What is⁢ Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Your wisdom teeth, ‍or third molars, are your last set of adult teeth to come in. It‍ usually happens during ⁤your late teens or early twenties.⁣ However, ⁢wisdom tooth extraction is often necessary due to⁢ lack of space. When ⁢your ⁢jawbone isn’t wide enough for ‍your tooth,‍ it can cause severe discomfort and pain. Impacted wisdom teeth that are left untreated can lead to complicated health issues such as infection, gum disease, and even cysts and tumors.

Overview

Wisdom teeth extraction is a‍ procedure⁣ used to⁣ remove one or more wisdom teeth. The procedure is usually done on an⁤ outpatient basis and may ​be ⁣performed under local, general, or intravenous (IV) sedation. Your dentist ⁤or oral surgeon​ will numb the area around the wisdom teeth, remove the teeth, and may pack the area‍ with gauze ​to stop bleeding and promote healing. The⁢ procedure​ usually takes about a half ‍hour but can take as long as an⁢ hour.

Benefits of ⁣Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction provides several benefits, ⁢such as:

• Prevents further damage to other teeth



• Reduces discomfort caused by overcrowding



• Alleviates pain‍ caused by⁤ impacted teeth



• Prevents ​infection caused by⁤ tooth decay



• Prevents cysts caused by impacted teeth

Expected Results

The expected results from a wisdom tooth extraction ‍depend on the individual⁣ situation. Generally, recovery from the procedure takes a few days. During this time, painkillers and ice packs may be used for⁤ any remaining discomfort. Generally, patients will experience some swelling, bruising, and bleeding during recovery.

When to See a Dentist

If you’re experiencing jaw pain, ⁣tenderness, soreness, swelling, or any other symptoms that‍ indicate you may need wisdom ⁢tooth ‌extraction, it’s a good idea to see a dentist. They can assess the situation and⁣ determine‍ if wisdom teeth extraction is necessary.

Post-Procedure Care

After the wisdom ‌tooth extraction procedure, it’s very important to carefully follow ​the post-operative ‌instructions given by the dentist. These may include:

• Take painkillers as prescribed



• Apply an ice pack to reduce ⁤swelling and pain



• Avoid alcohol and tobacco



• Avoid touching, rinsing, ⁣or spitting‌ in the extraction‍ area



• Gently⁤ rinse your mouth with warm salt water ⁤every few hours



• Avoid ⁤hard and crunchy ⁢foods for a few ⁢days



• Rest for the remainder of the day after the procedure

Practical Tips

Here are a ⁤few practical tips ​for ⁤recovering from wisdom tooth ⁣extraction:

• Eat soft foods ⁤that are easy⁤ to chew, such‍ as applesauce, mashed potatoes, and yogurt.



• Avoid ‍straws and spitting for the first few days after your extraction.



• Keep your⁣ head elevated to​ reduce swelling and make it easier to sleep at night.



• Brush and floss your teeth, being careful not ⁣to disturb the area where the teeth were extracted.

Risks

Despite the benefits of wisdom ⁣tooth‌ extraction, there is still some degree of risk associated with ⁢the⁤ procedure. ​Some risks include:

• Excessive bleeding



• Infection



• Damage to⁣ the jawbone



• Damage to adjacent teeth



• Nerve damage



• Dry ‌socket (an infection‌ of the jawbone)

It’s important to discuss any risks ⁢and potential complications of wisdom tooth ⁤extraction with your dentist or oral surgeon before the ⁣procedure.

Conclusion

Wisdom tooth extraction is ⁤a procedure used to remove one or more of your wisdom teeth. It’s ⁤usually performed on an outpatient basis and may be done with the help of local, general, or intravenous (IV)⁤ sedation. ⁢The benefits ‍of wisdom tooth extraction include preventing further ​damage to other teeth,​ reducing‌ discomfort caused by overcrowding, preventing infection ​caused by tooth decay, and⁣ eliminating pain caused by ⁢impacted teeth.



Recovering from wisdom teeth extraction usually takes several days and requires proper post-operative care, such as taking painkillers as prescribed, applying an ice pack, avoiding ‌alcohol and tobacco, and avoiding hard and crunchy​ foods. There are also some risks associated with wisdom tooth extraction, ⁣including ‌risk of excessive bleeding, infection, and​ nerve damage. It’s essential to discuss any risks and​ potential complications of the procedure with your dentist or oral surgeon before the procedure.

Definition and Overview

A wisdom tooth extraction is an oral surgery used to remove a wisdom tooth. Although not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, there are several reasons why dentists sometimes prescribe an extraction. In most cases, the tooth is removed due to the complications it causes, such as an impacted wisdom tooth or when it pushes against adjacent teeth. It is possible, however, for a wisdom tooth to grow fully without causing any problems.

Wisdom tooth extractions are routine procedures that dentists perform on a regular basis. The risks associated with the procedure are minimal compared to the potential benefits in terms of better teeth positioning, reduced risk of infections and gum disease, and relief from pain and discomfort caused by complicated wisdom teeth.

