Wisdom Teeth Extractions
Do I need my wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth are the last of the adult teeth to come in and are located at the back of the mouth, behind the second molars. Although they may have some useful functions when they erupt correctly, they can cause a variety of problems that would necessitate their removal like :
- Being impacted (meaning they cannot erupt and are trapped in your jaw bone or gum).
- Growing in a wrong angle due to crowding with your other teeth.
- Having cavities.
Wisdom teeth removal in those cases will avoid them causing swelling, gum soreness, recurring infections and may even damage the surrounding bone structure.
What can I expect from the wisdom tooth removal procedure?
Wisdom tooth (teeth) extraction is a surgical procedure to remove one or more of your wisdom teeth. Depending on the complexity of the extraction, removal can be done by an oral surgeon or one of our dentists. Additionally, it can be done under general or local anesthetic. Our dentist will recommend the most suitable form of treatment and what kind of anaesthetic may be required.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Process
Here’s an overview of what our dentist does during the procedure for wisdom teeth extraction:
- First, a minor incision is made in your gum to access the tooth (if it hasn’t already erupted.) A small bone covering the tooth may also need to be removed.
- Next, the tooth is split into sections to make removal easier and to minimize any potential damage to the surrounding tissues.
- The tooth is extracted.
- Extraction site is cleaned of any tooth or bone debris.
- To promote healing, the wound is closed using dissolvable stitches.
The procedure times for wisdom teeth removal vary from patient to patient. While simple procedures can take as little as a few minutes, more complex situations require more time.
How do I prepare for wisdom teeth removal?
In most cases, wisdom tooth extraction is not a major procedure. That means you can drive home the same day. You will receive detailed instructions from your dentist on how to prepare prior to and on the day of your wisdom teeth extraction procedure.
What is the recovery period for wisdom tooth removal?
Post-procedure, it’s normal to experience a certain degree of pain and swelling. The recovery period is largely dependent on how badly your wisdom teeth are impacted. The typical recovery time frame for wisdom tooth removal is 3-4 days. Although, it can take up to one week to completely heal.
If you are experiencing pain and believe your wisdom teeth may be coming through then book an appointment with our dentist so we can take an x-ray and help identify the best course of action for you.
Extractions of teeth other than wisdom teeth
Some common reasons why an extraction may be needed are as follows;
Having a Crowded Mouth
If you need to get braces, then the orthodontist might need to extract teeth if your mouth is too crowded. Unfortunately, some people have too many teeth for the size of their mouth, which makes extraction essential.
Infection
Another reason why tooth extraction may be necessary is if you have a particularly bad cavity beyond repair. In the event that the decay has gone into the pulp and infected it, then the dentist will recommend a root canal, however, in some cases, a root canal treatment may not be feasible and then the tooth would require extraction to prevent the spread of the infection.
Advanced forms of gum disease
What Happens In An Extraction Procedure?
Once the dentist has determined an extraction is necessary, then the dentist will put a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and gum around that tooth.
Then the dentist will use forceps to hold the tooth and loosen it until it comes out.
If the tooth is particularly hard to remove, it may need to be cut and removed in pieces.
Once the tooth is removed, the dentist will place gauze on the socket and ask you to bite down on. This will help to reduce and stop the bleeding.
If necessary, the dentist will place stitches that self dissolve.
What To Do After The Extraction
After the extraction has been completed, wound healing will take few days.
Let’s take a look at a few tips that will help you to speed up your recovery and reduce the chances of infection.
- Make sure to take any painkillers that have been prescribed.
- You should relax for the rest of the day. Once you reach home from the procedure, use an ice bag to help reduce any swelling.
- Don’t spit or rinse forcefully for the 24 hours following extraction to prevent the clot from getting dislodged and restart bleeding.
- Make sure to eat soft foods.
If you’re looking for a professional and experienced Dental Clinic for tooth extraction or any other dental services, please contact Gardens Dental today on (03) 9449 2626 or submit an enquiry via our website.
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