Oral Health Link to Whole Body Health: A Blog

3 Things To Know Before You Book In For Your Wisdom Tooth Removal

9 September 2018

Duane Kelly

Wisdom teeth are pesky things which create an annoyance for some people, but not for others. As someone who has received a dentist's recommendation to preventively have their wisdom teeth removed to stop overcrowding in the mouth, you are wanting to decide when is the best time to book in for this surgical procedure. These are the three points you need to know about wisdom tooth removal which will help you decide when is the perfect time in your schedule to have them taken out. 

1. Ideal Age For Wisdom Tooth Removal

Some dentists actively encourage those in their late teens and early 20's to have their wisdom teeth preventively removed sooner rather than later. There are two reasons for this:

1. the younger the body is, the faster it heals from surgical procedures
2. a preventative removal means you can pick a time of year which suits you, for example during school holidays.

The more years you allow the wisdom teeth to remain in your mouth, the more chance of complications after they are removed. If your dentist is encouraging them to be removed now, then look at your schedule for the rest of the year and determine which months are slower for you than others.

2. Day Of Wisdom Teeth Removal

On the day of wisdom teeth removal, you can expect to spend at least half a day at the site of the surgery. While the surgery itself only lasts approximately 90 minutes, there is the checking in, pre-surgery checks, and recovery time to take into account. Additionally, when all four teeth are removed, it is done under general anesthetic. This means you cannot drive a motor vehicle after the surgery is complete, so you will need another adult available to get you home. Keep these points in mind when determining which date best suits you for surgery.

3. After Removal Recovery Time

You can expect the after-effects of surgery to last up to ten days. While you are not confined to your home for this entire time, you can expect to feel under the weather for the few two to three days after the teeth are removed. Because of this, you may find it advantageous to have the process done on a Friday morning so that you have the weekend to recover.

Speak to your dentist about their thoughts on the best time for wisdom tooth removal surgery to be done. Don't delay the surgery too long though because the faster it is booked in, the faster you can be on the road to healing.

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