I'm Nervous About My Wisdom Teeth Extraction: What Can I Expect?

You’ve long known it was a possibility, but now it’s a reality: You need to have your wisdom teeth removed. It’s a common procedure — 85% of people have them taken out — but you’re still a little nervous.

At Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, with three Connecticut locations, wisdom teeth extraction is one of our specialties, so we understand how you feel. Here’s some information to help you prepare.

What are wisdom teeth?

Your wisdom teeth are your third set of molars in the back of your mouth. You usually have four (two on top and two on bottom), and they typically erupt, or grow in, between ages 17-25. 

In some cases, wisdom teeth come in correctly, your mouth has plenty of room for them, and everything is fine. In most cases, though, wisdom teeth cause problems, including: 

• One or more may be impacted (partially or fully trapped in your gums or jawbone)
• They may come in crooked or sideways
• They may cause pain in the back of your mouth
• They might trap food or debris
• They may damage surrounding teeth
• A cyst may develop around them
• They may lead to gum disease or tooth decay

Some dentists recommend wisdom teeth extraction as a preventive measure to avoid these problems; others wait until a problem develops before removing them.

What’s the procedure like?

The process starts with an initial consultation. We perform an oral exam and take X-rays to determine the location of your wisdom teeth and what the procedure entails.

The procedure is outpatient. Once you’re settled in the chair, we give you a local anesthetic or IV sedation to keep you comfortable. We make small incisions in the back of your mouth to expose your wisdom teeth, after which we loosen the teeth and lift them from their sockets.

We clean the sockets, close the incisions with stitches, and put gauze over them to slow bleeding. We put you in a recovery room for observation; once the anesthesia wears off, a family member or friend can drive you home. The procedure usually takes less than an hour.

How long is recovery?

Once you get home, rest for a few days and avoid strenuous activity for 72 hours. Keep ice on your cheeks to ease swelling, and keep your incision sites clean. You can gently brush your teeth.

Stick to soft foods that are easy to chew, avoiding anything hard and crunchy. Don’t drink through a straw or drink carbonated beverages or alcohol — these could dislodge blood clots and cause painful dry sockets.

You should be back to normal within a week or so. If you develop a fever or experience pain longer than that, check with our team.

If you need your wisdom teeth removed, Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons would be happy to help. Call our office in Danbury, Ridgefield, or Southbury, Connecticut, or book your appointment online today.