Wisdom teeth extraction is not what you think it is.
There are some lucky people in the world that won’t have to experience yet another round of teething, but for the unlucky ones, wisdom teeth can bring nothing but pain. So what happens when you can’t take the pain anymore and you have to get them removed? First let’s understand the teeth themselves.
Wising Up On Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth got their name because they come in when a person reaches adulthood in their late teens or early twenties. But knowing the name doesn’t stop you from feeling the pain. The pain that accompanies their arrival is caused by the teeth trying to adjust the other teeth and, when they can’t, they become impacted when they can’t fit into the mouth comfortable. Because they become infected, the teeth have to be extracted before the infection spreads to other teeth and other parts of the body.
The Tooth Extraction
Like any other tooth, the patient should talk to the oral surgeon about the right type of anesthetic for them. The procedure of removing the wisdom teeth will vary depending on how deep the impaction goes into the teeth. It could be a rather simple extraction like any other molar or it could run deeper. However, once the anesthetic has taken effect, the dentist will widen the socket of the tooth and the tooth will be removed. However, if the tooth is more difficult to remove, the surgeon may be required to cut your gums and remove some of your bone to reach the tooth. In this case, the wound will require stitches. This process can take around 20 minutes to complete.
Follow Up
Patients are generally told to take over-the-counter pain medicines and given instructions by their dentist or oral surgeon. For bleeding, patients are to place gauze or a cloth on the gums and bite down to at least 10 minutes to stop the bleeding. You must keep the area dry so don’t drink anything or rinse your mouth. For the next 24 hours, patients are advised not to rinse their mouth out vigorously, as it could cause bleeding. Eat soft foods for a while until your jaw feels less stiff. You should follow up with your dentist one week after the extraction to check on your progress and to remove any stitches from the wound.
Tooth Extractions with Annapolis Dental Care
If you want to schedule your next visit, please contact Annapolis Family Dental Care by calling (410) 267-0766 or visit AnnapolisDentalCare.com today! We can give you more information, or schedule your appointment.
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