The wisdom of wisdom teeth

The removal of wisdom teeth seems to be a rite of passage for many teens and young adults. But wouldn’t you think by now that humans would have evolved to phase out these useless molars?

Why do we need them? Don’t we have enough teeth for chewing and eating? And why on earth are they called “wisdom teeth”?

I don’t have the answers to all of these philosophical questions, but having three children who have all had their wisdom teeth extracted, I do know a thing or two about coping with the aftermath.

If your child is fortunate enough to have wisdom teeth that erupt below the gum line, consider yourself lucky. Your family dentist may be able to remove these teeth as regular extractions, saving you money and your child some discomfort. Many teens, however, seem to possess stubborn wisdom teeth that are impacted, or never break through the gums.

Basically, wisdom teeth are molars that are the furthest back on the top and bottom of the mouth, that appear between the ages of 16 and 24. Apparently this is why they’re called wisdom teeth - they appear when the child is older, and supposedly wiser (certainly whoever developed this terminology never parented teens...).

Impacted wisdom teeth need to be removed for several reasons. They may cause pain or infections, plus they may crowd remaining teeth and be difficult to clean adequately.

If your dentist recommends that your child’s wisdom teeth be extracted by an oral surgeon, he or she will make the referral. Full X-rays will be taken and you will be able to see for yourself the position of the wisdom teeth and why they need to be extracted.

We are fortunate here in the Valley to have an excellent oral surgeon, and the procedure itself is quick and efficient. In preparation for the surgery, your child will be asked to refrain from eating or drinking for three hours prior to the procedure and to wear loose sleeves. You will be asked to have your child’s health card available and you will be given an estimate of the total amount of the cost.

Once you arrive at the office, parent and child are included in the consultation, where the doctor will explain the procedure and answer any questions. Your child will then be prepped for the surgery with an intravenous sedative while you are handed the prescription for antibiotics and painkillers.

By the time you return from the local pharmacy with the prescribed drugs, your child will likely be sitting in the wheelchair with a big smile on his or her face (still under the influence of the sedative), proudly holding their prize of a small envelope with the extractions ready for the tooth fairy (believe me, these are worth far more than a loonie!).

Post-operative care is very important. You will be given a sheet of instructions to make the recovery easier. You will be informed about ice packs, salt water rinsing, medications, pain control, diet, discomfort, bleeding, swelling, stitches and cleaning. Follow these directions carefully. A follow-up visit will be scheduled for the following week.

Here’s my advice - be prepared to miss about three days of school following the oral surgery (try to make your appointment on a Friday), rent several DVDs, have reading material available, make up a recovery bed on the couch, prepare or buy in advance some soft foods such as soups, Jell-o, ice cream, pureed fruit, or smoothies. Visitors will probably not be welcome.

The third day following the oral surgery seems to be the peak for pain and swelling, so don’t be alarmed. Often kids say their mouths feel so much better without their wisdom teeth. Offer plenty of support and encouragement - there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and, after a few days, your teen will be back to normal and maybe even a little wiser.

Lila Hope-Simpson is the Director of the Home and Heart Nursery School in Wolfville