Everything That You Need to Know About Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction near you is the surgical procedure for the removal of wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth that don’t have enough room to grow are called impacted wisdom teeth. They can result in an infection, cause pain and possibly other dental problems. If you are experiencing any of the mentioned problems, you’ll need to have your wisdom tooth removed. A dentist or an oral surgeon will perform the surgery to remove wisdom teeth.

If you have wisdom teeth that aren’t causing any problems, your dentist in Brandon could still recommend getting your wisdom teeth extracted.

Why Extract Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth to appear and will typically appear when you are 17 to 25 years old, but some people never develop wisdom teeth. For some, their wisdom teeth erupt normally and don’t cause them any problems.

Some impacted wisdom teeth can develop without problems while other wisdom teeth don't have enough room to erupt in the mouth.

An impacted wisdom tooth could grow in:

• Angling towards the second molar beside it
• Angling towards the back of your mouth
• As if it is laying down within your jawbone
• Like a normal tooth, but is trapped inside your jawbone

 Problems with Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth that require removal could cause the following problems:

• Pain
• Food and debris to get trapped behind the tooth
• Tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
• Gum disease or infection
• Damage to nearby teeth or the surrounding bone
• Development of a cyst around the wisdom tooth
• Orthodontic treatment complications

 Preventing Future Dental Problems

Predicting future problems related to impacted wisdom teeth is hard to do. Some reasons to remove wisdom teeth as a preventative measure include:

• Wisdom teeth without symptoms could be harbouring disease
• Wisdom teeth complications are less likely to happen in younger adults
• Wisdom teeth without enough space can be hard to reach when brushing and flossing
• Wisdom tooth extraction for older adults could involve post-surgery complications

 Risks

Wisdom tooth extractions typically aren’t associated with any long-term complications, but a surgical approach requires an incision to be made in the gum tissue and the removal of bone. Rare complications include:

• Painful dry socket/ exposure of bone if the blood clot is lost from where the surgery took place
• Bacteria or food particles getting trapped causing an infection
• Damage to nerves, jawbone, nearby teeth, or sinuses

How to Prepare 

Wisdom tooth extractions are typically done at your dentist's office, but if your extraction requires a more in-depth surgical approach your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon.

Some questions that you may have for your dentist or oral surgeon could include:

• How many wisdom teeth need to be removed?
• What type of anesthesia will be used?
• How complicated is the procedure?
• Is there damage to other teeth from the impacted wisdom teeth?
• Is nerve damage a risk?
• Do I require other dental treatments at a later date?
• How long is the healing process?
• When can I return to normal activity?

Wisdom tooth extractions in Brandon is typically done as an outpatient procedure, meaning that you get to go home the same day. Before the surgery, you will be given instructions from either your dentist’s office or the hospital for leading up to the surgery and the day of surgery. Some questions you will need to ask include:

• Do I need to have someone drive me to and from the procedure?
• What time do I need to arrive?
• Do I need to fast before the procedure? If yes, when do I begin fasting?
• I take prescription medication. Am I able to take it before the surgery? If yes, how close to the surgery can I take it?
• Do I need to avoid non-prescription medication before surgery?

 What to Expect

 For your procedure, your dentist/ oral surgeon will use anesthesia and the type will depend on how complex your wisdom tooth extraction is and your comfort level. There are three types of anesthesia:

• Local anesthesia
• Sedation anesthesia
• General anesthesia

 A wisdom tooth extraction involves:

• An incision made in your gum to expose the tooth and bone
• Removal of bone blocking the tooth
• Dividing the tooth into sections for easier removal
• Removal of the tooth
• Cleaning of the extraction area for any debris from the tooth or bone
• Stitches if necessary to close the wound to help in the healing process
• Gauze placed over the extraction site for control of bleeding and to form a blood clot

 After the Procedure

After your tooth extraction, you will be taken to a recovery room if you received sedation anesthesia or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia recovery time is typically done in the dental chair.

Your dentist/oral surgeon will give you instructions for post-surgery healing. Be sure that you are following their instructions on:

Bleeding: Replace the gauze on the extraction site as your dentist/oral surgeon directs.

Pain management: Over-the-counter pain relievers are recommended for managing your pain, but your dentist/oral surgeon may provide you with a prescription for pain medication. Using an ice pack on your jaw can also help in relieving pain.

Swelling and bruising: Using ice packs can help reduce the swelling in your cheeks which will typically improve in two or three days. The bruising could take a few more days to go away.

Activity: You will need to rest for the day after getting home. The next day you can resume normal activities, but you will need to avoid strenuous activity for at least a week. Any strenuous activity could lead to the blood clot being lost from the socket.

Beverages: Make sure to drink plenty of water post-surgery to stay hydrated. In the first 24 hours, you will need to avoid beverages that are caffeinated, alcoholic, hot, or carbonated. You will also need to avoid using a straw for at least a week so you don’t dislodge the blood clot from its socket.

Food: Soft food such as applesauce, yogurt, pudding, and jello is recommended to eat during the first 24 hours. Be sure to avoid any chewy, hard, spicy, or hot food that could get stuck in the socket or cause irritation to the site of the extraction.

Cleaning your mouth: During the first 24 hours after surgery make sure you don’t brush your teeth, spit or use mouthwash, or rinse your mouth. When you brush your teeth, be very careful near the extraction area and use warm salt water to gently rinse your mouth. Also, be sure to rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours and after meals for the first week.

Tobacco use: If you smoke you need to avoid doing so for the first 72 hours after surgery, but try to avoid it longer if possible. The use of tobacco products could delay the healing process and could increase your risk of complications.

Stitches. Your dentist/ oral surgeon may use stitches that dissolve or not use stitches at all. If you require stitches to be removed make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Do I need to call my dentist or oral surgeon? 

If after getting a wisdom tooth extracted you experience any of the following symptoms contact a dental clinic near you right away as they could be a sign of nerve damage, an infection, or other complications:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Fever
• Excessive bleeding
• Severe pain that prescription pain medication isn’t relieving
• Swelling that has gotten worse after two or three days
• Pus in or oozing from the socket
• An unpleasant taste in your mouth that saltwater rinsing can’t remove
• Blood or pus in nasal discharge
• Persistent numbness or loss of feeling

 Results 

You typically won't require a follow-up appointment after a wisdom tooth extraction if:

• You don’t need to get stitches removed
• No complications appeared during the procedure
• You aren’t experiencing persistent problems such as swelling, pain, numbness or bleeding

If you develop any complications it’s important to contact your dentist or oral surgeon promptly as they might be indicating nerve damage, an infection, or another problem.