Frequently Asked Questions About Adult Tooth Loss
As a family dental office, we frequently work with parents to help them navigate the transitional period when their children lose their teeth. But when an
September 15, 2026
Wisdom teeth are a set of four molars that usually erupt from the gum line when people are in their late teens or early twenties. Unfortunately for many people, there is not enough room in our mouths to facilitate this third set of full molars. Because of this there can be a variety of problems. For some people, their wisdom come-in at an angle that then pushes on the roots of the nearby molars. This is referred to “impacted” wisdom teeth. For others their wisdom teeth come-in but cause the rest of the teeth to shift and become crooked. Wisdom tooth removal is often recommended. Here at All Star Dental Chicago we can help patients find dental surgeons if surgery is required or help with wisdom tooth extraction if surgery is not required. For more information keep reading, or click below to schedule an appointment.
If your wisdom teeth are impacted or are going to become impacted you will likely be referred to an oral surgeon. An oral surgeon will need to surgically remove your wisdom teeth. This is frequently done around the ages of 16-20. Wisdom tooth surgery is similar to other surgeries. A patient is numbed with anesthesia (often wisdom tooth surgeons also provide other medications to help relax their patients) and incisions are made so that the wisdom teeth can be pulled out. Afterwards the incision sites are stitched up and patients have to follow specific instructions regarding medication, recovery, diet, and disinfection until their stitches can be removed at a follow-up appointment.
If the wisdom teeth are not impacted and successfully come through the gum line, you might still need them removed. Fortunately, removal at this point will not require surgery. Instead the teeth can be extracted similar to any other tooth extraction. The area will be numbed, the tooth or teeth will be pulled and patients can follow their dentist’s advice regarding recovery. Oftentimes a second appointment is not needed and recovery is much quicker.
No. Some people are fortunate to actually not have wisdom teeth at all. Some people only have some wisdom teeth. And in some cases, some people are actually able to have their wisdom teeth erupt and fit correctly in their mouths without causing problems. The two main reasons for wisdom tooth removal are that they are either going to become impacted which can cause serious problems for the back molars or they are are going to cause the teeth to move or shift which can cause bite alignment issues which can greatly impact oral health as well as your jaw.
First and foremost, always follow your dentist’s recommendations regarding recovery and follow-up appointments. In some cases, patients may have different experiences based on the dentist they go to. For example, there is a form of stitches that are dissolvable and do not require removal at a follow-up visit. Here are some evergreen pieces of advice for people recovering from wisdom tooth surgery.
You will likely need someone to drive you home after your wisdom tooth surgery due to the medications dentists use. Additionally, you might not be safe to operate heavy machinery or motor vehicles while taking pain medication that causes drowsiness. After the surgery, you should use an ice pack to help with swelling. It is normal for there to be bleeding around the tooth socket. To handle bleeding you should bite gently on some damp gauze and replace the gauze every 20 minutes as needed. You should avoid lying down flat and instead use a pillow to prop up your head. For the first 2-3 days you should limit physical activity as your body recovers.
All Star Dental is a group of family dental offices located throughout Chicago. Our teams are here to help patients with their oral health at every stage of their oral health. This often includes helping kids transition from phase to phase. We are there for kid’s very first cleanings and x-rays, to when they start losing their teeth, to being there when it is time to consider treatments like braces or wisdom tooth removal. Like many dentists we work with a variety of other dental care providers and can help you and your kids find other dentists when you need specific treatments. We also provide many different treatments that can help patients take care of their oral health. For more information about our treatments, please feel free to schedule an appointment with our office.
Wisdom teeth are typically removed in one of two ways: surgically or non-surgically. The key difference is whether or not the wisdom teeth are able to erupt through the gum line. In many cases, people do not have enough room in their mouth for their wisdom teeth, which causes the teeth to erupt at an angle. Instead of coming through the gum line, the teeth collide into the roots of the adjacent teeth. This is called an “impacted tooth”. In this scenario, the wisdom tooth has to be surgically removed by creating a small incision in the gum line. This is done surgically. In other cases, the wisdom tooth is able to erupt through the gum line but is still causing issues with tooth alignment. In this case, the tooth can be removed just like any other tooth with a simple extraction treatment.
It depends on how your teeth are removed. In most surgical contexts, a patient is given local anesthesia during the procedure. Your oral surgeon will recommend that someone else drives you home, as you will not be able to operate a vehicle or any machinery until the anesthesia wears off. However, if the teeth are removed non-surgically, you may just have numbing agents used that do not impair your ability to drive. It is important to discuss this with your dentist or oral surgeon in advance, so you can make the necessary arrangements.
Depending on the procedure you receive, your diet could be impacted in a variety of ways. For non-surgical extractions, it is common to have some sensitivity and soreness. Patients are often recommended to eat soft foods or focus on liquids like chicken broth. Ideally, you will want soft foods, and you should avoid using a straw. Sucking on a straw can dislodge the blood clot that naturally forms in the socket where the tooth was. This can cause bleeding and create what is called a “dry socket,” which can cause serious pain. If your wisdom teeth are surgically removed, your oral surgeon will provide very clear instructions on what you can and cannot eat for the first few days. Patients typically need to have a liquid diet and rinse their mouths out with warm salt water to prevent infection.
Recovery timelines depend heavily on the treatment type and vary from patient to patient. Generally speaking, recovery from surgery happens in phases. For the first 2-3 days, you will experience discomfort, swelling, and likely need to rest. For the rest of the first week, your swelling should decrease, and pain should subside. Patients frequently return to school or work within that first week. Over the course of the next few weeks, you will likely have follow-up appointments with your oral surgeon. For a non-surgical tooth extraction, recovery is much quicker. In the first few days you will likely feel some soreness and want to eat softer foods.
As a family dental office, we frequently work with parents to help them navigate the transitional period when their children lose their teeth. But when an
Teaching your kids strong oral habits from an early age can help set them up for life. By incorporating simple dental practices into their daily routine,
As family dentists, we are here to help patients of all ages manage their oral health. We primarily work with families at our five locations throughout