An extraction procedure should be safe and relatively painless. Your dentist will administer anesthesia to relieve any discomfort during this procedure, cutting gum tissue or bone away to expose any wisdom teeth impacted in their path which are difficult to extract; they then cut to expose said wisdom tooth(s), expose, cut out pieces from it if possible and may remove in parts (if difficult), suture and place gauze over wound to control bleeding and promote healing.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth typically become impacted between 17 and 25, causing pain, cysts or other issues that need to be taken care of immediately. A dentist or oral surgeon can extract third molars to prevent any future issues from occurring.
People receiving tooth extraction receive local anesthetic and intravenous sedation to numb the area around their tooth being extracted, as well as intravenous sedation to help relax during and possibly forget the procedure afterwards.
After an extraction, patients must carefully follow their doctor’s instructions in order to reduce risk of complications, including dry socket. This condition occurs when blood clots in the wound do not form correctly or dislodge prematurely and expose bone and food particles which cause intense discomfort. Stitches may be applied but typically dissolve within about a week – in addition to taking prescription or over-the-counter pain medicines in order to alleviate pain and swelling.
Symptoms
An impacted wisdom tooth usually manifests itself by creating pain in the back of the jaw towards the ears, caused by pressure from other teeth on it and potential nerve damage to this tooth.
Consultations with a dentist or oral surgeon typically includes taking X-rays of your mouth and jaw in order to ascertain the most effective means of extraction. They will use anesthesia either local (where only one tooth is numb), sedation or general anesthesia – should they use general anesthesia, someone will need to drive you home and stay with you until its effects subside.
Your procedure may cause discomfort and swelling that should subside within two or three days, although pain relief should still be manageable using over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If the discomfort is still severe, contact your dentist or oral surgeon immediately; rinse or spit as little as possible in order to allow a blood clot to form and protect the tooth socket from being disturbed by too much rinsing or spitting for 24 hours afterward.
Treatment
If you decide to have your wisdom teeth extracted under general anesthesia, a certified registered nurse or dentist (anesthesiologist) will monitor your medication, breathing, temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. A surgeon then injects local anesthetic similar to what would be given for fillings; if your wisdom tooth is partially covered in bone the surgeon may need to cut some away in order to extract it.
Once surgery has concluded, the surgical site is secured using stitches. Your surgeon may leave gauze in your mouth to control bleeding; after 30 minutes it should be changed for something clean.
Pain usually subsides within two or three days. Over-the-counter or prescribed medication such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others) or acetaminophen may provide temporary relief; applying an ice pack several times each day can also reduce swelling and alleviate discomfort.
Prevention
After having your wisdom tooth extraction, make sure that you rest as much as possible and follow any instructions provided by your oral surgeon regarding pain medications, antibiotics or rinses prescribed to assist with swelling and infections. It is imperative that these are taken as prescribed so as to not damage the surgical site.
After any procedure, a slight amount of bleeding and oozing is normal, however vigorous mouth rinsing or sucking should be avoided to protect the blood clot in your empty tooth socket from dislodging. Instead, place a clean gauze pad into your mouth and bite firmly for thirty minutes in order to control excessive bleeding.
Apply ice packs to your cheeks to reduce swelling; swelling typically peaks within 24 hours of surgery. Eat soft foods gradually increasing from liquids to solids as your recovery progresses; avoid carbonated drinks and mouthwash with alcohol as these may irritate the surgical site and delay healing; do not smoke or consume alcohol as this could also delay healing, increasing risk for complications like dry socket.