The Ultimate Guide to Wisdom Teeth: Extraction, Recovery, and What to Expect

Many people only realize that they have third molars when they begin to hurt. By the time that moment occurs, the choice about their removal may no longer be theirs. The reason for this is that, according to research, people are most likely to have their wisdom teeth erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. The jaw bone has stopped growing, but the mouth is still adjusting to the changes that have occurred. There is often not enough room for them to erupt completely. Up to 90 percent of people worldwide have had at least one impacted third molar. No wonder so many people have heard about the need for wisdom tooth extraction during their dental visits! There is a reason most dentists bring it up.

Do you actually need them extracted?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. First of all, not all impacted wisdom teeth are created equal, and second, not everyone will need to have them taken out. Some erupt fully and are useful to the mouth; therefore, they rarely cause trouble. The ones that may need to be removed are impacted or angled in such a way that they are pushed against other teeth or grow at an angle inside of the gums. This causes pericoronitis, decay, or abscesses.

The reasons for extraction are not the same for everyone. The most common ones are recurring pericoronitis due to food debris and bacteria getting trapped under the operculum, decay or resorption of the adjacent teeth due to an angle of impaction, or development of a cyst adjacent to the impacted tooth (most commonly, the second molar). The last one is very rare but more serious since the jaw bone and the root of the impacted tooth have to be removed as well.

There are different options to consider. If your jaws have enough space for eruption and your teeth are growing in correctly, there is no need to panic. In contrast, if your teeth are not erupting completely and you are at high risk of developing complications like decay or cysts, you should consider extraction. The age at which you should take these things into account depends on you personally but will most likely fall between 17 and 20.

What happens at the consultation

If it seems that the extraction is inevitable, the next step should be to schedule a panoramic X-ray appointment. It will provide the dentist with a clear image of both jaws. The dentist will be able to see if the impacted teeth have a proper inclination, how deep they are located, and how close the roots are to the inferior alveolar nerve. The last detail is the most important because it determines the level of difficulty of the surgery and the likelihood of a potential side effect – temporary numbness of the lip, chin, and tongue due to damage to the nerve.

Another thing that will be discussed is the anesthesia. Are you afraid to fall asleep under the effect of the sedation? If so, a local anesthetic with a long-lasting effect is an option for you. If the thought of undergoing the procedure scares you to the point where you feel like throwing up, you can ask for an intravenous anesthetic. It will relax you so much that you might even fall asleep during the surgery. For more complex procedures involving multiple impacted teeth, general anesthesia is the best option, but you should know that it is entirely up to you to decide if you want to be unconscious during the operation. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to anesthesia – everything depends on the level of complexity and how much you are willing to be conscious during the procedure. If you are still on the fence, remember that Wisdom Tooth Removal in Cannington should always include consultations in order for you to establish trust with your dentist.

Simple extraction or surgical extraction?

There are two main types of tooth removal – simple and surgical. The former is indicated when a tooth erupts fully or only slightly and is easily accessible. The dentist will simply detach the tooth root from the surrounding tissue with special instruments and remove it. Simple extraction is not very different from the removal of any other tooth. Surgical extraction is necessary when the wisdom tooth is impacted and has to be removed with a surgical incision. The dentist will have to make a small cut in the gums to remove the tooth, most often breaking it into smaller pieces in order to minimize the damage to the surrounding tissue. Osteotomy is a type of surgical extraction indicated for ankylosed teeth. Ankylosis occurs when the root of the impacted tooth merges with the jaw bone, making it impossible to remove the tooth without damaging the bone tissue.

Knowing which type of extraction you will undergo will help you understand the healing process. It is always best to know the details before the day of the procedure than to find out about them when it is too late.

What does the procedure feel like?

Most of the fears associated with the procedure are caused by the fact that the patient does not know exactly what to expect. Here is an honest description of the experience. First of all, you should know that when the anesthesia or IV sedation takes effect, the dentist will make sure that the area is completely numb before proceeding with the operation so that you will not feel a thing. What the patient feels during the procedure depends mostly on the type of extraction and the location of the impacted tooth. You may feel pressure as the dentist tries to loosen the root of the tooth or detach it from the surrounding tissue. It may also feel as if the tooth is breaking or cracking, but the pain should be absent when the anesthetic is properly dosed.

