WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL: WHAT TO EXPECT?

 

Overview

Wisdom teeth are the teeth that grow at the very back of the mouth. These are also known as the third molars and come into the mouth between the ages of 17 and 25. There are a total of four wisdom teeth, one in each quadrant of the mouth.

Sometimes, there is not enough room in the mouth for these wisdom teeth to erupt into the right position. They might come out through the gums at an angle or only come through partially. This occurrence is called as impaction of wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth may lead to problems such as pain or infections. Some people may not have any wisdom teeth at all.

 

Problems due to impactions:

·         Pain- that could be localized to the area of the tooth or radiating to other areas of the head and neck.

·         Swelling

·         The impacted wisdom  may  apply pressure on the adjacent tooth and cause cavities or resorption of the root.

·         Reduced mouth opening.

 

Preparation:

·         Ensure that you take a suitable appointment and keep to it.

·         Eat a decent meal prior to the surgery, nothing too heavy. Don’t be on an empty stomach.

·         Discuss any medication you may be on with the surgeon so that they can plan / modify the treatment accordingly.

·         Ensure that the medications prescribed by the surgeon are taken prior to surgery.

·         Wisdom teeth extraction is an outpatient surgery, which means you arrive and leave the surgery center on the same day. 

 

 

Procedure:

·         The Dentist will take an X ray to determine the location of the wisdom tooth, whether it is angulated and its proximity to various vital structures in the jaw.

·         The Dental Surgeon will then administer local anaesthesia around the impacted wisdom tooth  to numb the area.

·         If the tooth hasn't erupted into the mouth or is partly covered by the gums, a small cut  will be made through the gums to reach the tooth. In certain cases, a part of the bone covering the tooth may also have to be cut and removed.

·         As the dentist performs the procedure, a certain amount of pressure may be felt by you.

·         Stitches may be placed as required and if these are non resorbable, you will need to visit the surgeon after 7 days to get them removed.

·         The length of time it takes to remove a wisdom tooth depends on the tooth and the difficulty of the surgery.

 

Post surgery:

·         Sometimes, the surgery causes bruising, swelling, and pain, which will also require time to heal

·         Wisdom teeth recovery usually takes three to four days.

·         If your teeth were impacted, it could take as long as a week or two to heal.

·         Pain usually lasts from three days to one week

·         You may find difficulty in opening the mouth

·         Slight bruising of the cheeks and lips

 

 

Post surgical instructions:

·         The dentist will place a piece of cotton or gauze and ask you to bite on it. This can be removed 30-45 minutes after extraction.

·         Eat or drink cold foods and beverages throughout the day

·         Avoid any activity that applies pressure on the mouth, such as sucking, spitting, whistling, blowing a balloon, etc

·         Avoid  foods that can easily get into the sockets and in teeth and cause pain and damage to the healing wounds, like: Sticky candy Chewing gum Hard, crunchy food like chips, pretzels, nuts, and seeds and extremely hot food

·         Rinse your mouth with luke warm water in which salt has been added, 3-4 times a day after 24 hours of removal to speed up healing.

·         Eat the medicines prescribed by the doctor.

·         Gently open and close your mouth to exercise your jaw.

·         Avoid smoking and drinking for a few days after removal.

 

Follow up

·         Ensure that you visit the dentist for a follow up as and when scheduled so that the stitches (if any) can be removed and the healing process can be evaluated.