Who Should Undergo and Expected Results

A wisdom tooth extraction is performed when:

• There is not enough space in the jaw for teeth to grow properly
• The tooth is impacted or does not fully break through the gums
• A flap of gum grows over the tooth, causing food to accumulate under the flap, placing the patient at risk of infection
• The tooth becomes infected
• The tooth pushes against adjacent teeth, thus potentially damaging them
• A cyst develops
• The tooth grows at an awkward angle or position
• The tooth causes the back teeth to become crowded
  Some situations, however, call for the surgery to be performed at a later time. One such example is when the patient has an ongoing infection, in which case the dentist will wait for the infection to heal before performing the extraction. The patient may also be given antibiotics to speed up the healing process.

There are also some special cases in which the wisdom teeth are extracted pre-emptively, such as when the patient has a medical condition that is expected to worsen or progress over time. Thus, it is best for him to have his wisdom teeth extracted while he is still in good health.

How Does the Procedure Work?

A wisdom tooth extraction is typically done in a dentist or oral surgeon’s office. However, there are instances wherein the procedure is performed in a hospital’s operating room, such as when the patient is having all his wisdom teeth extracted in one surgery or if he faces a high risk of complications.

Before the procedure begins, the dentist administers local anaesthesia to numb the area where the wisdom tooth is located. It is also possible to perform an extraction while the patient is under general anaesthesia, but it is usually not necessary unless the patient is having several teeth extracted during the same surgery. In this case, general anaesthesia will provide better relief from pain.

Once the anesthetics take effect, the surgeon will begin the surgery by making an incision in the gum tissue covering the wisdom tooth. If the tooth is covered by a bone, the dentist will have to take the bone out to gain access to the tooth. He will then separate the tooth from the bone and proceed to extract the tooth. In some more complicated cases wherein the tooth is especially difficult to remove, the dentist may first cut it into smaller pieces and remove each of the pieces one by one.

In most cases, dentists stitch the gums back together following a wisdom tooth extraction. If this is the case, the patient will be advised to return for a follow-up, during which the stitches will be removed.

After the surgery, the dentist will place a dressing over the wound to help control the bleeding and to protect it while the gum heals. This period usually takes just a couple of days, during which the patient will be advised to take pain relievers to help with any discomfort caused by the extraction. Using ice packs also helps; these, however, should be applied only for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

The dentist will also give post-surgical instructions that will help speed up the patient’s recovery, such as changing the wound dressing when it becomes soaked with blood or sleeping with the head propped up to minimise bleeding. It is also best to refrain from performing strenuous physical activities as doing so will prolong the bleeding and extend the recovery period.

It is normal to have some difficulty chewing and eating solid food during the first few days after the procedure. Thus, it is best to go on a soft diet and gradually add more solid food as the gums continue to heal.

Possible Risks and Complications

A patient who undergoes a wisdom tooth extraction will be at risk of:

• Bleeding – Although bleeding is normal after surgery, patients should guard against prolonged bleeding, which may indicate an underlying problem.
• Infection – During dental surgery, there is a risk that the bacteria in the mouth could enter the bloodstream. This places the patient at risk not only of wound infection at the surgical site but also of various infections in other parts of the body.
• Allergic reaction to anaesthesia – A wisdom tooth extraction, like any other surgery, carries with it a certain risk of complications caused by the anaesthesia used during the procedure.
  In order to keep the affected area from becoming infected, it is important to keep the mouth clean. Rinsing and brushing the teeth carefully will help achieve this. Dentists also typically prescribe antibiotics prior to and following the surgery to prevent infections. This is especially important in cases wherein the patient suffers from an existing condition that compromises his immune system.

Other rarer and more serious side effects include:

• Fractured jaw – This usually occurs only if the tooth was firmly attached to the jawbone, a problem that the dentist may detect before the surgery and can thus prevent.

• Opened sinus cavity – This usually occurs when an upper jaw wisdom tooth is removed.
  It is normal to experience some pain and swelling after the procedure. However, the patient should watch for signs of complications, which include:

• Trismus, or difficulty opening the jaw

• Gums that heal very slowly
• Dry socket, also called alveolar osteitis – This is a painful inflammation that occurs when the blood clot that protects the wound disappears too soon. This complication most commonly affects women, as the blood clot sometimes disappears during their menstrual cycle. Thus, women who are on oral contraceptives are advised to undergo a wisdom tooth extraction at the end of their menstrual cycle to reduce the risk of dry socket.

• Numbness in the mouth and lips shortly after the procedure, which may indicate an allergic reaction to the anesthesia used
  At the first sign of these problems, patients should consult their dentist immediately for treatment.
  
  Reference

• Hupp JR, Ellis E, Tucker MR. Principles of Management of Impacted Teeth. In: Hupp JR, ed. Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2014:chap. 9.

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