Since most wisdom teeth are either partially or fully impacted, they pose a threat to your dental health if left undisturbed. Both types of impacted wisdom teeth will continue to grow, and these grow patterns can cause damage to surrounding teeth, cysts, gum disease, and tooth decay.

Partially or fully impacted wisdom teeth may:

• Grow at an angle towards the adjacent tooth or back of the mouth
• Grow at a right angle to adjacent teeth (lying down in the jawbone)
• Grow straight up and down while staying trapped in the jawbone

Removing partially or fully impacted wisdom teeth becomes a necessity to avoid further damage to your mouth and maintain your dental health.

Prior to your tooth extraction, Dr. Tyson will ask you about any medications, vitamins, supplements, or over the counter drugs that you are taking. He will also ask about your medical history and if you have a congenital heart defect, diabetes, liver disease, thyroid disease, renal disease, hypertension, an artificial joint, damaged heart valves, adrenal disease, or an impaired immune system.

If you have a weak immune system, a medical condition that may affect healing, or are planning to undergo a lengthy procedure, Dr. Tyson may also prescribe antibiotics to take the night before your procedure. Additionally, you will need to fast for 6-8 hours before your procedure, which means no eating or drinking after midnight.

The morning of your procedure, you will want to wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing, as well as closed-toed shoes. If you are feeling physically ill the morning of your procedure, you will need to make Dr. Tyson aware of this and your procedure may be rescheduled.

After your tooth extraction Dr. Tyson will provide you with detailed post-op guidelines to follow. It is very important to follow these guidelines so you will heal quickly and properly. Your post-op guidelines may contain some or all of the following:

• Avoid rinsing or spitting for the first 24 hours
• Avoid drinking from a straw for the first week
• Keep the surgical site clean and free from debris
• Take all pain medications and antibiotics as directed
• Use ice/heat for swelling and pain relief
• Modify your diet (soft, cold foods)

For quality restorative dental treatments, schedule a consultation with Dr. Chase Tyson of Tyson Dental today! We are proud to serve residents of Huntsville and the surrounding communities.