Wisdom teeth extraction is by far one of the most dreaded dental procedures. Unfortunately, only a few lucky patients can avoid this minor oral surgery. Wisdom teeth cause problems more often than not, and in this blog, we will explain what makes these teeth so particular and why it is essential to have them removed on time.

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth of the dental arch. Most patients have four of them, and they usually come out at the age of 18. However, the eruption of wisdom teeth tends to be complicated. Many patients don’t have enough space in their dental arches for these molars to come out, so they end up erupting in the wrong position (sometimes only partially), or they don’t come out at all (they are impacted, which means that they are trapped inside the jawbone).

Why Do I Need to Have Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

The abnormal eruption of wisdom teeth can cause multiple dental problems, and that’s why we recommend patients have them removed before they cause pain or have a detrimental effect on oral health. Ideally, the extraction of wisdom teeth should be planned before they have repercussions on patients’ smiles to avoid the most common problems associated with these molars:

• Infection: When wisdom teeth erupt only partially, they are usually covered by a gum flap. This flap acts as a trap for bacteria and debris, and, as this area is particularly hard to reach with the toothbrush, this dental plaque trap triggers a painful infection known as “pericoronitis.” Pericoronitis is the leading cause of the feared third molar pain, and those who have suffered from it can tell how fortunate it’d be to prevent it.
• Damage to adjacent teeth: Sometimes, due to the lack of space, wisdom teeth erupt horizontally, with the crown aiming towards the adjacent teeth. When these molars try to come out, they only apply pressure to the second molars, which can damage their structure.
• Crooked teeth: Another consequence of this pressure applied by wisdom teeth trying to come out is the misalignment of front teeth.
• Cysts: When inside the jawbone, wisdom teeth are surrounded by a sac. If these teeth can’t come out and aren’t extracted on time, this sac can be filled with fluid and form a cyst. Jaw cysts can be painful and affect adjacent structures like second molars, bone tissue, and nearby nerves. These cysts can also be removed, but they require a much more complex surgical procedure in which the oral surgeon might need to eliminate some bone tissue and even adjacent teeth.

Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed by Expert Hands

At Hill Country Oral Surgery, our skillful oral surgeons perform gentle and minimally invasive wisdom teeth extractions. If you are over 18 and haven’t had your molars removed yet, contact our office and schedule a consult with one of our dentists. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine!

At Hill Country Oral Surgery, we understand that wisdom teeth removal can be a complicated procedure. It involves a minor surgery that can be distressing for many patients and has a recovery time that can last up to seven days. During this time, patients usually feel discomfort. They need to modify many aspects of their routine, including work, leisure, and physical activity. Still, we consider that the most drastic changes are usually made in patients’ diets.

Although each patient is different and our surgeon will give specific recommendations according to the particular case, as a general rule, we advise patients to wait at least seven days to incorporate solid foods into their diet. Hard foods can interfere with recovery and disrupt the healing process, and as the main idea of this diet is to enable patients to go back to normal as soon as possible, we strongly recommend those who undergo this procedure follow this advice.

For more information on wisdom teeth removal or to book a consultation with one of our expert oral surgeons in Austin and Buda, TX, fill out our online form. While you’re here take a look at our before and after transformations in our gallery.

Why Do I Need to Avoid Solids After the Surgery?

The reason is simple: solid foods can injure the recovery site provoking pain, bleeding, or even the dislodge of the blood clot. This latter scenario is the one that worries dentists the most. The blood clot has a crucial role in the wound’s healing process, and if it is accidentally dislodged, it can lead to a dry socket, a painful infection that can make patients see the stars.

Luckily, you can avoid this shooting pain and prevent all these inconveniences by following a soft diet for a week (or until the wound is completely healed). This might be challenging and a bit unhandy, but it is the only way to ensure effective healing.

What Can I Eat in the Meantime?

We always provide some guidance regarding what to eat or drink after wisdom tooth extraction. At first, cold or warm (not hot) soft foods are recommended, like smoothies, soup, jelly, yogurt, and mashed potatoes. Ice cream is also highly advisable, as the cold can also help reduce inflammation and pain.

As the wound heals and you feel better, you can slowly introduce other foods to your diet, like oatmeal and scrambled eggs. You should always monitor how you feel after the meals and then evaluate if you’re doing fine or would rather go back to softer foods.

