Getting Wisdom Teeth Out

The four, large grinding teeth at the back of the mouth are known as wisdom teeth. They emerge in people when they are in their late teens or early twenties. If these teeth come out well and are properly aligned with the other teeth, they are beneficial. However, if they come out unnaturally and are misaligned, they need to be removed, as they can cause tooth decay.

Is Pulling your Wisdom Teeth out Necessary?

The only reason why getting your wisdom teeth out is necessary, is an infection. If your jaw is not large enough to hold wisdom teeth coming out from it, they have no option but to emerge from gums, thus becoming impacted. An infection in this part is caused when food particles get stuck in between the gum tissue and teeth. If you notice any pain, swelling or reddening of gums in this region, it is surely an infection. If proper care is not taken, the wisdom teeth infection can damage other teeth around or can even form a cyst. The only way to get rid of the infection, it to get your wisdom teeth pulled out.

Procedure for Pulling Wisdom Teeth Out

The oral surgeon will administer local anesthesia to your gums. This will make your gums numb, as anesthesia will block any feeling or sensation, in and around this area. The surgeon will then remove any jawbone covering your tooth, by cutting gum tissues above your wisdom tooth. After this, the tissue connecting the bone and tooth is separated, to pull out the wisdom tooth. If your tooth is heavily infected, your surgeon will have to break it down into small pieces to easily remove it. The surgeon will stitch the wound and cover it with cotton to stop the bleeding. The whole procedure should not last more than 45 minutes.

Cost of Pulling Wisdom Teeth Out

If you are getting all your wisdom teeth removed, in a hospital, under general anesthesia, it should cost you anything around US $1000 to US$ 1500. To remove just a single wisdom tooth which is causing trouble, it should cost you around US $140 to US $320. You can claim back the money if you have a dental insurance. If you do not want to spend so much, a very cheap option for you would be a nearby dental college, where the cost will be anywhere between US $130 to US $200, for all four teeth.

Foods to Eat after the Procedure

You can have the following foodstuffs after getting your wisdom teeth out:

• Cold Pudding
• Mashed potatoes
• Cold tomato soup
• Ice cream
• Frozen or normal yogurt
• Cold applesauce

A cold health shake is what you should be drinking after getting wisdom teeth out, as it will provide your body with necessary nutrients.

Tips for the Recovery Process

You can follow the precautions mentioned below for a quick recovery:

• After every hour, change the cotton placed on your wound, as it will get wet with blood. If bleeding continuous for more than 24 hours, consult your dentist.
• You will continue feeling numb in your mouth after the operation as well. Be careful, as you might bite your inner lip, cheeks or your tongue during this period.
• You should avoid having anything hard or warm at least for the initial few days to ensure a quick recovery.
• To reduce swelling after wisdom teeth removal, keep rubbing outer portions of your cheek with an ice pack.
• A good way to speed up the recovery process would be to start rinsing your mouth with warm salt water, next day onwards.
• You should avoid smoking after getting wisdom teeth out, along with physical activities and lying flat on the bed, at least for the first 2 days, it may interfere with your recovery process.
• Take care while brushing and cleaning your tongue so that you don't touch the wound in any way. Visit your dentist after a few days to get the stitches removed.

Pulling your wisdom teeth out is not a very painful or stressful process. You will hardly take a week to recover from the extraction, and get back to normal conditions. Taking proper dental care and maintaining oral hygiene, go a long way in keeping dental problems at bay.