Steps of wisdom tooth surgery

Dr. Mehdi Ali Babaei > Blog > Weblog > Wisdom tooth surgery procedures

21 June, 1402
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A wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to remove one or more wisdom teeth, generally the four permanent adult teeth located in the upper and lower back corners of your mouth.

If the wisdom tooth does not have room to grow (implanted wisdom tooth), which leads to pain, infection or other dental problems, it should be extracted. Wisdom tooth extraction may be done by a dentist or an oral surgeon.

To prevent possible future problems, some dentists and oral surgeons recommend wisdom teeth extraction, even if the impacted teeth are not currently causing a problem.

Wisdom teeth or third molars are the last permanent teeth to appear in the mouth. These teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people never get wisdom teeth. For others, wisdom teeth grow in naturally, just like their other molars, and cause no problems.

Many people have impacted wisdom teeth, teeth that do not have enough space in the mouth to grow or grow naturally. The hidden wisdom tooth may come out partially or not at all.

The impacted wisdom tooth may grow at an angle to the next tooth (second molar) or at an angle toward the back of the mouth, or it may grow at an inappropriate angle to other teeth, as if the wisdom tooth is hidden inside the jawbone.

Or grow straight up or down like other teeth, but stay locked in the jaw bone.

Hidden wisdom tooth problems

Table of Contents

You may need to have your wisdom tooth extracted if the impacted wisdom tooth causes problems such as:

Pain
Trapping food and debris behind wisdom teeth
Infection or gum disease (periodontal disease)
Tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
Damage to nearby tooth or surrounding bone
Creation of a fluid-filled sac (cyst) around the wisdom tooth
Side effects of orthodontic treatments to straighten other teeth

Prevention of dental problems in the future

Dental experts disagree about the value of extracting wisdom teeth that are not causing problems (asymptomatic).

Predicting the future problems of impacted wisdom teeth is difficult. However, here is the reason for preemptive mining:

Wisdom teeth without symptoms can still carry the disease.

If there is not enough space for the tooth to grow, it is often difficult to reach it and clean it properly.

Serious complications of wisdom teeth occur less often in young people.

Elderly people may have problems with surgery and complications after surgery.

More risks of having an impacted wisdom tooth

Wisdom tooth extraction does not lead to long-term complications. However, removing hidden wisdom teeth occasionally requires a surgical approach that involves making an incision in the gum tissue and removing the bone. Rarely, complications can include:

Painful dry socket, or bone exposure when a blood clot breaks loose from the surgical wound site (socket) after surgery.

Infection in the socket from bacteria or trapped food particles

Damage to adjacent teeth, nerves, jawbone or sinuses

Steps of removing wisdom teeth

Your dentist may perform this procedure in the office. However, if your tooth is deeply embedded or if the extraction requires a deep surgical procedure, your dentist may suggest that you see an oral surgeon. In addition to numbing the area with local anesthesia, the surgeon may suggest sedation to make you more comfortable during the procedure.

Questions to ask

Questions you may want to ask your dentist or oral surgeon include:

How many wisdom teeth should be removed?

What type of anesthesia will I receive?

How complicated do you expect this method to be?

How long is this procedure likely to take?

Has the impacted wisdom tooth caused damage to other teeth?

Is there a risk of nerve damage?

What other dental treatments might I need at a later date?

How long will it take to fully recover and return to normal activity?

Preparing for surgery

Wisdom tooth extraction is almost always done on an outpatient basis. That means you will go home the same day.

You will receive instructions from the hospital or dental clinic staff about what to do before your surgery and on the day of your scheduled surgery. Ask these questions:

Should I arrange for someone to drive me home after the operation?

When should I go to a dental clinic or hospital?

Should I avoid eating food or drinking liquids or both (fasting)? If so, when should I start?

Can I take my prescription medications before surgery? If so, how long before surgery can I dose?

Should I avoid over-the-counter medications before surgery?

