What to do when you get wisdom teeth removed?

Your back teeth, also known as wisdom teeth, are usually the last teeth to emerge in the mouth. Wisdom teeth often come in at the age of 17 to 21 years. While wisdom teeth are designed for emerging and developing normally like the rest of your teeth, sometimes there isn’t enough room in the jaw to accommodate them.

When a wisdom tooth doesn’t have enough room to grow naturally, it becomes partially or fully trapped in the gums or jawbone. Such a tooth is said to be impacted. If you have an impacted or damaged wisdom tooth, your dentist will likely recommend dental surgery to remove them.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction Procedure

The extraction is an outpatient procedure that’s performed in a single appointment. Our dentist in North Branch will begin by numbing you to keep you relaxed and pain-free during the procedure. Next, the dentist will incise the gum tissue to access the tooth and underlying bone. The dentist may remove some bone tissues to access the tooth’s root if necessary.

Next, the tooth is broken down into pieces for easier removal. Once the tooth is removed, the dentist will clean the extraction area to remove debris and prevent infections. While not necessary, the surgeon can stitch the wound to facilitate faster healing and recovery.

Your dentist will place a gauze over the extraction area to allow a blood clot to form and control the bleeding. Once you recover from the anesthetic, you might experience some side effects like minor bleeding, pain, swelling, and sensitivity. It’s advisable to have someone drive you home after the procedure. Before releasing you, the dentist will give you aftercare instructions to facilitate faster recovery.

For the next three days or so:

What to Do

• Take the prescribed medications as directed by your dentist
• Apply an ice pack on your cheek to manage pain and swelling
• Eat soft foods like eggs, rice, soups, pasta, yogurt, porridge, and mashed potatoes.
• Rest adequately. Avoid strenuous physical activities.
• Bite on the gauze until the bleeding stops
• Brush and floss gently while avoiding the surgical site. Use salt water to rinse your mouth.
• Hydrate well

What to Avoid

• Avoid spitting, sucking, or using a straw as it can dislodge the blood clot.
• Don’t rinse your mouth harshly
• Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, spicy, or sugary items as they can disturb or irritate your wounds
• Avoid tobacco products. Smoking inhibits natural healing
• Don’t touch the surgical area with your tongue or finger

How long does it take to recover from a tooth extraction?

After a wisdom tooth extraction, normal side effects like swelling and pain should fade away in about 3 to 7 days. However, full recovery can take a couple of weeks, depending on the complexity of your surgery. Follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions to stay comfortable and promote faster recovery.

When do you need a tooth extraction?

In most cases, your dentist will recommend a wisdom tooth extraction if it’s causing problems like:

• Jaw pain
• Periodontal disease
• Tooth decay in the partially erupted tooth
• Damage to the nearby teeth or jawbone
• Plaque and tartar build-up behind the impacted tooth
• Development of an abscess around the tooth
• Complications with orthodontic treatments like braces and Invisalign

Still, your dentist can recommend extraction as a preventative measure even though the tooth isn’t causing any issues. This will help minimize the risk of future problems like decay, overcrowding, and infections. Apart from being impacted, your dentist can recommend removing a wisdom tooth if it’s associated with decay or gum disease.

Is wisdom teeth removal painful?

After a wisdom tooth extraction, it’s normal to experience pain or discomfort. However, contact your surgeon immediately if the pain worsens or persists for more than ten days. Other complications to watch out for include:

• Fever
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Excessive bleeding
• Severe pain
• Bad breath or taste in the mouth
• Worsening swelling
• Pus in or oozing from the extraction socket
• Persistent loss of feeling or numbness
• Pus or blood in nasal discharge

These symptoms can indicate nerve damage, dry socket, infection, and other complications. For this reason, it’s essential to seek emergency dental care. Fortunately, these complications are rare, and you shouldn’t be worried as long as you follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you interested in tooth extractions in North Branch, MI? Contact Thumbs Up Dental to get started with your treatment today.