Can Adults Get Wisdom Teeth Issues?

There’s more than one reason adults get their wisdom teeth removed. Keep reading to discover several of them.

1. Impacted Teeth

These teeth often don’t have enough room to erupt into the mouth as they should. They can erupt partially or not at all. Impacted teeth can grow at an angle toward the back of your mouth or toward the next tooth. They can even grow straight up and down, but stay trapped within the jawbone. Impacted teeth can also cause damage to a nearby tooth or bone and trap food behind the wisdom tooth.

2. Pain

As an adult you may suddenly begin experiencing pain in your mouth. This can happen because there is pressure on the wisdom teeth nerves as they continue to develop. Another common problem is cavities forming in the teeth near your wisdom teeth which cause pain and discomfort.

3. Tooth Decay

It’s not easy to clean wisdom teeth. Even if they erupt as they should, they are often crowded by the teeth next to them. This makes brushing and flossing hard to do. Cavities are an issue because of this.

4. Infection

Pain is never enjoyable, but infection is a big problem. When wisdom teeth can’t erupt as they should infection can happen in the gums. This causes oral problems because it damages nearby healthy teeth.

5. Misalignment Problems

When wisdom teeth erupt, they can force other teeth to move. This causes issues because it can require dental work so those teeth forced to move can return to their proper alignment.

If you have wisdom teeth bothering you, don’t hesitate to call us to set up an appointment today at (423) 296-8210. Our skilled surgeons at Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga are here to walk you through every step of the way.

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Dry socket occurs when the blood clot that forms over the socket (the hole in the jawbone where your tooth has been removed) becomes dislodged. Without this protective clot, the socket will be exposed to air, food, or fluids and can experience tremendous pain. It can even delay your recovery if it leads to an infection.

Keep reading to learn how to avoid dry socket after your wisdom teeth removal.

How to Avoid Dry Socket: 4 Simple Steps

1. Avoid Smoking or Tobacco Use

If you smoke or use any tobacco products, your likelihood for developing dry socket increases. Smoke inhalation or exposure to chemicals in tobacco products can break up the protective clot. Oral surgeons recommend that you refrain from any tobacco products during your wisdom teeth recovery.

2. Don’t Use Straws

You may want to drink a delicious smoothie or sip on some iced water during recovery. But you should never use straws at any point during your wisdom teeth surgery recovery. Dry socket often develops when a patient creates too much suction in their mouth, causing the blood clot to break or become dislodged. Remember how to avoid dry socket: gently sip your drinks straight from the cup. Check out our recommendations for safe food to eat during your wisdom teeth recovery.

3. Watch Your Medication

Let your oral surgeon know if you are on any medications. Some studies suggest that use of oral contraceptives may increase your risk of developing dry socket. Your oral surgeon will be able to recommend the best option for you, as well as determine if any other medications could stop proper blood clotting.

4. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Practicing good oral hygiene is the best way to ensure that you will not develop a painful dry socket. Brush gently during the days after surgery and use the mouth wash that your oral surgeon will provide for you. This will help prevent bacteria from getting into the socket and causing periodontitis, or an infection of the jawbone.

Now you know how to avoid dry socket. You have a great chance of a healthy recovery if you follow the instructions of your oral surgery team following your surgery. However, if you happen to develop dry socket, seek help from your oral surgeon immediately. If you have any questions or want to schedule a consultation about painful wisdom teeth, call Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga today.

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Why Remove Wisdom Teeth Before They Erupt?

Read on to discover why removing wisdom teeth early may be a good preventative measure for you.

1. Avoid Eruption Pain

Sometimes people avoid having their wisdom teeth removed due to anxiety or fear of the surgery. Maybe they think a lack of pain means nothing is wrong. However, even if you are not feeling pain yet from wisdom teeth, it does not mean it won’t happen. Wisdom teeth are expected to come in around the ages 16-25, but this can vary. Planning wisdom teeth removal around these ages can save you from experiencing pain, and the cost of recovery time, when you are older.

2. Avoid Crowded Teeth

If your wisdom teeth do not erupt, they can grow at a side angle (called “impacted”) while still intact in the jawbone. Many oral surgeons point to impacted wisdom teeth as a reason for bottom teeth crowding. Teeth crowding refers to when teeth are misaligned and do not allow for normal space between the teeth. When left in the mouth, wisdom teeth can cause severe enough teeth crowding to warrant treatment, such as braces, for other affected teeth.

