Wisdom Tooth Extraction and After Care Tips

Wisdom tooth extraction focuses on the removal of one or more wisdom teeth surgically. Your dentist or an oral surgeon could do it, and it is an outpatient procedure that happens for about 45 minutes.

Why is it Done?

There are several reasons why your dentist will perform wisdom teeth removal procedure on you. Some of these reasons are:

• If your mouth is not big enough to give space for the growing teeth
• To prevent any future dental diseases such as tooth decay or periodontal diseases

Impacted wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth at times do not come out normally as other molars. They can be trapped on your gums and cause a lot of discomforts. They could also grow towards the second molar or grow towards the back. Some of the complications that impacted teeth can cause are:

• Trapping food particles which later could lead to wisdom tooth decay
• Damaging the nearest tooth or bone to it
• Development of a cyst around the tooth

The Extraction Procedure

Before the actual procedure, our wisdom teeth surgery experts in Toronto East will discuss several things about it with you. They are going to ask about your medical history, and tell you if you will require other treatment procedures after the extraction.

They will also inform you of the number of wisdom teeth to be extracted or the type of anesthesia you will be receiving. Ensure you follow the given guidelines by your dentist.

Another appointment will then be scheduled for the extraction. During the extraction procedure, your dentist will give you anesthesia depending on the complexity level of the wisdom tooth extraction.

The following are some of the anesthesia options you will come across:

1. General anesthesia

The medication will be administered either through an IV line or a gas mask for you to inhale the anesthesia. Your temperature, breathing and blood pressure are closely monitored throughout the procedure.

You will have no memory of the procedure. To relieve any post-operative discomfort, local anesthesia will be administered to you.

2. Local anesthesia

Your dentist will first numb your gums before injecting the local anesthesia near the place of extraction. You will be awake during the process, making you aware of the pressure and movements being made.

If you feel any discomfort tell your dentist to make the experience more pleasant for you.

3. Sedation anesthesia

An IV line is injected into your arm. The sedation is used to suppress your consciousness; you will be sleeping most of the time. This will make you have a limited memory of what happened during the procedure. The sedation together with local anesthesia will numb your gums, preventing pain.

After the sedation, your oral surgeon will start by making a small incision to your gums to expose the tooth and the root. Any bone limiting access to the root will then be removed. The tooth is then divided into sections for easier removal.

The socket is then cleaned and stitched if necessary. Gauze is then placed on the affected area to enhancing clotting and prevent excess loss of blood.

Home Care Tips

1. Take a lot of water after the procedure. Do not take warm, caffeinated or carbonated drinks for the first 24 hours. To prevent the blood clot from dislodging avoid using straws for at least a week.
2. Eat very soft foods such as pudding, yoghurt, thin soup or applesauce for the first 24 hours. As you heal graduate to semi-soft foods. Avoid hard to chewy foods that might tamper with the wound. Spicy foods might get stuck in the socket irritating the wound.
3. Continue to place gauzes on the socket as directed by your dentist. Replace it regularly to avoid spitting. If you are still bleeding after 24 hours contact your dentist.
4. Take prescribed pain medications from your dentist to help you relieve any pain. After 24 hours, you can rinse your mouth using warm salty water to reduce inflammation and pain. Press an ice pack on your cheek within the first 24 hours, giving it short breaks of between 25 to 20 minutes to reduce swelling.
5. Take a lot of rest after the surgery to avoid the risk of increased bleeding. Do not rub the socket using your tongue or fingers. While lying down, do not lie flat, support your head with a couple of pillows.