Wisdom Teeth Removal 101: Causes, Risks, Procedure, and Recovery
Wisdom teeth removal, a common dental procedure, has a success rate of over 95%. Most wisdom tooth removals are performed under anesthesia because it can be hard to numb the area enough for the patient to be relaxed and still during surgery.
Wisdom teeth removal in Brampton, ON, is not a cosmetic procedure but a restorative one.
Wisdom teeth extraction healing time varies based on the patient and whether or not the procedure was combined with other procedures, such as orthodontics. The usual wisdom tooth extraction recovery period is around two weeks, but it may take as short as a few days and as long as several months.
Some complications of the extraction procedure include bleeding, infection (pus), swelling, numbness, and pain.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third molars, and they appear at around age 17-25 years old.
These wisdom teeth are substantially impacted because there is not enough room in the mouth for wisdom teeth.
What Problems Do Wisdom Teeth Cause?
Wisdom teeth can grow sideways or partially emerge from the gum line, and that may cause some dental issues, including pain. Impacted teeth can cause damage to other teeth and gums or crowding of existing permanent teeth. In these cases, wisdom teeth extraction may be recommended by a dentist.
When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
There are several reasons to remove wisdom tooth-
- Due to overcrowding of the mouth
- To decrease the risk of infection – wisdom teeth that grow sideways or below the gum line can cause bacteria to build up and result in infections.
How is Wisdom Teeth Extraction Done?
Impacted wisdom teeth removal is a surgical procedure that may be done due to tooth crowding, a tumor, or an infection.
A dental surgeon will use a syringe to numb your gums and then pull out the tooth with forceps. In some cases, they will use a drill, which can also be used on impacted teeth that cannot be removed with forceps.
The dentist will then use a dental instrument to elevate the tooth out from its socket, and after that, they will use forceps to clamp down on any tissue holding it in place.
The dentist can then safely remove these tissues and extract the tooth without causing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Typically, wisdom teeth removal takes about an hour. This is the case even when there are multiple wisdom teeth to be extracted at once.
What Are The Risks of Not Removing Wisdom Teeth?
Some patients complain of wisdom tooth pain, while others may not even be aware that they have wisdom teeth. The real issue is the pain-causing bacteria that often accumulate around wisdom teeth and can cause damage to your gums and even your jawbone. These bacteria are responsible for several negative side effects, including gum infection.
If wisdom teeth are un-removed, the bacteria can damage your jawbone and even lead to tooth loss with time. A wisdom tooth that has not yet erupted into the mouth can still cause issues in its path of eruption. This often results in wisdom teeth becoming impacted with other wisdom teeth, which causes significant pain when eating, drinking, or brushing.
If wisdom teeth become impacted (meaning that they do not erupt into your mouth at all), then wisdom teeth will need to be surgically removed by an oral surgeon.
How Long Does Wisdom Teeth Extraction Recovery Take?
The wisdom teeth extraction process can take a long time to heal, but the symptoms clear in a few days. You can use home remedies like ice, warm water, and pain medication to ease the pain. Also, avoid eating hot, spicy, and chewy foods for the first few days.
However, keep in mind that it can take up to six months for wisdom tooth wounds to fully heal after wisdom teeth have been extracted, so wisdom teeth extraction should not be attempted if there are more wisdom teeth to come out.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Rosedale Dental Care for more information about wisdom teeth extraction.