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What are wisdom teeth?
Many people have to get their wisdom teeth removed but do you know what they are? It's quite simple: your wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars. Most people see these teeth erupt in their late teens or early twenties- just enough time to have gained some wisdom.
Why do I have to have them removed?
 Sometimes wisdom teeth can grow in and cause no problems - but not very often. For the rest of us the development of wisdom teeth comes with a whole series of complications.
When wisdom teeth begin to erupt they create a flap of gum tissue that grows over the tooth, creating a space for food to become trapped and can cause gum infection.
The biggest and most common complication is misalignment of the wisdom teeth. Misaligned wisdom teeth can be angled towards or away from the second molars. Poor alignment can cause crowding or even damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone or nerves.
What are the signs of wisdom tooth problems?
If you feel any of the following contact your dentist immediately:
- Pain or stiffness near the back of your mouth
- Pain or irritation from a tooth coming in at an awkward angle and rubbing against your cheek, tongue, or top or bottom of the mouth
- An infected swelling in the flap of gum tissue that has formed on top of an impacted tooth that has partially broken through the gum
- Crowding of other teeth
These symptoms usually develop between the ages of 15 and 25. Dr. Olvera will keep a close eye on the development of your wisdom teeth.
 Wisdom Tooth Removal
If your dentist thinks you need to have your wisdom teeth removed don't despair, the procedure is quite common. Before your tooth is extracted, the tooth and surrounding gums will be numbed with a local anesthetic. This anesthetic can be complimented - if your doctor chooses to do so - with a sedative. This can take the form of nitrous oxide or laughing gas, an oral sedative, or an intravenous sedative. The tooth can be removed just like any other tooth if it has completely erupted through the gums. If it is still sitting under the gums we will make a small incision to remove the tooth.
Recovery
Immediately after the operation we will monitor you in a recovery room. Depending on the type of sedative you may need some one to drive you home after the procedure.
For the first 24 hours you will experience the following symptoms:
- Bleeding will occur for several hours after the removal of the tooth. We recommend placing a piece of gauze over the area and bite down to apply pressure. Avoid rinsing, sucking, or spiting for the first 24 hours as it will inhibit the growth of clots to stop the bleeding
- Facial swelling in the area where the tooth was removed is very common. Just place a piece of ice wrapped in a cloth on the swelling for 10 minutes, then remove for 20 minutes
- Tylenol or Advil can be taken to alleviate some of the discomfort. Your dentist my prescribe you a more potent pain killer
- Food should be chewed as far away as possible from the site of extraction. Avoid hot liquids and alcohol for at least 24 hours. In the case of difficult extraction consume soft or liquid foods for the first 24 hours
- Continue to brush your teeth but avoid the teeth directly next to the site of extraction. Do not use mouth wash as it can irritate the extraction site
Full healing can take from a few weeks to a few months to occur. Within the first week or two your mouth should be comfortable enough to use normally again. If you are concerned your recovery is not proceeding normally call you dentist immediately.
Dr. Olvera will keep a close eye on the development of your wisdom teeth. With vigilance and preventative care we can avoid the complications of misaligned wisdom teeth.
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