Wisdom teeth are the third and last stage of molars that most individuals get in their late teens or early twenties. Most people will find that they are misaligned and requiring removal.

Additionally, when wisdom teeth are misaligned they appear horizontal; for example, some teeth might be angled towards or away the molar; on the other hand, some might be alternating between inward and outward. Moreover, poor alignment leads to crookedness, damage to adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves.

Substantially, due to the soft tissues surrounding the wisdom teeth and jawbone can not only partially break, but also erupt through the gum. Partial eruption of the wisdom teeth leads to accumulation of bacteria around the infected area, thus causing pain, swelling, jaw stiffness and general illness, which leads to tooth decay and gum diseases.

How do you know you have wisdom teeth?

To determine the position of your wisdom teeth, a dentist may be required to take an X-ray to evaluate the presence and alignment of it. For further assessment the oral surgeon or dentist might recommend that your wisdom teeth be removed before issues starts developing.

A fully erupted wisdom tooth can be removed off easily as any other tooth; nonetheless, a tooth located underneath the gums and connected with the jawbone need an incision for easier removal. Usually, in the case for such situations, the tooth is extracted in small sections rather than in big chunks, which is painful.

What happens during Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Before any tooth removal the surrounding tissue are numbed with a local anesthetic, which is similar to the one used to fill cavity. Some individual might experience anxiety, therefore, it is advisable to always discuss with the dentist on what could help before the procedure, perhaps, a sedative. The types of sedating medicine used include:

Veneers

These are thin, specially designed porcelain shells that cover the front of the teeth to mask staining or defects. Veneers include a corrective dentistry technique in which thin tooth shaded porcelain or composite gum facings are attached to the front of at least one tooth. Veneers are more traditional than dental crowns and can be a decent corrective dental alternative for patients with the below mentioned dental concerns:

  • Nitrous oxide/ laughing gas
  • Oral sedative/ valium
  • Intravenous sedative

For your information, for nitrous oxide you can drive yourself home; nevertheless, if you use the other two alternatives you will need to be driven to and from the appointment.

Recovery after wisdom teeth removal

Every recovery rate depends on the degree of extraction; for example, pain level of a fully erupted tooth extraction is different from a tooth impacted into the jawbone. Below are what you should expect after wisdom teeth extraction:

Bleeding

Usually happens during the first 24 hours immediately after tooth extraction. To reduce the bleeding, place a piece of clean moist gauze over the tooth socket and bite firmly. By rule of the thumb, you are required to apply constant pressure for about 45 minutes. Also, tannic acid found in tea facilitate faster blood clotting on open wounds. If you are experiencing heavy bleeding, contact your dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible.
Do not rinse or spit for the first 24 hours after extraction, stay away from ‘sucking action’ that is either drinking from straws or smoking. Also, avoid hot liquid as they accommodate the formulation of dry sockets.

Facial Swelling

This is most prone to occur after tooth extraction. To reduce the swelling, place ice on your face for 10 minutes, followed by a 20-minute break, repeat when necessary during the first 24-hour period.

Pain Medications

Most dentists would recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) to minimise the pain. Antibiotics can also be prescribed before the tooth extraction, mainly used to treat any sort of active infection that might occur after extraction.

Food

A liquid diet and soft foods are the most suitable after a few days, at least until the pain has dulled away. Also, avoid alcohol if you are under narcotic pain medication.

Brush your teeth regularly

After 24 hours, you can resume brushing your teeth gently and avoid commercial mouth rinses as they can be sensitive to the extraction site.

After 24 Hours

Facial Swelling:  After 24 hours of applying ice on the swollen area, you should try treat the area with heat by using a moist warm towel for 20 minutes on and off when necessary.

Rinse your mouth with warm salt water: Particularly, a ½ teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water after meals, keep in mind that you are not supposed to use commercial mouth rinses. However, if you have stitches that in not self dissolving, it need to be removed immediately after one week.

It is important to know that complete healing does not occur for a few weeks to a few months of extraction and always watch out for signs of dry sockets.

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