Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are an incredibly common cause of dental pain. They tend to show up well after our other adult teeth have emerged, usually in late adolescence or early adulthood (between the ages of 17-25) though they can make trouble at any time after this also. Unfortunately, wisdom teeth rarely emerge without causing complications. Their appearance can cause crowding in your jaw, intense pain and even infection.
If you are experiencing pain or have concerns about your wisdom teeth, request an appointment with our dentists today.
Why Are Wisdom Teeth Extracted
Wisdom teeth are the four final molars to emerge in your mouth. Often there is little or no room for them to erupt fully, when this happens they may come up at an angle. If your jaw has no space for them, they may continually move up and down trying to emerge. Failure to emerge properly is referred to as impaction.
This then creates pressure against adjacent teeth as well as irritating the inside of your cheeks and causing gum inflammation.
An extraction becomes necessary once the tooth becomes impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause:
- Cysts in the jaw
- Infection
- Tooth decay
- Swelling of lymph glands under the jaw
- Pain in the jaw, ears and sinuses
During a consultation about your wisdom teeth, your dentist will take a dental x-ray known as an OPG to assess their position and the best course of action.
Occasionally, your wisdom teeth may happily emerge and settle into place, however, it is still best practice to have them assessed by your dentist.
Following x-rays, your dentist will carefully explain your options and give their expert opinion of the best approach. Any invasive procedure carries risks, this is why recovery time and any possible complications will be discussed before you agree to an extraction.
Should extraction be decided on as the best course of action, one of two things will happen.
- Removal in the dentist chair under local anesthetic or
- Referral to an oral surgeon for more complex extractions under general anesthetic.
Should removal in the dentist chair be possible, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to completely numb the tooth and surrounding gum/jaw. They may also offer you laughing gas to help you feel relaxed and calm.
The extraction of the tooth should not be painful, if it is, you must alert your dentist who will administer more anesthetic before continuing. Should the tooth already have begun to emerge, it is simply a matter of pulling it out. If it is deeply impacted in the gum, a small incision may need to be made before the tooth can be accessed for extraction.
While you should feel no pain, you will feel some pressure and may hear some noise during the procedure – this is all completely normal.
An uncomplicated wisdom tooth extraction shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes, of course, should more than one tooth be removed in the visit, it will be longer. Once the tooth is out your dentist may opt to place a few small, dissolvable stitches in the gum.
Following the procedure, your jaw and gums are likely to remain numb from the anesthetic for another few hours. The effects of the laughing gas will recede within a matter of minutes once you stop using it.
Recovery time for a wisdom tooth extraction at our Cranebrook clinic is around 2 weeks. during this time it is normal to experience some swelling and discomfort. In the first couple of days, you may also experience some light bleeding. You can take over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen to help with any pain.
If you experience any heavy bleeding or a sudden increase in pain, it is important to let your dentist know immediately. This could indicate a complication with the healing process.
In the first 24 hours, it is recommended to avoid eating solid food. Your dentist may advise you to eat a soft diet such as mashed potato or soups for up to 4 days to allow for optimal healing.
You can still brush your teeth post-extraction, you will just need to be extra gentle near the wound site. Your dentist will advise you on how to best care for your mouth in the coming weeks.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Made Easy
Don’t live with wisdom tooth pain or risk infection or damage to surrounding teeth. Contact Cranebrook Dental today to discuss pain-free wisdom teeth extraction at our Cranebrook clinic. Our caring and compassionate dentists are here to help.
Your Cranebrook Dental Clinic
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Expert care by highly trained professionals that live in and know your community, our team offers continuity of care for you and your family. From infancy to your golden years, your Cranebrook Dental Clinic is invested in the lifetime of your smile.
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