Am I Too Old for Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

While wisdom teeth are usually removed in a person’s late teens or early twenties, the procedure can be safely carried out for patients of any age. While it’s usually recommended to have them removed earlier, older patients can still benefit from getting rid of these troublesome molars. Here’s a brief overview of the process of extracting wisdom teeth as well as what you can expect during the recovery period.

Why Are Wisdom Teeth Commonly Removed?

If your mouth doesn’t have enough room for your wisdom teeth or if they don’t emerge properly, leaving them in can cause significant problems for your oral health later on. Teeth that don’t come in properly are harder to clean and easier to injure, making them more vulnerable to infections that can spread to other teeth. To make matters worse, wisdom teeth can crowd the other teeth, which can push them out of alignment and ruin the hard-won results of orthodontic treatments in previous years. Crowded teeth can also cause the patient chronic pain.

How Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Anesthetic treatments render wisdom tooth extractions completely painless. After the surgical area has been numbed, your oral surgeon will carefully make incisions in the gums and begin to work the offending teeth out of their sockets. In some cases, the wisdom teeth will be broken into smaller pieces that can be extracted more easily.

What Is Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Extraction Like?

Recovery can take one to two weeks. You are likely to experience some discomfort afterward, but your oral surgeon will prescribe you pain medication to help you manage it. You’ll also be restricted from activities like intense exercise that can stress the healing tissues and tobacco or alcohol consumption that can irritate the gums and slow the healing process. In particular, drinking from a straw is prohibited because it can dislodge the blood clot forming over the surgical site, exposing the vulnerable tissues within and causing a severely painful condition called dry socket.

Adults of any age can have their wisdom teeth removed to relieve pain and reduce the chance of infection. Consulting with your dentist can determine if wisdom teeth extraction can be a suitable way to address your needs.

About the Author

Dr. Andrew Barnett earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and completed his residency at the University of Michigan. He is a proud member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the American Academy of Periodontology. His office in Dallas, TX offers dental implants, periodontal therapy, and wisdom teeth extractions. To learn more about having your wisdom teeth removed as an older adult, contact him online or dial (214) 691-2614.