When dealing with cavities, misaligned teeth, or impacted teeth, removing wisdom teeth is often unavoidable. Typically, dentists perform surgery to remove teeth that are too damaged to preserve. Many people wonder if it's advisable to remove 2-4 wisdom teeth at once.
1. When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to emerge, usually between the ages of 17-25. Because they emerge after other teeth, wisdom teeth often grow misaligned or impacted, causing various issues for adults.
In some cases, wisdom teeth grow straight and correctly positioned. However, it's challenging to maintain them long-term due to their difficult-to-clean location. Food trapped in the gaps can lead to cavities over time. In severe cases, cavities can spread to adjacent teeth, affecting the entire mouth. Therefore, dentists often recommend completely removing wisdom teeth.
2. Is It Safe to Remove 2 Wisdom Teeth at Once?
As mentioned above, removing wisdom teeth entirely when advised by a dentist is recommended. For some patients, removing one wisdom tooth is already a nightmare. However, with proper understanding and following the dentist's advice, removing wisdom teeth should not be a major concern.
So, is it safe to remove 2 wisdom teeth at once? Firstly, this procedure does not affect the patient's health. Moreover, removing 2 wisdom teeth at once saves a lot of time for travel, check-ups, and health monitoring.
Additionally, when wisdom teeth are decayed, misaligned, or impacted, removing them simultaneously reduces the time the patient has to endure pain. Removing 2 wisdom teeth at once also shortens the healing time. Patients only need to take medication once and focus on oral care for a single period instead of twice. Thus, removing 2 wisdom teeth at once is more beneficial than removing them separately.
On the other hand, removing 2 wisdom teeth at once depends on the patient's health and physiological condition. Before proceeding with wisdom tooth extraction, the doctor will check the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, and perform basic tests and X-rays. If the patient passes these checks and meets the requirements, the doctor will advise on removing 2 wisdom teeth at once. Conversely, if the patient's health is not sufficient to handle the post-surgery recovery, removing 2 wisdom teeth at once will not be performed.
Removing 2 wisdom teeth on the same side (left/right): In addition to the above advantages, removing 2 wisdom teeth on the same side is also convenient for the patient when eating and maintaining oral hygiene later. This also limits the impact on the entire jaw and the remaining teeth, making chewing and swallowing food easier.
Removing 2 wisdom teeth in different positions: In cases where the two wisdom teeth to be removed are far apart, for example, one on the left and one on the right, whether on the same jaw or not, the doctor will still recommend removing them in two separate sessions. If it is necessary to remove 2 wisdom teeth at once, it will be very difficult for the patient to handle food. At this time, the patient must minimize chewing function, which is not as easy as when removing 2 wisdom teeth on the same side.
2. Can 2 wisdom teeth be extracted at the same time?
3. Is It Safe to Remove 4 Wisdom Teeth at Once?
Similar to removing 2 wisdom teeth at once, removing 4 wisdom teeth at once has its advantages and disadvantages. Of course, it is possible to remove 4 wisdom teeth at once. It saves time for travel, check-ups, and recovery, which is why many people decide to remove 4 wisdom teeth at once. However, it also comes with more pain, increased risk, and more complex oral care.
Before removing 4 wisdom teeth at once, the patient will undergo a regular check-up. Based on the patient's health condition, the dentist will advise whether to remove multiple teeth at once. In this case, the number of teeth removed is doubled, so the patient must strictly follow the specialist's instructions.
4. What to Prepare Before Removing Wisdom Teeth?
To ensure a smooth and safe surgery for removing 2-4 wisdom teeth at once, patients need to consider several factors. Firstly, dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth in the morning when the patient is in the best condition.
The day before the surgery, patients should try to relax and get enough sleep (at least 8 hours). On the morning of the surgery, wake up early to prepare adequately. Have a light breakfast, but do not eat too much. Relaxing the body and mind will greatly benefit the treatment process.
Additionally, removing wisdom teeth in the morning allows for quicker handling and control of any complications that may arise compared to the afternoon or evening.
5. How to Care for Oral Health After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Besides preparing for wisdom teeth removal, post-surgery oral care at home is equally important. This directly affects the treatment outcome. Some tips for patients to remember include:
- Bite down on gauze for 30-45 minutes to stop bleeding. Significant bleeding within the first hour after extraction is normal, so patients should not worry. If bleeding persists, contact the dentist immediately.
- After 6 hours post-extraction, patients can rinse their mouth with saline solution. Rinse 2-3 times a day to ensure oral hygiene. Do not use homemade saline solutions.
- Eat soft, easy-to-chew foods and avoid hard, chewy foods. Initially, patients should eat porridge and drink milk to provide enough energy and aid digestion.
- Oral hygiene, in general, and the newly extracted tooth area, in particular, should be prioritized. Brush teeth gently and avoid the newly extracted tooth area.
- Most importantly, take pain medication as prescribed by the dentist. Do not self-medicate without the dentist's approval.
- Do not smoke. Carbon monoxide in cigarettes harms the newly extracted tooth area.
- Have adequate rest and avoid heavy or strenuous activities.
In summary, removing 2 wisdom teeth at once does not affect the patient's health. Moreover, it saves a lot of time for travel, check-ups, and health monitoring.
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