A significant part of our oral health is found in the area of our wisdom teeth. Some wisdom teeth can grow incorrectly and cause damage to our other teeth. When this is the case, they are often called impacted wisdom teeth and need to be extracted.
If you require a wisdom tooth extraction, it is important to know what the procedure consists of and how the surgery will be done. Generally an oral surgeon will perform the removal of impacted or pain enduing wisdom teeth. Sometimes a normal dentist is capable, but if multiple or impacted teeth exist you will want to consult on oral surgeon. If you are thinking about the removal of all of your wisdom teeth at once, take note that this increases the chance of complications during surgery. Many surgeons offer their patients an IV sedation which will lower the stress of the patient and will make the work for the surgeon easier.
The night before you have the surgery, make sure not to eat or drink anything like your doctor will instruct you. Usually it is recommended not to ingest anything after midnight before your surgery. They recommend doing this as sometimes the anesthetic used is one that can cause ill feelings and be responsible for regurgitation.
Unless a general anesthetic is used, the dentist will apply a local agent that will numb the area close and directly around the tooth that is to be extracted. If multiple teeth are to be removed, it is likely that a general anesthetic will be used for this procedure as the work can be performed faster. Again, this sedation will make the patient unconscious during the surgery and makes both ends of the participants jobs easier.
The removal of wisdom teeth will require an incision into the gums and sometimes remove bone that covers the actual tooth, by a trained professional. Often times, the tooth is removed in small parts by breaking and cutting to make smaller bits that make the extraction process a little bit easier.
Once the surgery is complete, more often then less, stitches will be placed on the extraction site to help control any bleeding that may occur and to aid in the healing of the gums. Most surgeons use a dissolving stitch that makes a return appointment for stitch removal unnecessary.
The pain that happens due to the surgery will only last for a small amount of time, generally lasting anywhere from two to five days. You will probably be prescribed a pain medication and antibiotic to help cope with the post surgery discomfort. Avoid exposing the fresh wound to things like smoking or other toxic edibles that could cause harm. Jut like avoiding toxins, it is extremely important to not use a straw for the first week after the procedure as this may disturb the clot that has formed over the extraction site. Sometimes what dentists call "Dry Socket" may occur. This condition will need to be evaluated by your dentist and can be recognized by lasting pain and dryness in the extraction sites.
While this surgery is usually unpleasant, it is beneficial in the long run.
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