Your wisdom teeth are the last to emerge from your mouth, so they can easily run out of room when they erupt. It is common to have issues with the molars in the back of your mouth between 13 and 18 years of age, when overcrowding starts to become apparent. The best way to avoid pain and stop wisdom teeth from growing the wrong way is to visit your dentist right away. The dentist will schedule a wisdom tooth removal procedure, which involves anesthesia and full tooth extraction. How long should your teen stay home after wisdom teeth removal?
How Long Should Your Teen Stay Home After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Your teenage child might be nearing the age when their back teeth start to cause them pain. Before the discomfort becomes unbearable, they can receive a wisdom tooth treatment at Victory Plaza Dental Group and improve their oral health right away. Recovery from this procedure is quite simple. However, a lot of parents want to know: how long should your teen stay home after wisdom teeth removal? Keep reading to learn some key recovery steps you and your child can go through together.
How the Procedure Works
During wisdom tooth removal, your teenage child will be put under anesthesia. This means that they will be fully asleep during the procedure and they will not feel a thing. The procedure can take 30 minutes to an hour, without many complications expected. Once the orthodontist has extracted your child’s wisdom teeth, the surgery will be complete. It will take a few minutes for your child to wake up after the surgical site has been bandaged.
Your teenager will likely be sore and in pain for a few days. They may require prescribed pain medication to keep some of the worst phases of pain at bay. It might be difficult to speak or chew food, so make sure to keep soft snacks like yogurt and jello nearby. There are a few things you can do to help yourself and your child prepare for wisdom tooth recovery.
Knowing What to Expect
You can keep the recovery process as smooth and comfortable as possible by following all of the instructions passed on by your dentist. At home, you should get ready to incorporate the following needs into your child’s daily routine:
Plenty of rest is important.
The best way to help your child’s body through recovery is to make sure it is getting all of the rest and nutrition it needs. Your body can heal faster when it is pumped full of resources such as energy and hydration.
Stay elevated when sleeping.
Keeping the head elevated can help the blood properly drain, preventing clots or excess bleeding. The best way to keep the mouth healthy is to make sure the head is propped at a 45-degree angle as much as possible.
Drink fluids.
As stated earlier, hydration is an important part of the healing process. Water is the best drink to have during the early stages of recovery. Water helps deliver fluid easily through the bloodstream, keeping your cells strong to fight against infection. Coconut water can also help to replenish electrolytes and boost hydration.
Reduce Swelling.
Your child’s face may be swollen for up to a week following the wisdom tooth procedure. In order to reduce swelling, you can use ice packs on the outside of the cheeks for 15 – 20 minutes at a time.
Victory Plaza Dental is the premier location for wisdom teeth removal in North Hollywood for both children and adults. If your teenager is struggling with constant tooth pain in the back of their mouth, it might be time for this dental rite of passage. Wisdom tooth removal can be scary, but with the right information you can ensure a smooth healing process and a future of good oral health.