3. Avoid Unexpected Surgery

In other words, plan ahead. You will not only have to plan your normal schedule around the day of your surgery, but the recovery too. Recovery from wisdom teeth removal can take between 1-2 weeks. Even if your wisdom teeth have yet to erupt, scheduling removal around a convenient time is easier than rearranging frantically when wisdom teeth pain starts.

Don’t wait too long to schedule your wisdom teeth removal. Our trained and empathetic staff at Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga is always happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions you have. To plan your wisdom teeth consultation, call us today at (423) 296-8210.

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What can I eat after wisdom teeth removal?

1. Soup

Soup is one of the best meals you can eat during the first week of your post-op recovery. Make sure that the temperature is warm, and not hot, or else you risk an uncomfortable burn. Broth-based or puréed soups can fill you up quickly and keep you full for hours. Avoid any soups that have large amounts of meats or vegetables that would require chewing.

2. Yogurt and Smoothies

There is a variety of healthy smoothies you can make along with eating yogurt while recuperating from surgery. However, you should be careful about how you consume these meals. Painful dry socket can develop from using straws or eating solid food while recovering from wisdom teeth removal. If you are going to drink smoothies or eat yogurt, eat slowly and use a spoon.

3. Soft Sweets

Soft-textured foods are the most recommended during this healing period. You should always eat sweet, sugary food in moderation, but there are a variety of sweets that are soft enough to consume while healing from wisdom teeth extraction. Foods like applesauce, ice cream, and pudding are safe to eat following wisdom teeth surgery.

4. Oatmeal

Similar to soup, oatmeal’s liquid-based texture makes it easy to swallow. Oatmeal is also packed with protein. You can eat instant oatmeal around 4-5 days following surgery, since you may grow tired of eating soup and ice cream. Cream of wheat can also be a viable substitute if you aren’t a fan of oatmeal’s thicker texture.

Most oral surgeons agree that you can eat solid foods again about a week after your wisdom teeth extraction. In the meantime, eating well and regularly is vital to the healing process after surgery and your food options are not as limited as you think.

If you ever have questions about foods or drinks you can have after surgery at Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga, give us a call at 423-296-8210.

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Here are 3 tips on how to manage your wisdom teeth removal anxiety

1. Learning About Your Surgery

At EBOS, we understand the best way to deal with any fears about surgery is to be informed. Surgery anxiety can often stem from a lack of information about what is taking place. When we schedule your wisdom teeth removal, we want to answer any of your questions about the surgery. We show you a video to provide further details, along with testimonials from other patients. We also go over what kind of anesthetics will be used on you during surgery.

2. Find Your Relaxation Technique

Everyone has their own technique they use to relax. Being relaxed is an integral part to reducing any pre-surgery qualms. Popular relaxation techniques include taking a walk (maybe the day before your surgery), meditating and breath-focusing, listening to music, or writing in a journal. Our staff is also happy to talk with you and encourage you through pre-surgery prep.

3. Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions

Any anxiety about surgery are usually concerns with “what could go wrong?” While there are risks associated with any kind of surgery, our knowledgeable surgeons work tirelessly to minimize any risks. That’s why following your surgeon’s –pre and –post op instructions is imperative for your recovery, as well as anxiety. Instructions like sleeping well and avoiding food or drink 6 hours before surgery will ensure the surgery and recovery goes well. No need to stress!

The informed consent videos we show patients before their surgery can be found here. Being informed is the first step to minimizing pre-surgery anxiety. You are in great hands at Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga.

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If You Don’t Get Wisdom Teeth Removed . . .

Think we’re being dramatic? We’ve seen enough cases of impacted wisdom teeth that were ignored for too long. No need to exaggerate just to make a point. Here’s what can happen if you don’t get wisdom teeth removed.

1. You Could Get Infected

Our oral surgeons often remove wisdom teeth because they’ve only partially erupted. When a wisdom tooth fails to fully erupt, it can lead to pericoronitis – a bacterial infection of the gums. Treatment can be as painless as a salt rinse. A more painful infection may cause swelling and pain. In that case, you may need antibiotics. In the worst case (severe inflammation or recurring infection), you could even need oral surgery – the very thing you may have been trying to avoid.

