Wisdom Teeth Removal: Here’s What You Need to Know

Before we delve into what we need to know about wisdom teeth extraction, let’s talk about the wisdom teeth in itself. The third set of molar teeth is what is known as the wisdom teeth. It is practically the final set of teeth to pop up in the mouth and comes out between the ages of 17 – 25. They can be spotted on X-rays. You may need the wisdom teeth extraction for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons include:

  • They are impacted – The wisdom teeth might not come out normally. This may be due to how they are positioned in the mouth as they are positioned at the far rear of the mouth. Because of this, in some cases, they might be trapped in the gums or even the jawbones. This situation is sure to cause pain.

Types of Impactions

There are three types of impactions viz – Soft tissue impaction, Partial tissue impaction, and Complete bone impaction.

  • Gum Disease or Cavities – This is not far-fetched as the position of the wisdom teeth might make it practically impossible for the toothbrush to penetrate it during mouth washing or even to floss as well. This can lead to an accumulation of plaque and may cause cavities or tooth decay.
  • Coming in at the Wrong Angle – When the wisdom teeth come in at a wrong angle, they may cause discomfort as they would press on other teeth.
  • When the Mouth Simply is not Big Enough – This too is likely to cause discomfort because in this case, the jaw simply does not have space to accommodate another extra set of molars.

STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE SURGERY

Just before you head to the table for your wisdom teeth extraction, you should fix a meeting with your oral surgeon and discuss the following points with him.

  • Give your oral surgeon a detailed explanation of any health complications you might have.
  • Let your oral surgeon know if you are currently taking any drug of sorts at the moment.
  • This is also the point at which you have to ask your surgeon any other questions you might have regarding the procedure for surgery.
  • Since anesthesia would most likely be used, it would be imperative to discuss with the oral surgeon which might suit you .
  • Make a detailed plan to take time off for your surgery and, subsequent rest periods after the surgery must have taken place for the purpose of recuperation. It would be advised you come along with a friend or family member to take you home after the process must have been completed.

STEPS TO TAKE DURING THE SURGERY

If everything goes according to plan, the time for the process should be about 45 minutes at most. You would be administered an anesthetic typically amongst these three (Local anesthetic, IV sedation and General anesthetic).

This should be no cause for alarm but, during the course of the surgery for your wisdom teeth extraction, the surgeon may likely cut through your gum or bones to get to the teeth. In the event that it happens, you have nothing to worry about. He would stitch you up and that would make you heal fast. After a few days, the stitches should then dissolve. Gauze pads may probably be stuffed up in your mouth too to absorb some of the blood.

 STEPS TO TAKE AFTER THE SURGERY

After surgery, most people do not feel much pain as such. Although one might still experience some amount of discomfort and bleeding around the site of the teeth extraction. However, it should be mild. It might take up to a few weeks to become totally healed from the effects of the surgery. But, during all this time it would be possible for you to fully discharge all your normal duties. It would be strongly advised that you listen to further instructions from your oral surgeon, this would make sure your healing happens fast at any rate.

Things to do

We have some tips here for you take for the next few days after your surgery:

  • Use Compact Ice and Keep Your Head Raised – As swelling is bound to occur after the surgery, placing a compact of ice on the swollen area might help out while also keeping your head raised. This would forestall fluids from coming into your head and keep the swelling under control.
  • If you have a sore jaw, it’s advisable to use moist heat.
  • Consume soft foods – It would be wise to feed on food like soups, applesauce, and pasta for this period. It would actually be a wise thing to do a stock up on soft foods for this period to avoid temptation.
  • Exercise your jaw by gently opening and closing your mouth.
  • Be sure to drink plenty of fluids while not forgetting to faithfully take the drugs prescribed by the oral surgeon.
  • Feel free to skip tooth brushing for a day – It’s actually advisable not to brush till the next day. You could instead wipe your mouth with a damp cloth but in doing so totally avoid your stitches.
  • Be sure to get enough rest. Also, if your swellings or pains do not improve or you have a fever, immediately contact your doctor.

Things to Avoid

There are also a few to things to avoid to hasten the healing process. These include :

  • Do not smoke. It can be counterproductive to the healing process.
  • Do not drink anything using a straw. As it would cause unnecessary pressure and loosen the blood clots that aids healing.
  • Eating hard or crunchy food is not acceptable during this period.
  • Avoid rinsing your mouth in a harsh manner. If you are to rinse your mouth, you should do so gently with a salt solution.

Now you know exactly what to expect and steps to take in the case of wisdom teeth extraction. Hopefully, this article has been that useful to you. To get further information and book an appointment with an oral surgeon please, do click on this link below.