Wisdom teeth removal is a surgical procedure to remove one or more of the four permanent teeth located at the back of your mouth. The last molars are impacted if they have no room to grow. An impacted tooth might be painful and sometimes might result in an infection or further complications.
To prevent further complications, you are supposed to visit a dentist for wisdom teeth surgery.
Why Do You Need Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
Since wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, they might develop to be impacted or sometimes not erupt at all. Impacted wisdom teeth can erupt partially or not erupt at all due to a lack of enough space.
An impacted molar can:
- Grow at an angle towards the next tooth
- Erupt towards the back of the mouth
- Lie down within the jaw bone
- Get trapped within the jawbone
Problems Associated With Impacted Molars
You should have the impacted wisdom teeth removed if you experience:
- Pain
- Food and debris trapped behind the wisdom teeth
- Periodontal diseases
- Tooth decay on the partially erupted wisdom tooth
- Damage on the neighboring teeth or bone
- Cysts developing around the impacted wisdom tooth
- Complications with orthodontic procedures such as braces and Invisalign
Surgical Tooth Extraction Procedure
Your dentist can perform the extraction in his or her office. However, if the tooth is deeply impacted, the dentist might recommend an oral surgeon.
Preparation
Your dentist uses local anesthesia to numb your mouth for surgery. Apart from local anesthesia, the dentist might recommend sedation to make you feel relaxed during the procedure.
Wisdom teeth extraction is an outpatient procedure. Therefore, you will be released to go home the same day. The dentist or clinic staff will give you instructions on what to do before the procedure.
While preparing for surgery, you can ask the dentist or oral surgeon the following questions:
- Will you need somebody to drive you home?
- What foods and drinks should I stop consuming?
- Can I take any prescription medications before surgery
- What are the risks associated with the surgery
What to Expect During Surgery
During the procedure, the specialist can use local, general, or sedation anesthesia. After administering anesthesia, the dentist or oral surgeon will:
- Make an incision on the gum tissue to expose the impacted tooth and jawbone
- Remove any block that blocks access to the damaged tooth
- Divide the tooth into pieces to make it easier to remove
- Remove all the pieces of the tooth
- Clean the site of extraction to remove any debris
- Stitch the incision wound to promote healing
- Finally, place a gauze on the site of extraction to control bleeding and promote clotting
After Surgery
Right after surgery, a dentist in Cambridge, ON will place you in a waiting room to recover from anesthesia. He or she will give you some instructions on how to handle the wound. Below is what you should do:
- Avoid excessive spitting to prevent dislodging the blood clot from the socket
- Replace the gauze as instructed by your dentist
- Eat soft foods such as yogurt
- Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks after surgery
- Avoid hard and chewy foods
- Wait longer than 72 hours to smoke any tobacco products
- Use antibacterial mouth rinses to clean your teeth instead of brushing
When Should I Contact My Specialist after Surgery
Call your dentist immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
- Difficulties swallowing
- Excessive bleeding
- The excruciating pain that is not relieved by pain killers
- Swelling that worsens after 2 to 3 days
- Bad taste in your mouth even after rinsing with warm salty water
- Pus oozing from the socket
- Persistent numbness
You might not need a follow-up appointment if your stitches dissolve into the gum tissue or you don’t experience any complications
Finding a Tooth Extraction Dentist
Are you in need of tooth extraction? Do you know a dentist you can visit in case? Dental Arts Clinic is a leading dental clinic in Cambridge, ON. Our team is experienced and equipped to provide you with the quality services you need.
In case you don’t know a Dentist near you, you can google search for a dentist near you. You also can use a mapping application to give you directions to the dental clinic
