29 Sep When Is the Best Time to Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Wisdom teeth can cause all kinds of problems, from overcrowding to decay, and most people need to get them removed at some point. It’s a very common procedure, and don’t worry—it won’t hurt a bit.
But even though a tooth extraction is nothing to be afraid of, it is still a surgical procedure. You will need some time to recover, especially if you’re getting more than one tooth removed. With a little strategic planning, you can make your recovery go more smoothly.
Here are some of the best times to get your wisdom teeth removed.
When to Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Before/After Braces or Invisalign
If there’s not enough room for your wisdom teeth, they’re going to push your other teeth out of alignment when they grow in. So if you already went through the process of straightening your teeth with braces or Invisalign, your wisdom teeth could ruin all that hard work.
Or, if you’re planning to get braces or Invisalign in the future, you might need to have your wisdom teeth extracted first. In cases of overcrowding, removing the wisdom teeth is often necessary to make room for the rest of the teeth to form a proper alignment.
During Summer Break
Wisdom teeth can be extracted as soon as they start to emerge, and for many people, that’s in high school. For others, it might not be until college.
If you’re a student, you might want to wait until summer vacation or a semester break for your extraction. It can take a couple of weeks to heal completely, and you’ll need to rest as much as possible and eat more carefully than usual.
Before a Long Weekend
Most people get their wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 18 and 24. Others, however, might not see their wisdom teeth emerge until their late twenties. And some adults who had healthy wisdom teeth in their youth might need extractions later on.
Because wisdom teeth are so difficult to clean, they often fall victim to decay and threaten the health of the other teeth. So if you’re a working adult who needs a wisdom tooth extraction, you might want to take a few sick days or schedule the surgery before a vacation or a long weekend.
Recovering After a Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Recovery is the most important part of a wisdom tooth extraction. You’ll need to be careful not to disturb the blood clot that forms in the empty socket. If it gets dislodged, the extraction site can easily become infected.
You’ll need to be very careful about how you brush and how you eat, and you might even want to stick to soft foods for a few days. You must avoid drinking through a straw because the sucking action could also dislodge the blood clot. And you absolutely must not smoke, for the same reason.
Do You Always Need to Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Wisdom teeth are one of the reasons why regular dental exams are so important for young people. Checking on the development of your wisdom teeth will help us predict whether or not they will be healthy.
If your wisdom teeth are impacted or if they will crowd your other teeth too much, they will probably need to be removed. In this case, the x-rays and scans from your exams will help us predict the best time for a wisdom tooth extraction.
If you live in Prescott, Arizona and you’re due for a dental checkup, we’d be glad to see you! We can answer any questions you have about your wisdom teeth during your exam. Just give us a call at 928-445-1660 or request an appointment online.
Photo by Dan on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 8/29/2023.