A few more recommendations…

Besides solids, other foods and habits can dislodge the blood clot and interrupt the healing process. It would be best if, after surgery, you avoid:

• smoking
• using a straw
• chewing gum
• strong physical activity
• lifting heavyweight
• whistling

Contact Hill Country Oral Surgery

If you are looking to have your wisdom teeth removed, or still have some doubts about post-op indications or the procedure itself, contact our team! Our dentists will explain the step-by-step in detail and answer all your questions.

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last type of tooth that grows into the human mouth. For many people, these teeth do not pose an issue. For others, though, there is not enough room in the mouth for the teeth to emerge. 

In these cases, a dentist must remove the wisdom teeth to prevent further discomfort, pain, and complications with the teeth and jaw. 

In fact, wisdom teeth extraction is one of the most common dental surgeries in the U.S., with almost five million people getting the procedure done annually. At Hill Country Oral Surgery, we find many of our patients wondering how they can prepare for wisdom teeth removal surgery. Here, we offer actionable advice on what you can do to make the operation go as smoothly as possible, and how to make a recovery as enjoyable as possible. 

Simple Preparation Means Simple Recovery

As with most things in life, preparation is key to an uneventful, smooth wisdom tooth removal surgery. 

In the time leading up to the surgery, patients can organize their schedules, contacts, and house in a way that sets them up for a smooth, relaxing recovery. 

One of the first things patients should do, after the surgery date is set, is prepare for how they will get to and from the clinic on the day of the operation.

Prepare Company

As wisdom teeth removal is done under general anesthesia, patients will require someone to drive them to and from the clinic for their surgery. 

Getting a friend or family member to help you prepare for surgery is one of the best steps patients can take, as it means there is someone who understands the situation and who the patient can rely on. 

Once the surgery is complete, and the patient has adequately recovered in the clinic, it is time to be taken home to where the patient will begin the recovery process.

Having someone to drive the patient from the clinic is more efficient, safer, and also more pleasant to be in good company following a surgery.

Prepare Your Schedule

Arranging time off work and clearing any dates or what might be stressful social situations is highly recommended for the recovery time following wisdom teeth removal. It means you’re able to focus directly on your own needs and healing correctly.   

The more rest you can give your body immediately following the procedure, the faster you will heal and be able to return to your regular routine fully.

This doesn’t have to mean a dull and boring recovery period, though.

Prepare Entertainment

Most of us have books that we have meant to read, movies that we’ve intended to watch, and material we have wanted to learn. 

Downtime after wisdom teeth removal provides an opportune timeframe with which to catch up on some much-needed you-time. So that you don’t need to worry about what to read or watch, prepare the books and movies you want beforehand, so you can maximize the amount of enjoyment you can get from your surgery downtime. Flood your mind with new literature and characters from your favorite movies as you stay relatively inactive for the time immediately following your surgery.

Prepare Food

Eating following wisdom teeth removal is one of the topics patients ask about most. 

For the first week, or up until any stitches are removed, patients should avoid chewing as much as possible, and avoid hot drinks or alcohol that may encourage blood thinning and bleeding. 

This means plenty of shakes, milk, ice cream, fruit juices, soups, apple sauce, foods that you can consume easily, and yet still provide the body with plenty of energy to heal.

After swelling has subsided, the jaw should start to loosen up, and patients can begin to consider eating soft foods such as bread, toast, bananas, and other nutritious and easy to chew foods. 

Doing this shopping before your surgery and having all these foodstuffs in your house before the operation will make recovery as easy as possible.

The day before the surgery, patients might want to consider fasting for 12-18 hours if they know that they can feel nauseous after general anesthesia.

Wisdom Teeth Removal in Austin, Texas

Wisdom teeth removal can understandably be a daunting prospect, but patients need not be concerned. At Hill Country Oral Surgery, our expert team of dentists consistently provides the highest standards of patient care, satisfaction, safety, and results. We offer a number of procedures, including oral pathology, tooth extractions, dental implants, bone grafting and sinus lift, and more. 

If you follow these simple steps for wisdom teeth removal preparation as outlined above, you will give yourself the best chance at a speedy, enjoyable, and relaxing recovery period following your wisdom teeth removal. If you have any questions about the surgery or want to book an appointment, please call (512) 327 7233 or fill out our online form now. We look forward to hearing from you.