Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Definition: A dental surgical procedure that involves the removal of a wisdom tooth (the third molar) from its socket in the alveolar bone.

The wisdom teeth usually grow through your gums at the age of 18-25, and sometimes even later. In some cases, because of the lack of space, considering that all the other teeth have already grown and arranged in their place, the wisdom teeth can emerge at an angle or get stuck. In cases like these, the impacted teeth, or the ones that have not yet broken through the surface of the gum, may develop bacterial infection or other complications such as:

• Tooth decay;
• Periodontitis;
• Abscess;
• Cysts or other benign tumors.  

How to prepare for the procedure?

Usually, when the wisdom teeth are involved your doctor will recommend having a panoramic X-ray, to capture the entire mouth in one picture. This way your doctor can see how your wisdom teeth relate to the other structures of your mouth.
You should avoid drinking alcohol and smoking at least 24 h before the procedure. If you are having a surgical extraction, you should not drink or eat anything at least 6 hours before the procedure.

How does it work?

If your doctor decides that you have to remove more than one wisdom tooth, you can do it in a single surgery. Before pulling the tooth you will be given an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area, or you could be getting general anesthesia, especially if you are having several or all the wisdom teeth removed. If the tooth has not yet erupted from your gum, the doctor will make a small incision on your gum tissue over it. After separating the tissue connecting the tooth to the bone, or even taking out bone parts that are covering it, the doctor will remove the tooth. In some cases when the tooth is not coming out the doctor may cut it in half or in several pieces before removing them. After the procedure, you may need stitches.

What are the risks?

• Infection;
• Bleeding; 
• Dry socket;
• Damage to the nearby teeth and nerves.

How long does the procedure take?

Depending on the problem, the number of teeth removed, and the extraction method, the procedure may take from 20 min to an hour or even more.

How to recover after the procedure?

• You may be prescribed antibiotics before and several days after the procedure;
• Pain could range from minor discomfort to severe, which is manageable with painkillers;
• To ease the pain and swelling you could put an ice pack on your face, on the area of the extracted tooth;
• Avoid touching the area with your tongue or fingers;
• Avoid heavy rinsing of the mouth, drinking from a straw, spitting, and smoking for the first 2-3 days after the procedure to avoid pulling out the blood clot formed in the socket;
• You can gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water;
• The first couple of days after the procedure eat only soft and cool food;
• The first day after the procedure avoid heavy exercising and activities that involve keeping your head down; also sleep with a bigger pillow to avoid bleeding.

Learn about a specialized form of Tooth Extraction.
Understanding more about Oral Maxillofacial Surgery could be useful for anyone considering Tooth Extraction.
Looking for affordable treatment options for dentistry? Check out Dental Packages.