2. You Could End Up With Bone Damage

A wisdom tooth that fails to erupt at all causes other problems. Cysts can develop next to the recalcitrant tooth. If you don’t get wisdom teeth removed, those cysts can damage your jawbone. They weaken it by creating hollow spots. They also damage the integrity of your gums. Oral surgery to remove both the cysts and the wisdom tooth is required.

3. Your Teeth Could Become Misaligned

When a wisdom tooth comes in crooked, they often crowd, damage, and push neighboring teeth out of alignment. That not only leads to wisdom tooth removal – it can also make repair necessary, and you may even need braces to correct your bite.

Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed In Time

You’ve seen what happens if you don’t get wisdom teeth removed. It’s best done as soon as you know there’s a problem. The good news is that you’ll likely only need one appointment and follow-up. Recovery will take place over 3-7 days, and you’ll be fully anesthetized during the procedure.

We agree. Surgery doesn’t sound like a fun day. That’s why we do our absolute best to answer your questions, prepare you, and send you home comfortable and healthy again – with an action plan for at-home post-surgery care.

Choose oral health. Call Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga today.

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Finding out for sure is important. Because impacted wisdom teeth, when unaddressed, can be come infected, they’re a danger to the health of your entire mouth. And they can cause damage to your otherwise healthy teeth. That’s a risk you’d like to avoid. So let’s ask the question:

Do I Have Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

We hope not. There are 4 simple signs. Look for these – if you have one or more of them, you may have impacted wisdom teeth.

1. You Have Trouble Eating

If you’re having a hard time chewing food, or if cold drinks cause shooting pains, you may have impacted wisdom teeth. If even the foods you love cause too much pain for you to truly enjoy them, you should make an appointment with an oral surgeon. Tooth removal is a necessary pain that will take away your suffering long-term.

2. Your Mouth Feels Painful

If the back of your mouth is extremely tender or painful – if simply biting down a bit brings tears to your eyes – your wisdom tooth (or teeth) may be impacted. It may be hard to localize the pain if it hurts intensely, but you may notice that it lingers longest behind your last molar.

3. You Have Jaw Swelling

Does it hurt when you touch your jaw? Do you see swelling in your cheek or jaw when you’re in front of the mirror? Swelling is a significant sign that something’s amiss in your mouth. If the rest of your teeth feel fine, you’re probably experiencing an impacted wisdom tooth that needs removal.

4. Your Gums are Tender, Red, or Bleeding

Impacted wisdom teeth often lead to tender gums. It may be one of the first signs you experience. Pay attention if your gums hurt, look red, or even bleed. You may have an impacted wisdom tooth showing its presence.

What Should I Do if I Have Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

If the signs point to impacted wisdom teeth, make an appointment today. Pain isn’t fun – and the consequences of ignoring an impacted tooth only get worse the longer you wait.

Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer any longer. Our oral surgeons have decades of experience. And we’ve helped thousands of people like you in Chattanooga. After your impacted wisdom teeth are extracted and the site heals, you’ll feel much better.

You can live free from dental pain. Call us today to learn more or make an appointment.

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Wisdom Teeth Defined

Before we discuss impaction, we need to know what exactly wisdom teeth are in the first place. Wisdom teeth are your potential third molars, one on each side, both top and bottom. They’re the last teeth to come in.

The theory holds that human jaws used to be larger and more able to accommodate these third molars. But now they often can’t emerge or develop as your other teeth do. In fact, some people don’t even have four wisdom teeth – and some have none.

What Is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

When a wisdom tooth can’t come in normally, because of a lack of room or other cause, it’s called “impacted.” An impacted tooth can be twisted, tipped on its side, or displaced as it tries to make it out into your mouth.

Wisdom teeth can be impacted in several ways with varying degrees of impaction. The severity depends on how the teeth are positioned in your jaw.

Types of Wisdom Tooth Impaction

When your wisdom tooth’s crown penetrates through the bone but not the gum, the condition is called “soft tissue impaction.”

When part of the tooth comes in through the gum – but part remains stuck in your jawbone – it’s called “partial bony impaction.”

And, as you may have guessed, when the wisdom tooth remains in the jawbone, it’s called “complete bony impaction.”

