By Copper Williams
There’s a reason why we have the old phrase “Like pulling teeth.” No one enjoys it, and if they tell you otherwise they’re lying… through their teeth. Or maybe lack thereof. But when it comes to your wisdoms, sometimes you’ve just got to roll with the punches, especially when the compounding pressure on your pearly whites wreak havoc on your oral wellbeing.
So when is the right time to schedule your appointment? Truth be told, it varies for all! We turned to Dr. Suzuki Yusuke of Suzuki DMD & Associates to find that answer. “Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars are the last adult teeth to come in, usually between age 17 and 25. Most people have four (one in each quadrant) but some people never see their wisdom teeth, either because they are fully impacted and never erupt, or they were born without them.
Frequent checkups with your dentist will help to decide the right time to schedule your appointment, but your late teens to early twenties is best, due to the increasing density of the bones in your mouth. The harder they are, the more work it takes to remove the teeth. When it comes time to have those four furthest molars extracted, your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon for the procedure. As Dr. Suzuki explains, “Oral surgeons may hold an MD degree in addition to their dental DDS or DMD degree. Oral surgeons specialize not only with extractions but also with placement of dental implants and maxillofacial surgery.”
Your oral surgeon will determine the type of anesthetic needed by the work necessary to remove the teeth. “Treatment can be done with local anesthesia only, but most patients elect to have treatment performed under sedation or general anesthesia, so getting all [four teeth] removed at once makes sense.”
Once the procedure is complete you’ll continue feeling a little groggy for the next few hours. Follow the directions your oral surgeon provides to minimize any bleeding, swelling, and pain you’ll experience from the extraction. Have a friend or family member drive you home and expect slight discomfort over the next few days. Call your dentist if you experience excessive bleeding, fever, or if the swelling does not subside after the first few days. Your recovery time should last no more than a week before you’ll be ready to head on out and back into the world!
For More Information:
Suzuki DMD & Associates
801 S. Hammer Ln., Lodi
(209) 334-0603
SuzukiDmd.com