Wisdom Teeth by 18: Why Oak Ridge Patients Are Told Not to Wait

Most people hear about wisdom teeth from a friend who spent a weekend on the couch with a bag of frozen peas. What most patients don't hear is why dentists bring them up in the teenage years, long before they cause any trouble. Here's the reasoning behind the advice at Premier Dental Associates in Oak Ridge.

What wisdom teeth are, and why they cause trouble

Wisdom teeth are your third molars, the last teeth to come in, usually somewhere in the late teens or early twenties. By then the rest of your mouth is already full. Sometimes there's plenty of room and they come in fine. Often there isn't, and that's where the trouble starts.

In general, a wisdom tooth without enough room can get stuck under the gum or against the tooth in front of it. Dentists call that impacted. A tooth that only partly breaks through can be hard to clean, and the flap of gum around it can get sore or infected. Crowding and pressure on neighboring teeth are other reasons dentists watch these teeth closely. None of this happens to everyone, which is why the exam and X-rays matter.

Why the office recommends removal by 18

Premier Dental says it plainly: "We recommend removing potentially problematic wisdom teeth by the age of 18." Notice the word potentially. This isn't a blanket rule that every teenager loses every wisdom tooth. It's about the ones that look like they'll cause problems.

The general reasoning is about timing. In younger patients, the roots of a wisdom tooth are often still forming, and the bone around it tends to be more forgiving. Many dentists find removal goes more smoothly and healing comes easier earlier than it does later in life. Waiting also gives a problem tooth time to damage its neighbor or get infected.

If you're past 18, don't panic. It's not too late. Come in, get looked at, and find out where you stand.

How the procedure works at Premier Dental

The extraction is done right in the office. You don't need a separate surgical center or a trip to the hospital. Here's how the practice describes it:

• The procedure is done in the office under local anesthetic, so the area is numb.
• Nitrous oxide is available if you'd like help relaxing.
• Generally, the procedure can be completed in 20 minutes or less.
• You'll get instructions for the days that follow before you leave.

Twenty minutes surprises people. Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, takes the edge off for nervous patients. If you'd like it, say so when you schedule.

Dr. Lee has been practicing for 35 years. If you're anxious about oral surgery, tell the team when you call, and they can talk you through what to expect.

Recovery: what the first week looks like

The practice puts recovery at 5 to 7 days, and the gum is typically healed in 3 to 4 weeks. That first stretch is the part to plan around.

Here's the general shape of it, though your own instructions from the office come first. The first day is about rest and letting a clot form in the socket. Soft, cool foods are your friends: yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, soup that isn't hot. Many people find the second and third days are the sorest, then things ease off.

A few habits protect that healing area, and dentists commonly give this kind of advice after an extraction:

• Skip straws, smoking, and spitting hard for the first several days, since suction can disturb the clot.
• Stay away from hard, crunchy, or spicy foods until your mouth says it's ready.
• Keep your head raised when you rest.
• Rinse gently with salt water once your dentist says it's okay.
• Take pain medicine only the way your dentist directs.

Call the office if pain gets worse after the third day instead of better, if you have a fever, or if bleeding won't slow down. Those are worth a phone call, not a wait-and-see.

Planning around the procedure

Because the recovery is measured in days, timing matters. For a student, a break between semesters can work. The office is open Monday through Thursday, so ask whether an early-week slot gives you time to settle in before the weekend. If you're getting nitrous oxide, ask when you call about arranging a ride home.

You don't have to decide anything on the phone. The first step is an exam and X-rays so the dentist can see how your wisdom teeth are positioned. Sometimes the answer is that they're coming in fine and can be left alone and watched. Sometimes the answer is that removing them now is the smart move. Either way, you'll know.

Ask before it hurts

If you're a teenager, or the parent of one, call Premier Dental Associates at (865) 483-1323 and ask about a wisdom tooth check. The office is at 201 Bus Terminal Rd in Oak Ridge. A short visit now can save you from a painful surprise later, and if you're an adult who has been putting this off, the same call is a good place to start.