What is Wisdom Tooth Extraction, Why It’s Done & Post Surgery Care

Wisdom teeth or back molars are the last permanent teeth to emerge in your mouth. They erupt in the top and bottom jaw on both sides between 17 and 21. