Wisdom teeth are often removed during the teen years, a challenging time for parents. Your little one is no longer little. They still need help but can do much on their own. And listening to their parents? Let’s just say it doesn’t always happen.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a common procedure, but it is still dental surgery. Your teen may not think they’ll need your help after wisdom tooth removal in Austin, TX, but they will. Here are a few simple ways to help your teen with their tooth extractions before, during, and after the procedure.
Educate Them on What to Expect
Many teens feel a bit apprehensive about having their wisdom teeth removed. For many, this is their first major dental surgery. Feeling nervous and unsure is common. As a parent, you can help to resolve these feelings by ensuring they understand the benefits of the surgery and providing information about what will happen on surgery day. We find that information is one of the best ways to dispel apprehension.
We’d love to talk to your child in preparation for their procedure. Schedule a visit with us and we’ll walk your teen through the wisdom tooth removal process. If your teen has questions, have them write them down. We would love to answer any questions your child has about their procedure.
Here is a basic overview of the process so you can better help your teen to understand their upcoming procedure.
- Wisdom teeth, also called the third molars, are the final four teeth to erupt. They are located deep in the jaw, behind the molars.
- Some people have enough room in their jaw for these teeth, but many do not. Overcrowding can cause the wisdom tooth to remain impacted or to partially erupt, causing pain, infection, and discomfort. Poorly positioned wisdom teeth can also shift or damage the surrounding teeth.
- Often all four wisdom teeth can be removed in a single visit to our office.
- The difficulty of wisdom tooth removal ranges from very easy to highly complex, depending on the position of the tooth, if they have erupted, and if there is any damage to the wisdom tooth.
- The process is nearly painless. We use a local anesthetic and have sedation and anesthesia options available.
- We’ll talk in detail about the methods your surgeon plans to use for your teen’s extractions during their consultation. We use advanced technology to ensure the best possible results.
- Patients go home the same day as their procedure.
- Recovery takes at least three days, but some patients will need additional time.
Contact us to schedule a consultation and we’ll talk in-depth about your child’s options for wisdom tooth removal.
Here are some other ways to help your teen prepare for their procedure:
Stock the Fridge
Easy to eat, soft foods are the mainstays of a dental surgery recovery diet. Stock up on some of your teen’s favorites including:
- Mashed potatoes
- Blended soups (tomato, pumpkin, carrot, etc.)
- Broths
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Scrambled eggs
- Avocado
- Smoothies
- Pudding
- Salmon
Your teen will need to avoid hard crunchy foods for several days. Straws shouldn’t be used as they can dislodge the blood clot after surgery, causing a painful complication called dry socket.
Liaison with Their School- Get Schoolwork
Unless you schedule wisdom tooth extraction over the summer, your teen will likely need to miss a few days of school. Minimize the impact on their education by getting homework and schoolwork from the school and having your teen work on these at home. Most teens will require less than a week off from school. If your child participates in sports, they may need to miss practice for a few weeks. Many parents schedule surgery on the off-season.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a common procedure for teens. As a parent, you can make this process easier by helping your teen to prepare. Call our office at 512-327-7233 to schedule a consultation with our highly experienced oral surgeons in Austin, TX.
