Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Jacksonville, FL

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to arrive years after your other adult teeth have already erupted. They typically show up between 17 and 25 years old, and there are usually four of them; one for each quadrant of the mouth. However, some people only have a few, and others are lucky enough not to be born with any!

It’s believed our ancestors developed them out of necessity to subsist on a tough diet of nuts and roots that would wear down their enamel. Thanks to modern dental care, cooked food, and utensils, they’re now considered a vestigial feature no longer needed for our survival.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

These teeth are removed more often than not because they are notorious for causing several oral issues, like:

• You may not have enough room in your jawbone for them to fit so they may push neighboring teeth out of alignment which can prematurely wear down your enamel.
• They frequently become trapped in the jawbone and become painfully infected.
• The throbbing as they grow in can cause jaw, tooth, head, and neck aches or limit your mouth’s range of motion.
• Cysts. Sometimes, a small fluid-filled sac forms around a wisdom tooth trapped beneath the gums in response to infection.
• Oral issues. It’s difficult to thoroughly brush and floss partially erupted teeth in the furthest corners of your mouth, which can lead to cavities and gum disease.

What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure

It might vary slightly based on your unique circumstances, but typically, having wisdom teeth removed is a standard procedure. First, our team will numb or sedate you to ensure that you feel calm and comfortable the entire time. Then, if the tooth has fully cleared your gumline, our team will elevate it from the socket with a special instrument, then grasp it with forceps and gently wiggle it free.

Impacted wisdom teeth may require surgery to be extracted. This involves numbing or sedating you then creating a small incision in the gums to access the tooth in question, which may need to be broken into smaller pieces to be removed from your jawbone safely.

Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction

After your appointment, we’ll provide detailed post-op instructions to help you heal as quickly as possible and without complications. Your mouth must form a blood clot to shield the recently exposed nerves and bone tissue to prevent a painful condition known as dry socket.

Some helpful recovery tips include:

• Keep your mouth clean. Keeping bacteria at bay can prevent an infection, but don’t brush or floss in the first 24 hours. Instead, rinse gently with warm salt water.
• Drink lots of water to support your immune system but avoid straws because the force of suction can dislodge the blood clot.
• Avoid strenuous exercise or activities that elevate your heart rate and blood pressure.
• Watch what you eat. You may want to stick to a soft diet to avoid unnecessary discomfort. Popular choices include yogurt, applesauce, scrambled eggs, or mashed potatoes.
• Address aches. It’s usually safe to take over-the-counter pain meds to address discomfort after your extraction.