If you’ve been told you or your child needs a wisdom teeth extraction in Lumberton, you may want to consider moving forward with it sooner than later. Summer is an ideal time to get these third molars removed because kids are out of school, and many college students are on break or have graduated. If you’re a parent who never got yours out when you were younger, you may have a more flexible schedule this time of year, too.
Dr. Harry Nelams has been performing wisdom teeth extractions for 25 years. He knows exactly how to make your procedure go smoothly. For an appointment with a dentist you can see for routine care and extractions, call 409-206-1763 today. Then take a few minutes to see what you can expect before, during, and after your extraction at Family Dental Care.
Find Out About Your Wisdom Teeth Procedure Beforehand
We don’t start any procedures without discussing them with you first. Wisdom teeth extractions are no exception. If you or your child has been seeing us for routine dental care, we’ve likely already taken digital X-rays and have mentioned whether this procedure could benefit you.
Just who needs their wisdom teeth extracted, anyway?
- People starting at age 17, which is when wisdom teeth begin emerging
- People whose wisdom teeth are causing pain or discomfort
- People who don’t have enough room in their mouth for these four extra teeth
- People who are prone to cavities or whose wisdom teeth get food trapped around them and make them susceptible to decay
There may be other reasons than these, such as impacted wisdom teeth (we’ll refer you to an oral surgeon we’ve worked with over the years if yours are impacted). Sometimes the procedure is preventive, too, as Dr. Nelams may know from his training and decades of experience what problems you are likely to suffer if your teeth aren’t removed.
If you have any questions we haven’t answered before your wisdom teeth extraction, please ask them. If you are worried about anything, we are here to help. That includes finances. Many people put off this oral surgery for that reason alone. Know that we offer payment options such as CareCredit financing. We also accept many insurance plans, and some pay all or most of the cost.
Know What to Expect During Your Wisdom Tooth Removal
Your comfort matters to us. Whether you are afraid of dental procedures or not, we want to keep you comfortable throughout your entire procedure. That means giving you just the right amount of local anesthetic to keep the area free from pain. If you choose to get sedation, we offer two types to keep you distracted and worry-free:
- Laughing gas is administered right before your procedure. It kicks in fast, so there’s no delay in starting treatment. We can also give you more if needed to keep you relaxed the whole time. It wears off in just a few minutes, so you can drive yourself home. (It may be easier, however, if a family member or friend lets you relax in the car on the way back.)
- Oral sedation is a heavier form of sedation. We’ll prescribe a pill for you before the extraction, so you’ll be relaxed before it even starts. Many of our patients doze off and remember very little about their appointment. Oral sedation takes awhile to wear off, so you will need someone to drive you to and from our office.
With our digital images, Dr. Nelams can help your procedure move along more efficiently, as these images are clearer and more detailed than traditional X-rays. With these crisp images, he can plan around potential complications or unusual anatomy in your mouth.
Also, don’t forget we have pillows and blankets available to help you relax further. Just ask for them at your appointment or even during your consultation so we’re prepared.
Follow Our Wisdom Teeth Removal Aftercare Instructions
After your wisdom teeth extraction, you will need to rest and recuperate for a few days. Even though it’s a minor surgery, it is a surgery, and many people forget that. Your body will want to rest, and you should respect it!
We’ll give you post-op instructions, including how long to keep gauze on the extraction sites and how often to change it out. We’ll also provide you with any pain medication you need to relieve discomfort. Some patients never need to use a prescription and simply take Tylenol or Advil afterward, if that is what we’ve recommended. It’s important to take your medication exactly as directed.
We’ll also give you instructions on eating after wisdom teeth removal. You will need to eat soft foods for at least 48 hours afterward. This includes pudding, yogurt, ice cream/smoothies (no pieces to get caught in the extraction site, though), and soups. Spicy foods, hot foods, and hard or solid foods can increase your chance of post-op pain, dry socket, infection, and other extraction complications. Make sure you have the items you need on hand before your procedure, as you may not be able to get them while you recover.
You’ll also need to hold off on brushing your teeth for 24 hours. We’ll help you know how you can brush afterward, mainly by avoiding the areas. You also should not spit or drink from straws.
Tobacco use of any kind will slow healing and even can cause complications, so this is a good excuse to quit if you haven’t considered it yet.
Of course, we are always here to answer questions afterward. Feel free to call us at 409-206-1763 if you need any help related to your wisdom teeth extraction, or if you’re ready to schedule an appointment. You can also reach out to our friendly team online. We look forward to making your procedure go smoothly and improving your oral health!