Symptoms of Wisdom Tooth Impaction

In some cases, you may never feel your impacted wisdom teeth. They don’t always present symptoms. And, rarely, some people just don’t have wisdom teeth in the first place.

If you do experience symptoms, it’s usually due to infection or swelling in the gum around the tooth. Symptoms such as pain, swollen or bleeding gums, jaw swelling, or trouble chewing can be indicators of impacted wisdom teeth.

If you develop impacted wisdom teeth, make an appointment with your oral surgeon. If left alone, impacted wisdom teeth cause trouble. You risk gum disease and decay in the surrounding teeth if you avoid treatment. Even worse problems like cysts or infected teeth may occur with extreme neglect.

How Can I Avoid Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

See your dentist yearly. That’s the best advice anyone can take, whether or not you still have your wisdom teeth. But with annual or semi-annual X-rays, your dentist can catch problems before they start and refer you to your oral surgeon for wisdom teeth removal.

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So how do you know when you need to have your wisdom teeth taken out?

To Prevent Pain

Most often, they need to be removed when they’re impacted. They’re stuck in some way, and can’t come in like the rest of your teeth. Sometimes, they’re sideways. For whatever reason, whether it’s physical, genetic, or otherwise, wisdom teeth commonly suffer from impaction.

You’re better off when your impacted wisdom teeth are discovered early. However, most people don’t notice there’s a problem until the pain starts. Once it does, your best – and quickest – way to relieve the pain is wisdom teeth removal.

To Divert Disease

An impacted wisdom tooth makes the teeth next to it more vulnerable. It’s hard to keep the area clean. And that can lead to gingival inflammation.

Even worse, periodontal pockets (spaces between gum and root, kind of like a turtleneck sweater with a stretched-out neck) can form around the roots of the neighboring tooth. When that happens, your once-healthy tooth is in danger.

Sounds like a good reason for wisdom teeth removal.

To Curtail Cavities

It’s easy to get cavities on impacted wisdom teeth and neighboring molars, since it’s harder to brush them. You’ll end up with plaque accumulation and, eventually, cavities that need to be filled. Removing your wisdom teeth lets you clean your healthy molars more easily.

To Inhibit Infection

There’s a big word here: pericoronitis. That’s the name for an infection around the crown of an impacted molar – underneath the surface of your gums. Ouch.

If unchecked, pericoronitis can lead to fever and/or jaw muscle spasms (trismus). And, even if the infection subsides, you’re still vulnerable to re-infection because the cause hasn’t been removed.

That’s the best reason for wisdom teeth removal that we can think of.

After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Right after surgery, you’ll be under post-operative care to ensure your recovery from the effects of anesthesia and surgical trauma. When you wake up, you’ll be given a set of clear post-operative instructions and a prescription for pain medication.

Post-Surgery Care

So that your incisions can heal and bleeding is minimized, it’s important for your blood to clot quickly. The blood clot seals the tooth sockets and allows healing to begin. Without it, underlying bone and nerve endings can be exposed, causing pain.

You’ll be given gauze to bite down on over your incisions. You should apply steady, firm pressure on the gauze. If necessary, replace it every thirty minutes for the first couple of hours. If bleeding has abated after this period, then the gauze can be removed.

It can take up to eight hours for a blood clot to fully form a protective layer over the site. So, after the bleeding has stabilized, you should do as little as possible to disturb your incisions. No gauze should be used after the first day, as it can stick to and potentially dislodge a protective clot.

You shouldn’t clean your teeth or probe the area of the extraction for the first 24 hours after surgery. Avoid rinsing or any vigorous mouth movement. You won’t feel much like moving your mouth, anyways, so this part should be easy.

Refrain from any strenuous activities. Avoid using straws; drink from a glass instead. If you’re a smoker, you should wait at least 24 hours (but preferably longer) before having a cigarette.

Bleeding Care

Bleeding after wisdom teeth removal is normal but should never be excessive. If bleeding is excessive in the first hour or two after the surgery, you may need to apply more pressure to the site. Don’t bite down on the gauze with too much pressure, but do apply steady, firm pressure directly on the area.

If bleeding problems persist, place a damp tea bag over the incision. Tea contains tannic acid that constricts your blood vessels and should help to stop the bleeding.

