Wisdom tooth extraction is a very common dental procedure that’s done to remove one or more of the back molars, typically in young adults. But do you know why those teeth are removed, or what to expect?
Let’s shed some light on this dental surgery:
The Why
In short, wisdom teeth are removed to avoid future dental complications. But why is this the case? Let’s look at why this procedure is done.
Wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth that each person gets. For some people, these new molars erupt normally with minimal discomfort. For many others, these teeth do not have room to erupt or develop normally and become impacted.
Impacted wisdom teeth have the potential to grow at an angle toward either the second molar or the back of the mouth, or to become trapped within the jawbone, only partially erupted, which can be very painful!
This complication can create myriad problems, including damage to the surrounding teeth and bone, food becoming more easily trapped in this space, infection or tooth decay. Even in cases in which there are no evident symptoms, serious complications can occur, as partially erupted teeth are more difficult to clean and prone to disease and infections.
The Procedure
Now that you know why impacted wisdom teeth should be promptly removed, let’s take a look at what to expect during the procedure.
A wisdom tooth extraction typically takes less than an hour and is done with the help of anesthesia so that patients don’t experience discomfort during the surgery. Sedation options typically include a combination of local anesthetic and gas or IV sedation for additional drowsiness or relaxation.
During the operation, the dentist often needs to cut the gums open to retrieve the impacted tooth or teeth. Then dissolvable stitches are used to keep the wound shut and promote quick healing.
The Recovery
During recovery, it’s essential to follow after-care directions provided by the dentist. Typically, a person can expect to recover within a few days or may require up to a week of recovery if the affected tooth was badly impacted.
Patients are encouraged to avoid any activity with their mouth that can dislodge the stitches or clot over the wound. These include common activities such as smoking, spitting and drinking from a straw.
Take pain medication during recovery as prescribed, and keep the wound clean with gentle saltwater rinses and dabbing the wound gently with gauze to absorb excess blood as needed. It’s also recommended to eat only soft foods.