Permanent Smile Restoration
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Extracting wisdom teeth is necessary when the teeth push the surrounding teeth leading to bite problems and intense pain. This happens when the teeth don’t have enough space to grow and impact the neighboring ones. You may also need your wisdom teeth removed if they’re causing issues with your sinuses or are severely decayed.
Sometimes cysts can form around the wisdom teeth, hollowing out the jaw. The gum area around the wisdom teeth can also swell and redden. You’ll have to extract the wisdom teeth in both cases.
First, your Colorado Springs dentist will take X-rays of your teeth and carry out tests to determine the exact position of your wisdom teeth. This will also determine whether a wisdom teeth extraction is necessary. The dentist might opt for a root canal in cases of dental decay.
Once the dentist decides on a tooth extraction, they’ll inject anesthesia near the tooth to numb the area. Some patients might require general anesthesia to keep them at ease throughout the procedure. The dentist will then use an elevator to loosen the tooth’s roots from its socket and use forceps to grab and pull the tooth. An incision on the gum tissue is necessary for patients whose wisdom teeth haven’t protruded above the gumline.
The dentist will grab the tooth with forceps and gently rock it back and forth. Doing so widens the socket holding the wisdom tooth and loosens it. Sometimes dentists might break the wisdom tooth into smaller sections to make it easier to remove. Once ejected, the dentist will clean and disinfect the extraction site.
If the dentist made an incision in your gums, they’ll stitch the incision site. They’ll also place a gauze pad on the extraction site to stop the bleeding and promote blood clot formation. You’ll receive detailed instructions on how to care for the extraction site to promote healing and prevent further complications before you go home.
The extraction site takes about seven to ten days to heal completely. Patients experience bleeding after extraction that the gauze pad helps control. The gauze pads help form a clot in the area that stops the bleeding. Patients will also experience pain, swelling, and discomfort at the extraction site. The dentist will prescribe over-the-counter pain medication to help with the pain and discomfort. Patients can also place an ice pack on the swollen cheek to reduce the swelling.
You’ll experience mild swelling and discomfort for the first few days after the procedure, which you can reduce with ice packs. Meanwhile, avoid rinsing your mouth vigorously, eating hard food, and using a straw to keep from dislodging the blood clot. Dislodging this clot disrupts healing and leads to a painful condition called dry socket. Observe proper oral hygiene, and the wound should heal in a week or so.
There’s nothing wrong with not removing your wisdom teeth if you don’t have to. Wisdom teeth are permanent teeth that should last a lifetime. Your dentist will advise whether removing your wisdom teeth is a good idea. Otherwise, you can live a normal, healthy life with all your wisdom teeth intact.
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