To minimize bleeding, rest quietly. Until the bleeding has stopped it is natural to taste blood or to see traces of blood in your saliva. You may stop using gauze after the flow stops – usually around 8 hours after surgery.

Pain Remediation

Pain treatment is understandably a primary concern for most patients following wisdom teeth extraction. It’s an invasive procedure and does result in discomfort during the healing process. However, if managed promptly and appropriately, your pain can be minimized. And the better you feel, the better you’ll be able to manage your recovery.

Your local anesthetic won’t wear off for a few hours, so you should have your prescription for pain medication filled as soon as you are able after leaving surgery. You should take your medication after arriving at home. Do not work, drive, or operate heavy machinery while you’re taking your prescribed medication. Ibuprofen is also recommended to minimize swelling.

If you have been given antibiotics to prevent infection, you should begin taking these immediately until the prescription is finished.

Rest Helps

For the first 24 hours, you should avoid vigorous activity. Rest as much as possible and try not to talk unless you have to. When you lie down, you can minimize swelling by keeping your head elevated above your feet.

Swelling Tips

Swelling is natural after surgery. You probably won’t see major swelling until the second or third day. Even so, you should apply ice or a cold pack while resting after you arrive home. It’s best to follow the pattern of 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. If your swelling is excessive, you may consider taking an anti-inflammatory drug such as Ibuprofen.

After 36-48 hours of applying ice at 20-minute intervals, you should switch to moist heat applied to the same area. The heat will promote quicker healing.

Post-Surgery Hygiene

Brushing your teeth is important – it helps to prevent infection. However, you should avoid rinsing, vigorous brushing, or spitting within the first 24 hours after your surgery. You can resume regular brushing on the day after surgery. Depending on your level of comfort and soreness, you should keep toothpaste to a minimum. Use a light touch at first. There may be some areas of your mouth that are difficult to reach until swelling goes down.

After the first 24 hours, rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours and after eating. You can make a saline solution by dissolving approximately one teaspoon of salt in an eight-ounce glass of water. Avoid the use of a water pic for at least one week following surgery.

Diet During Recovery

After surgery you should drink lots of fluids. Avoid all alcohol, caffeine, carbonated or hot beverages. You’re also advised not to drink from a straw for several days, because the sucking action could dislodge the blood clot and cause further bleeding.

You should only eat soft foods, such as yogurt or applesauce, for the first 24 hours. After that period, you may eat soft and semi-soft foods that require minimal chewing. If possible, avoid placing food in the area of the surgery.

Try to eat something for every meal, preferably high calorie and high protein foods. Your liquid intake should be around 5-6 glasses per day.

Possible Complications

If the blood clot in the tooth socket has been dislodged or has not healed over properly, you may develop a condition known as dry socket, or alveolar osteitis. If you do not feel that your wound is healing over the course of a week and begin to experience growing pain from your jawline radiating towards your ear, then you should contact your oral surgeon immediately.

Sometimes the small pieces of bone that supported your wisdom tooth can protrude from the area of the wound. This is not uncommon, especially in cases of complicated extraction. Even if you can feel these sharp protrusions within the first week, they will often go away and smooth down on their own. However, if they remain you should contact your oral surgeon.

Numbness, toothaches, and pain in your nose and throat are common following surgery. Fever may be present, but should go down with the reduction of swelling. If these symptoms remain or worsen after 48 hours, then you should contact your oral surgeon.

You should also contact your oral surgeon if any of the following occur: difficulty swallowing or breathing, pus discharge from the wound, blood or pus discharge from nasal cavities.

Removal of Stitches

Stitches normally dissolve on their own, but you should make an appointment with your oral surgeon if they need to be removed. If your stitches come untied on their own, simply pull them out. This is normal, and shouldn’t cause any problems.

Back to Normal

After a few days of healing, your pain level and activity should gradually return to normal. Try your best to resume normal activity within your comfort level (brushing, eating, exercising). Don’t rush anything when you are still in the healing process. But the more you are able to resume normal activity, the faster you will heal and feel better.

In resuming exercise, start off slowly. Keep in mind that dizziness may occur in the first days of recovery, especially after vigorous activity or when moving from lying to a standing position.

If you have any concerns, contact your oral surgeon at Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga.

We care about your health!

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