How often do you visit a dental clinic for your routine checkups? Well, if you have recently seen your dentist and probably had wisdom teeth, then he may have asked you to extract it soon. He may even refer you to go to an oral surgeon who will do the entire procedure in a comfortable way. It will take a few days only to heal completely and then you can resume your daily activities.
Purpose of wisdom tooth removal
The dentist may suggest wisdom tooth removal surgery if the oral examination denotes your wisdom teeth have been impacted or may lead to problems in future.
Other reasons for wisdom tooth extraction are the following:
- Infection
- Damage to your surrounding teeth
- Signs of tooth decay
- Gum or periodontal disease
- Bone loss around your underlying socket
Why you should take out wisdom teeth?
As these are the third set of molars at the back of mouth, they generally occur when you are in the age group of 17 to 25 years. They can be detected after performing X-rays and most people get them removed due to these reasons:
- They can be impacted – They are far back in the mouth and may not appear normally. They may get trapped into the gums or jawbone which can be very painful.
- They appear at the wrong angle – They may press against other teeth.
- Your mouth is not big – The jaw does not have any room for the extra set of molars.
- You suffer from gum disease or mouth cavities – You might not reach wisdom teeth with your floss or toothbrush.
What happens before the surgery?
You need to talk to an oral surgeon about the following things:
- Discuss about your health concerns in details
- Ask any questions you have related to surgery
- List any medications you take regularly
- Know about the kind of anesthesia you will have
- Keep time off from work for the surgery and take rest at home
What happens during the surgery?
The surgery should not require more than 45 minutes. You are given any of these kinds of anesthesia so that you do not suffer from pain during the removal process.
- Local: The doctor numbs your mouth with local anesthesia and you may breathe nitrous oxide or laughing gas to relax during the surgery. You should remain alert again afterwards.
- IV sedation: Your surgeon numbs mouth and gives you drugs through the vein in your arm so that you feel drowsy. You might sleep during the entire procedure.
- General: You will be given drugs through the vein or breathe gas in with a mask. You will remain asleep for the entire time and may not wake up for one hour or so after the surgery.
What happens after the surgery?
If you had been given local anesthesia at the time of surgery and still remain alert, then you can drive back home to begin with the recovery process. You might even go back to work or continue with your routine activities. If you had general anesthesia or felt drowsy, then you should ask someone to drop you home.
Most people will have little to almost no pain after the surgery. You may possibly have mild discomfort and swelling for 3 days. Your mouth will need a few weeks to heal completely.
It is advisable to follow the instructions of your dentist for quick recovery. Here are some tips you need to follow during the first 3 weeks after your surgery.
Dos:
- Apply ice pack on the face to lessen swelling or change skin colour
- Use moist heat for your sore jaws
- Open and close mouth gently to exercise your jaw
- Eat soft foods such as – rice, soup or pasta
- Drink lots of fluids
- Brush teeth on the second day and avoid brushing against blood clots
- Take necessary medications suggested by the doctor to ease swelling or pain
- See a doctor when you have fever or the swelling or pain does not improve
Don’ts:
- Do not drink by using a straw as sucking may loosen blood clots that helps your mouth to heal properly
- Avoid rinsing mouth harshly as the doctor suggests rinsing gently with saltwater
- Do not eat hard, sticky or crunchy foods that can scratch your wounds
- Avoid smoking to slow down with the healing process
Wisdom teeth extraction for the adults
Are you thinking why you need to extract your wisdom teeth? Adults require wisdom tooth extraction as the additional molars get impacted. This means the teeth cannot grow properly because they are coming in at an angle or there is not sufficient space into the jawbone.
Impacted teeth may lead to several unwanted symptoms which are the following:
- Gum disease
- Mouth pain
- Cysts
- Damage to surrounding teeth
- Food getting trapped by the impacted tooth
Which day is wisdom tooth pain the worst?
The second and third days are the most painful after removing your wisdom teeth. This is when anesthesia will be typically worn off.
If you start feeling significant pain, oozing or bleeding between days three and five, then you need to see an oral surgeon. This might be a sign of dry socket which can be painful and lead to further complications.
Wisdom tooth removal surgery is a common procedure for teeth extraction from your third set of molars known as wisdom teeth. This outpatient procedure can be done under mild anesthesia.
The recovery from a wisdom tooth extraction requires near about six weeks but you can usually get back to your work in one or two days. It is possible to overcome the pain by taking over-the-counter medications such as – Advil or Tylenol. Alcohol should be avoided for at least 48 hours and smoking should be stopped till the wound gets completely healed.
You need to call your dentist when there are any signs of infection like increased swelling, pus-like discharge or excessive bleeding. He will be able to provide you with wisdom teeth removal treatment in London so that you can overcome your dental problems.
Remember that every individual’s experience with wisdom teeth removal may vary, but by staying informed and following your dentist’s advice, you can ensure the best possible outcome and maintain your oral health. If you have concerns or questions about the procedure, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your dental care provider.