You’ve just been notified that you’ve partially erupted wisdom teeth and it needs to be removed. Yes, this means it’s likely you’ll need to undergo wisdom teeth removal treatment.
Naturally, you’re going to feel nervous about it, and the thought of removing a tooth can be a frightening experience. Although, modern dentistry has advanced itself so that wisdom teeth removal can be a painless experience.
How Do Wisdom Teeth Form?
A wisdom tooth is known as a third molar, and they typically come through during teenage and early adult years. They are typically the last permanent teeth to come through, but as partially erupted, which means there isn’t enough room under the gumline for it to grow fully. Therefore, the tooth becomes ‘impacted’ and can introduce infection, decay, jaw problems, and swollen gums. It can get even worse by damaging any surrounding tissue.
When this happens, wisdom teeth removal treatment is the recommended solution.
Does The Dentist Perform Wisdom Teeth Removal In The Chair?
When it comes to removing any of your teeth, you’ll naturally think about how painful it could be, how much you’ll bleed, and how difficult it will be to remove the wisdom teeth.
This is far from the truth.
First of all, you’ll arrive at the dentist to perform wisdom teeth removal in the chair, and the treatment is simple, fast, and painless.
Before wisdom teeth removal in the chair, the affected tooth and the surrounding gum area will be numbed with a local anesthetic. This helps to reduce any feelings of sensitivity and sensations when the procedure begins. This means that you’re unlikely to feel anything whilst the anesthetic is in place.
The dentist will begin wisdom teeth removal in the chair by making sure there is enough room to gently grasp the wisdom tooth with special forceps equipment. If too difficult, the dentist will first look to break down the tooth into smaller pieces and remove them bit by bit.
You may feel a small sensation, but not as much as you’d think before the procedure. The wisdom tooth is gently removed through a rocking motion, side to side until it becomes loose from its socket.
What Happens Once The Wisdom Tooth Is Removed?
Once the wisdom tooth is removed, blood will likely form, but a sterile gauze pad is given to you to bite down on to formulate the blood clot. The bleeding will eventually begin to slow down. The dentist will advise on any pain relief instructions that you’d need to follow.
What Happens After Wisdom Teeth Removal Treatment?
Next is the healing process, the process of the blood clot beginning to form, and this is an essential part of the treatment. This is because blood clots can sometimes become dislodged, meaning the underlying nerve is exposed to food particles and bacteria.
The anesthetic will begin to wear off at least 24 to 48 hours after treatment is performed. This could potentially introduce some discomfort in the mouth at home. The dentist would recommend taking over-the-counter pain relief medication such as ibuprofen to minimize any discomfort.
You’re expected to heal fully from wisdom teeth removal in the chair between three days and a week. The aftercare part of treatment is vital because it will validate the success of the procedure.
As part of aftercare, follow these tips:
- Avoid eating hard solids, especially around the affected area
- Drink water regularly
- Avoid touching the extraction site when brushing your teeth
- Avoid physical activity for the first few days and stay rested
- Keep your head elevated when lying down
- Perform gentle saltwater rinses to limit any discomfort.
The length of time healing takes varies for every patient, but ensure you take these adequate aftercare tips, so healing is as fast as possible. Here are a few tips to reduce wisdom teeth swelling. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Woden dentist for guidance and consultation.