How Long Is Wisdom Teeth Recovery?
A dental professional shows their patient how they are going to replace a missing tooth.

At Image Dental, we understand that the emergence of your wisdom teeth represents a significant milestone in your journey towards adulthood. But let's face it, it's not without its challenges. Often appearing after the age of 17, wisdom teeth can cause discomfort and require a recovery period.

That's where we step in. Our dedicated team at Image Dental is committed to providing you with comprehensive care throughout the entire process. We've created a secure environment furnished with cutting-edge tools and a highly-skilled team. Our goal? To make your wisdom teeth removal as easy and painless as possible.

Following removal, swelling should subside after a few days, and your oral conditions will revert to normalcy. Post one week, you'll attend a consultation with one of our proficient oral surgeons. They will evaluate your mouth's healing process and decide if any additional steps are required. Heeding their guidelines will expedite your oral health's return to full capacity in a matter of weeks.

End your struggle with wisdom teeth pain. Consult with our experts today at Image Dental - because your comfort is our priority.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Our powerful, wide and robust molar teeth, better known as wisdom teeth, earn their place in the far reaches of our mouths. 

These wonder-workers are the ultimate food grinders, specially designed to make your meals easier to swallow. Now, the average human mouth is home to a remarkable 28 teeth, and out of these, 8 are molars nestled in each corner.

Those unique molars, we often refer to as "third molars" or even "wisdom teeth", are the last of your teeth to make their grand arrival. 

You'll find them growing at the very back of your gums - typically you'll find four of them. Wisdom teeth usually make their appearance between the ages of 17 and 21, and they sometimes push aside other teeth as they find their place.

Do I Need to Remove My Wisdom Teeth?

Usually, our oral cavity is designed to comfortably accommodate 28 teeth. However, when four additional ones begin to emerge, complications tend to arise. 

Most often, the root cause is the lack of sufficient space within your jaw to incorporate these teeth. Consequently, your wisdom teeth may end up growing sideways, partially breaking through, or becoming lodged beneath your jaw and bone.

As these wisdom teeth partially emerge, they can create a fertile environment for bacterial growth around the exposed areas. This bacterial proliferation can lead to infections, resulting in discomfort, swelling, and pain. Furthermore, these problematic teeth might also exert pressure on your other teeth, causing them to become misaligned.

In more severe circumstances, improperly positioned wisdom teeth can develop into cysts or tumours, accelerating the erosion of your jawbone.

Despite the potential inconvenience and threats posed by wisdom teeth, their removal is a common and judicious procedure.

How Are They Removed?

Your journey to wisdom teeth removal begins with an oral evaluation performed by our skilled surgeons. This examination will help them to understand the growth and positioning of your wisdom teeth through careful inspection and x-rays

Based on their positioning and likely eruption pattern, we'll chart out the best plan of action for you.

Post-examination, we'll discuss your next steps and provide a roadmap for the process. Our wisdom teeth removal process is typically carried out under general anesthesia or IV sedation, ensuring maximum comfort during surgery.

Once the teeth have been successfully removed and the incisions sutured, our dedicated team will continue to monitor your condition. We can provide prescribed medication to manage potential discomfort and swelling, and if necessary, antibiotics. Additionally, we will arrange a follow-up appointment, typically a week post-surgery, to closely monitor your recovery.

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What is The Recovery Time?

We suggest sparing a day or two from your hectic work or school schedule to let the post-operative swelling and discomfort reduce. Be mindful to not indulge in actions that might disturb the blood clots which occur in your wisdom teeth sockets post-surgery. These include rinsing, consumption of hot beverages, alcoholic drinks, using a straw, and spitting.

Recovery after a wisdom teeth removal surgery may span up to two weeks. During this phase, we advise you to:

  • Refrain from strenuous physical activity and exercise
  • Stick to a diet of soft food for a few days
  • Attempt to chew with teeth situated closer to the front of your oral cavity
  • Adhere to our medication instructions, specifically when our surgeons prescribe you antibiotics

Indications of a Challenging Recovery

Wisdom teeth removal is often accompanied by some discomfort and swelling, which are perfectly normal. However, it's crucial to keep an eye out for specific symptoms which could signal complications. These include:

  • Heavy bleeding,
  • Severe or persistent pain for more than seven days
  • Problems breathing or swallowing
  • Fever

If any of these symptoms are present after your wisdom teeth removal, it's time to reach out to us immediately. These symptoms could be associated with an infection or other complications. Your health and wellbeing are our topmost priority and we urge you not to delay contacting us in the event of any discomfort.

Get Acquainted With Your Wisdom Teeth

The eruption of wisdom teeth is a significant milestone in your growth journey. Their extraction could potentially be your first surgical procedure. 

Rest assured, this commonplace event is secure, and it protects you from possible future damage. The healing period post wisdom teeth extraction is generally only a matter of days.

At Image Dental, we offer not only a thorough oral assessment of your wisdom teeth progression but also same-day extractions. 

Our proficient doctors specialize in the safe removal of wisdom teeth. In case of discomfort or visible emergence of your wisdom teeth, do not hesitate to reach out to our office — It's a step in the right direction.