Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, usually in adulthood. Sometimes there isn’t enough room for the teeth to fit and the wisdom tooth become impacted, or stuck below the gums. Patients may experience pain, infection, crowded teeth, tooth decay, and jaw pain when this happens. If the tooth is causing significant discomfort, it’s recommended to extract them for pain relief. Wisdom tooth removal requires the skills of a dentist or an oral surgeon.
This is often a more complex extraction than traditional tooth removal, especially when the wisdom tooth's growth is affected. The invasive process includes opening the gum tissue and removing the bone that covers the tooth.
Wisdom tooth removal procedure is an outpatient surgery that is usually completed within an hour. It requires local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia. First, dentists inject a local anesthetic into the affected site and then make an incision in the gum. They remove the bone using several methods such as using a handpiece drill to loosen the tooth from the root. If the patient is conscious during the procedure, they may feel some pressure, but there should not be any pain. Once they remove the tooth, they clean the area and close the incisions with dissolvable stitches.
The recovery from a wisdom tooth removal can take up to 2 weeks. Patients will experience some bleeding, swelling, and bruising. They need to rest for at least a day before continuing their everyday activities. If experiencing pain or discomfort, they can take the pain medications prescribed by their doctor to relieve their symptoms. Hydration is essential, but patients should avoid alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks and hot beverages for the first 24 hours. A soft food diet is also recommended since chewing may be a little challenging. Patients should also refrain from brushing and rinsing their mouth for the first 24 hours, and they should avoid smoking for 72 hours.
As with most invasive treatments, wisdom tooth removal comes with some risks. These can include infections, nerve damage and dry sockets, but these are usually rare. With good home care, most patients recover and resume their normal activities with no long-term complications.
