The wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to develop, but their late arrival can sometimes cause problems. Not only can these teeth cause intense pain, but your wisdom teeth can also affect your entire smile by causing crooked teeth, infections, and swelling.
If your teen is experiencing wisdom tooth pain, Texas Institute of Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery is here to help!
What Causes Wisdom Tooth Pain?
Some people’s wisdom teeth erupt without any problems. However, it’s quite common to experience complications when these teeth emerge. Sometimes these issues are due to lack of space, while other times infections, decay, or impaction lead to severe pain.
Let’s look at the common problems that cause wisdom tooth pain:
- Crowding: Your wisdom teeth may push against the surrounding teeth, causing pain in the back of your mouth and along the jaw.
- Growing at an angle: It’s not uncommon for wisdom teeth to grow sideways and press against the bone and sensitive tooth roots of adjacent teeth.
- Partial eruption: A wisdom tooth may only come out part-way through your gums and make them hard to clean, leading to cavities and gum disease.
- Tooth decay: While most cavities can be treated with fillings, cavities in wisdom teeth can easily become re-infected and cause recurring pain (and also posing a risk to adjacent teeth.)
- Cysts/tumors: Eruption cysts can sometimes form around wisdom teeth, damaging the bone surrounding them.
At What Age Should My Teen Have Their Wisdom Teeth Removed?
The American Dental Association reports that third molars typically erupt and are removed somewhere between ages 17-21. However, it is not uncommon for teenagers to experience pain from wisdom teeth earlier on in high school or even after they graduate from college.
Instead of focusing on age, it is better to monitor wisdom tooth development by scheduling regular dental visits for your child. X-rays will show when the wisdom teeth start to form, and then we can develop a customized removal plan as warning signs start to pop up.
How Long is the Recovery?
Recovery from wisdom tooth removal does not take long, especially thanks to platelet-rich fibrin(PRF)/platelet-rich plasma(PRP) treatment. With this innovative therapy, surgical sites heal much faster, and best of all, we don’t have to use any stitches!
That being said, your teen will need to take it easy for at least 72 hours. During this time, they should take medication as directed, eat soft foods, and avoid using straws since suction can damage the surgical site. After this, they can resume their daily routines but will need to avoid touching the wound or any rigorous exercise for a couple of weeks.
Why Choose an Oral Surgeon?
Texas Institute of Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery offers oral surgery expertise to conduct complex procedures safely and effectively. Our oral surgeon uses cutting-edge equipment and a variety of sedation methods to ensure excellent results and shorter recovery times.
Looking for the Best Oral Surgeon in Midlothian?
Wisdom tooth pain can be unbearable, but we make finding relief easier than ever. The expert team at Texas Institute of Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery in Midlothian, TX is here to help and answer any questions you might have
Call 469-649-8259 to schedule your consultation.