What you can expect

During wisdom tooth surgery

Your dentist or oral surgeon may use one of three types of anesthesia depending on the expected complexity of the wisdom tooth extraction and your comfort level. The options are:

Local anesthesia. Your dentist or oral surgeon will administer local anesthesia with one or more injections near the site of each extraction. Before the injection, your dentist or surgeon will likely apply a substance to your gums to numb them. You are awake during tooth extraction. Although you will feel some pressure and movement, you should not experience pain.

Sedation. Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you a sedative through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm. Sedative anesthesia suppresses your consciousness during the procedure. You will feel no pain and have limited memory from the procedure. You will also receive a local anesthetic to numb the gums.

General Anesthesia. In certain circumstances, you may be offered general anesthesia. You may inhale the medicine through your nose or have an IV line in your arm, or both. Then you lose consciousness. Your surgical team closely monitors your medication, breathing, temperature, fluids, and blood pressure. You will experience no pain and have no memory of the procedure. Local anesthesia is also prescribed to help with post-operative discomfort.

During wisdom tooth extraction, the dentist or oral surgeon:

Makes an incision in the gum tissue to expose the tooth and bone

Removes the bone that blocks access to the root of the tooth

If you remove the tooth piece by piece it is easier, it divides the tooth into parts

Destroys teeth

Cleans the site of the removed tooth from any remaining tooth or bone

Stitches the wound to heal, although this is not always necessary

places gas over the extraction site to control bleeding and help blood clot formation

After wisdom tooth surgery

If you receive sedation or general anesthesia, you will be taken to the recovery room after the operation. If you have local anesthesia, your recovery time is likely to be short in the dentist's chair.

As you recover from surgery, follow your dentist's instructions on the following:

Bleeding. Some bleeding may occur on the first day after wisdom tooth extraction. Try not to spit too much so as not to dislodge the blood clot from the cavity. According to the order of the dentist or oral surgeon, put the gauze on the extraction site.

Pain management. You may be able to control pain with over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or pain medications prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon. If bone is removed during the procedure, prescription pain medications may be helpful. Keeping a cold pack on the jaw may also relieve pain.

Swelling and bruising. Use an ice pack as directed by your dentist or surgeon. Any swelling in your cheeks will usually heal within two or three days. Bruising may take a few more days.

Activity. After surgery, rest for the rest of the day. Resume your normal activities the next day, but avoid vigorous activities that may cause the blood clot to dislodge from the cavity for at least a week.

Drinks after surgery Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated, carbonated or hot drinks for the first 24 hours. Do not drink through a straw for at least a week because the act of sucking can dislodge the blood clot from the cavity.

Food. For the first 24 hours, eat only soft foods such as yogurt or applesauce. Start eating semi-soft foods when you can tolerate them. Avoid hard, chewy, hot or spicy foods that may get stuck in the cavity or irritate the ulcer.

mouth cleaning In the first 24 hours after surgery, avoid brushing your teeth, rinsing your mouth, spitting, and using mouthwash. You will usually be told to resume brushing after the first 24 hours. Be gentle when brushing near the surgical wound and gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours and after meals for a week.

Tobacco use. If you smoke, stop for at least 72 hours after surgery – and wait longer if possible. If you smoke hookah, do not use it for at least a week. Using tobacco products after oral surgery can delay healing and increase the risk of complications.

Stitches. You may have stitches that resolve within a few weeks or no stitches at all. If your stitches need to be removed, make an appointment to have them removed.

When to call your dentist or surgeon

Call your dentist or oral surgeon if you notice any of the following symptoms that could indicate infection, nerve damage, or other serious complications:

difficulty swallowing or breathing

Excessive bleeding

Fever

Severe pain that is not relieved by prescribed pain medication

Swelling that gets worse after two or three days

Bad taste in your mouth won't go away by rinsing with salt water

Pus in or leaking from the socket

Persistent numbness or loss of feeling

Presence of blood or pus in nasal secretions

Conclusion

You probably won't need a follow-up appointment after wisdom tooth extraction if:

You do not need to remove the stitches