 2-3 days post-removal. You can minimise this issue by applying ice packs to the side of your face where the removal occurred.
In some instances, your skin can bruise post-wisdom tooth removal. This can happen anytime after removal, up to 2-3 days post-surgery. You can speed up healing by applying heat to the affected area. There are, of course, several other complications that can occur. Speak to your dentist to understand what to expect and what steps you should take if any issues arise post-wisdom tooth extraction.
One of the biggest concerns when it comes to wisdom teeth is the threat of an impacted wisdom tooth. This is when the tooth gets trapped in the gum and does not erupt completely. There are several reasons why a wisdom tooth can become impacted, including the below.
Other teeth preventing the wisdom tooth from coming out.
Growing pointed toward the back of the mouth.
Growing at a right angle.
If you do suffer from an impacted wisdom tooth, you can be faced with multiple complications, including:
Cysts.
Gum disease.
Tooth decay of the impacted tooth.
Damage to other teeth.
Ulcers.
Overcrowding.
Infection and inflammation.
If your wisdom tooth is impacted, your dentist will likely recommend surgical removal. While it is possible that the impacted tooth is not causing issues, some dentists may recommend that you monitor the tooth in question until removal is medically necessary. Many dentists prefer a proactive approach. Removing impacted wisdom teeth even when there is no current issue will prevent you from suffering complications in the future, which is why it’s always essential to follow your dentist’s advice.