Simple extraction procedure only takes a few minutes per tooth, whereas surgical extraction can take up to an hour per tooth. The most difficult part is the first hour after the operation when most of the discomfort occurs. Luckily, there are things you can do to alleviate the swelling and pain. Bite on a piece of gauze for half an hour to an hour to form a clot and stop the bleeding. The swelling can be reduced with regular ice pack applications every 20 minutes for the first day. It is easier to prevent it than to reduce it afterward. Do not lie on your back; instead, keep your head elevated to reduce the amount of fluid that flows to the surgical site.

What happens in the first 24 hours

Everything that happens in the first 24 hours after the procedure is critical to the healing process. Right after the extraction, the dentist will make sure that the clot has formed in the empty tooth socket. This clot is necessary for the regeneration of the tissue that lines the socket, protecting the underlying bone and nerve endings. After the operation, you will have to bite on a piece of gauze for about an hour to help form the clot. You can also apply ice packs to reduce the swelling. Remember that it is most significant within the first day or two and should subside after that. You may take NSAIDs to reduce the pain, but the dentist will most likely prescribe a stronger medication for the first two days since surgical extraction can be particularly painful.

One of the main post-operative complications that occurs within the first few days after the surgery is dry socket. Dry socket is caused by the loss of the blood clot in the empty tooth socket, most often as a result of excessive rinsing, using a straw, or spitting. It usually occurs between the third and fifth day after the procedure and is characterized by a dull, pulsating pain that often radiates to the ear. Dry socket is not an emergency, but it definitely requires a doctor’s intervention. You have a good chance of avoiding this complication if you do not use a straw or smoke for the first week after the surgery.

What to eat and drink after the surgery

It is recommended to stick to a liquid diet or eat soft foods for the first two days after the procedure. You should avoid drinking with a straw for at least a week to prevent the loss of the blood clot. Some of the foods and drinks that are allowed during the healing period are yogurt, smoothies, soup, and mashed potatoes. Hot liquids should also be avoided for a few days since they can damage the delicate tissues that are forming in the extraction site. As for the following days, you can slowly transition to more solid foods but should avoid seeds, nuts, and anything hard to chew for about a week. It is not the crunchy foods themselves that are dangerous, but the fact that they get stuck in the extraction site and have to be chewed for a very long time.

When to contact a dentist

Most people who have undergone wisdom tooth extraction do not have any serious post-operative complications. However, there are a number of reasons to contact a dentist immediately after the procedure or within the first few days following it. These include heavy bleeding that occurs despite clamping, fever or the presence of pus at the extraction site, constant pain, and increased swelling after the third day. You should also contact a dentist if you still feel numb in the lower lip, chin, or tongue after the anesthesia has worn off.

Your age is not as important as you think

People who are in their teens and early 20s have an easier time recovering from the procedure than those who are older. This is due to the fact that the root of the tooth is not fully developed when the patient is young, and the jaw bone is less dense. The younger you are, the higher the chances are that the tooth will come out whole, and the shorter the healing time will be. This is also why dentists recommending extraction at a relatively early age – not because it is necessary for everyone, but simply because the conditions for a quick recovery are optimal.

Two weeks later

Most people who have had their wisdom teeth removed feel much better after two weeks and are able to resume eating solid food. However, full healing of the jaw takes much longer than that – up to several months. Nevertheless, you should hardly feel any pain at this stage, and any mild discomfort should be easily tolerated. This is also the time when the tissues at the extraction site are fully healed, and you should not feel any pain when chewing. If you are still bothered by a dull ache, this is the time to go to the dentist instead of waiting for it to go away on its own.

In general, there is nothing to fear from the procedure, but there are also a few misunderstandings to be aware of. Undergo the panoramic X-ray, consult with your dentist about the options, and take the healing steps in order instead of rushing the process. This is how you ensure a stress-free two-week post-operative period as opposed to a difficult and uncomfortable one.