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Wisdom Tooth Removal

Wisdom tooth removal

 
A wisdom tooth is removed (extracted) to correct an actual problem or to prevent problems that may come up in the future. Some of the problems relating to wisdom teeth are:

 
  • Your jaw may not be large enough for them, and they may become impacted and unable to break through your gums.
  • Your wisdom teeth may break partway through your gums, causing a flap of gum tissue to grow over them. Food and germs can get trapped under the flap and cause your gums to become red, swollen, and painful. These are signs of infection.
  • More serious problems can develop from impacted teeth, such as infection, damage to other teeth and bone, or a cyst.
  • One or more of your wisdom teeth may come in at an awkward angle, with the top of the tooth facing forward, backward, or to either side. 

 An oral and maxillofacial surgeon or your dentist can remove (extract) a wisdom tooth.

 If you have any infections, surgery will usually be delayed until the infection has cleared up. Your doctor or dentist may have you take antibiotics to help heal the infection.

 

wisdom teeth
 

Before removing a wisdom tooth, your dentist will give you a local anaesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. Intravenous Sedation may be used, especially if several or all of your wisdom teeth will be removed at the same time.

To remove the wisdom tooth, your dentist will open up the gum tissue over the tooth and take out any bone that is covering the tooth. He or she will separate the tissue connecting the tooth to the bone and then remove the tooth. Sometimes the dentist will cut the tooth into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove.

After the tooth is removed, you may need sutures. Some sutures dissolve over time and some have to be removed after 1 - 2 weeks. Your dentist will tell you whether your sutures need to be removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed over the wound will help stop the bleeding.

 

After Surgery Instructions

          
Always remember a clean and healthy mouth heals more rapidly than a neglected one.

The following steps will help healing following dental extractions;
  • Rest for a few hours immediately following treatment and avoid strenuous exercise on the day of the extraction.
  • Do not rinse the mouth for approximately 12 hours. For several days following treatment rinse the mouth gently after meals and before retiring using a mouthwash made by dissolving half a teaspoonful of common salt in a glass of WARM water. The solution should be held in the mouth for two or three minutes to bathe the wound and then discard. Avoid over-vigorous rinsing.  
  • Avoid HOT fluids, alcohol, hard or chewy foods on the day of the extraction. Choose cool drinks and minced or soft food such as soup, eggs, potato, bread, cereal, minced meat and fish. Avoid sucking at the wound or interfering with it in any way.
  • Avoid smoking for 48 hours.  
  • If excessive bleeding occurs, remain calm, sit upright or rest with the head and shoulders raised.  A pad of gauze or clean linen should be placed over the wound and held firmly between the jaws for 15 minutes, by the clock.  Repeat several times if necessary.
  • Any pain or soreness can be relieved by taking a pain relieving preparation available from your chemist. Use any medicines, prescribed or supplied, according to directions
  • If excessive bleeding, undue pain or other complications occur, contact your dentist for advice without delay ​
  • Your gum will take approximately 3-4 weeks to close over entirely.

To find out more about wisdom teeth removal please contact us


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