Wisdom teeth removal is removing the third set of molars, which generally appear between ages 17 and 25. Many patients usually have at least one impacted wisdom tooth, which means it doesn’t have enough room to grow naturally. If you get your wisdom teeth removed due to impaction or problem that has been identified or some issues observed in your hit point, one needs to be very careful that they don’t damage the surrounding teeth and bones. When the teeth start damaging or hitting your oral aura, generally, your doctor suggests removing your wisdom teeth. In most cases, the procedure is an oral surgery at a dental care With proper care and post-treatment care, it may only take a few days to recover and feel back to normal.

Wisdom teeth are also not a procedure that one needs to undergo if its not troubling you. The procedure should happen if the teeth are causing any sort of trouble or ailment in your jaw or oral area. Your wisdom teeth are a sort of appendix of your mouth. In many cases, it is also observed that many people healthily survive a lifetime without them. Other times, though, they can cause immense chaos upon your body and oral health. There is a sincere recommendation by some dentists to undergo a wisdom teeth removal procedure, even if their wisdom teeth are initially not causing any problems to avoid chaos later.

 

What Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Surgery?

Wisdom teeth removal surgery is an oral outpatient procedure subjected to dentists and is usually performed by an oral surgeon. The surgery is initiated by examining your wisdom teeth through X – rays that state and identify the area and location of your wisdom teeth. The dentist will first make the gum comfortable with anesthesia and remove the tooth, either whole or in pieces.

Potential Risks

Some of the risks and complications of wisdom teeth removal surgery can include:1

• Dry socket
• Irritated nerves
• Sinus problems
• Infection

 

Why Take Them Out?

The reason to remove your wisdom teeth may vary from person to person. Most people have them removed for one of the following reasons:

• They’re impacted as wisdom teeth may get trapped in your jawbone or gums and cause immense pain.
• They make their way at an incorrect or wrong angle.
• Your mouth size is small or isn’t big enough to keep an extra set of molars.
• You have cavities or other gum problems.

 

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL PROCEDURE

Before the procedure

For better oral care, one must visit a dentist regularly. On the day you meet with the oral surgeon, try to discuss the following pointers;

• Discuss each and every problem about your oral or physical health that you have or are genetic.
• Tell your dentist about the list of medications or drugs that your intake on a regular basis.
• Clarify all your doubts and worries that you have about the surgery.
• Try to figure out the type of anesthesia your dentist will use to better understand your drowsiness and sleep duration.

DURING THE PROCEDURE

Your dental procedure may take approximately 45 minutes or less, depending on your oral structure’s intensity and time occupancy.

Following are the types of anaesthesia that are generally provided to the patient during surgery to reduce the impact of pain;

• Local anaesthesia: Your oral space may get numb with a shot of local anaesthetics such as novocaine, lidocaine, or mepivacaine. It will make you feel alert again quickly afterward.
• IV sedation: Your dentist may numb your mouth and give you sedation through a vein in your arm, which can make you drowsy. It can make you sleepy for the whole dental procedure.
• General: With this aesthesia, you may get sedation through drugs via vein or gas in through a mask. With this type of aesthesia, you will be asleep for the overall procedure and might even not wake up for an hour after the surgery.

 

The procedure or surgery starts with a general cut to your gums or bone to get the teeth out of your oral region. The procedure continues with stitching the wounds shut, so they heal quickly and efficiently. The stitches dissolve after a few days.

Following are some of the steps for the dental procedure:

• Numbing: After sedation and anaesthesia, the dentist then starts to numb the wisdom teeth and their surrounding tissues with an aesthetic.
• Tissue removal: The oral surgeon then starts removing your unwanted gum tissue covering the area where the wisdom tooth is located to access and reach the target tooth.
• Bone removal: An impacted wisdom tooth may be fully or partially covered with bone, depending from person to person. If the bone needs to be removed, a high-speed handpiece is used to drill and remove the bone holding the tooth.
• Loosening of the tooth: When the impacted wisdom teeth are observed and are adequately visible to the dentist, various surgical instruments are used to slowly and gently loosen them from any joining tissue in the tooth’s socket or holding point.
• Tooth removal: Once the wisdom tooth is loose and appropriately structured, it is wholly sectioned. Then, it is in an excellent position to be removed. The surgeon then uses surgical instruments specially designed to remove the tooth altogether.
• Stitches: Now, as the wisdom teeth are successfully removed, the surgeon starts to add stitches clean and close up the area for recovery. Sometimes, it is essential when impacted wisdom teeth are removed or when the procedure opens up the oral region.

 

After Surgery

As everyone reacts to different situations, it takes time for the patient to become normal from anaesthesia. Most patients do not even feel any pain after surgery, or some may feel significantly less pain.

However, the patient may feel mild effects, like nausea, dizziness, and shivering in some cases. After the procedure, the patient may also feel dizzy and swollen for 2-4 days.

Following are some tips and tricks for a speedy recovery that patients must follow for at least the first 3 days after surgery:

Dos:

• Put an ice pack on your face to reduce swelling or skin decolouring, or different colour changes.
• Go for an option of moist heat for a sore jaw.
• Slowly and gradually, try to open and close your mouth to exercise your jaw.
• Eat soft foods and avoid the hard ones.
• Drink plenty of water and other fluids like soups.
• Brush your teeth just from the very next day. But, ensure that you don’t brush against any blood clots.
• Take all the medication that the dentist has prescribed regularly to ease pain or swelling.
• Plan a visit to your dentist in 2 days for a check-up and further guidance.

Don’ts:

• Try avoiding straw for drinking. Sucking can hurt your jaw and may loosen blood clots that help your mouth heal.
• Avoid a harsh rinse of your mouth. You may rinse your mouth gently with saltwater.
• Try to avoid eating any hard, crunchy, or sticky food items that may scratch your wounds or disturb your healing process.
• Stop smoking. It can surely slow your healing process.

CONCLUSION

Wisdom tooth removal is not a significant process but a standard dental procedure where complications are rare. For a successful and healthy recovery, it’s necessary to closely follow and understand the post-operative instructions provided to you by your dentist and, particularly during the initial seven to 10 days following your procedure.