Since most people opt for wisdom tooth removal, I found it important to share my personal experience with getting my wisdom teeth extracted. This will prepare you for your own wisdom tooth removal in the future.
First – What are the different types of teeth?
- Premolars – These are also known as bicuspids, that tear and crush food. They come with flattened top and help maintain the height of the face. There are a total of 8 premolars in an adult’s mouth; that is, 4 on the bottom and another 4 on the top.
- Canines – Otherwise known as cuspids, canines are shaped like cusps or points. Canines grasp and tear food. Additionally, they support the lips. They also help guide all the teeth in the right place, especially when the lower and upper jaw come together.
- Incisors – These are chisel-shaped front teeth. There are four 4 incisors at the top and 4 at the bottom. Incisors cut foods. They additionally help us to pronounce the words we speak.
- Molars – These teeth chew and grind food. They come with many cusps on the biting surface. These are the flattest and widest teeth. There are a total of twelve molars; that is, 6 in the lower jaw and another 6 in the upper jaw. The wisdom teeth are the 4 molars located at the back of the upper and lower jaws. The wisdom teeth are the last to emerge at the time of young adulthood. However, not everyone develops wisdom teeth. Upper molars come with 3 roots while lower molars come with 2 roots. Cleaning the wisdom teeth can be tiresome since they are positioned far back in the mouth. Luckily, there are slim toothbrushes which are specially designed for cleaning wisdom teeth.
Here are some key points to take note of:
- There are a total of 32 permanent teeth which include four wisdom teeth.
- There are a total of 20 primary teeth.
- The first secondary teeth to emerge (generally at around age six) are the first four secondary molars positioned behind the last primary teeth. Between seven and eight years, incisors emerge.
- The lower incisors are commonly the first teeth to emerge at around six months. By around two years, all 20 primary teeth are typically in the mouth.
What should you do before wisdom tooth extraction?
The first and foremost thing you should know is that you shouldn’t eat or drink anything six hours before the surgery. For this reason, it’s probably best to schedule your visit in the morning. However, this wasn’t so bad.
What happens during the surgery?
Due to my dental anxiety, I opted for both laughing gas and dental sedation. The laughing gas itself was very relaxing. In turn, my anxiety and nervousness instantly came to an end. This should be relieving for anyone who is nervous about the surgery.
I was unconscious the entire time and didn’t feel anything. This alone was relieving as the tools were the main cause of the majority of my nervousness to begin with. My sleep was so deep that I had no perception of time.
Even though the extraction was an hour-long procedure, it just feels like you’re taking a name and the wake up a few minutes later. It felt like nothing had happened.
Once you wake up from the procedure, you’ll feel tired and even a bit loopy from the laughing gas. Your mouth will also feel numb, which is nice. Although, it was a little difficult to talk. I woke up with a piece of gauze in my mouth and was ready to head home almost right away.
What should you do after wisdom tooth extraction?
Because I was in no condition to drive from the laughing gas and could not drive for 24 hours after the procedure, my mom drove me home. However, after about 15 or 20 minutes, the laughing gas started to wear off. My mouth was still numb, luckily. I didn’t feel pain for five more hours.
Just as the surgeon told me, I started feeling pain after five hours. My surgeon let me know that the pain would be the most intense during the first six hours of pain, which it was.
It actually wasn’t as bad as I had expected. However, it was still painful and uncomfortable. Luckily, I took Vicodin to reduce the pain post-surgery.
I was told that if I take this pill before the anesthesia wears off, the pain would be much less. The Vicodin took a little over a half hour to kick in.
Due to the pain, swelling, and tenderness in the area where I had my wisdom teeth removed, I opted for liquids for the first few days after my surgery. I also consumed soft foods such as mashed potatoes and soups. For the first day, I had a sugarless fruit smoothie. I made sure not to use a straw because my surgeon advised me not to as the pressure from the straw could cause a dry socket (dislodgement of a blood clot).
Overall, my wisdom tooth extraction was easier to deal with than I thought. I appreciated the pain medication in addition to ice to help numb the area and reduce the swelling.
I took an easy for the first three days, making sure not to participate in anything strenuous. After about a week or two, my mouth began feeling a lot better. My mouth started to feel better than it did before I had my wisdom teeth removed. I felt functional again without the pain of my wisdom teeth.
All in all, the surgery was a success!
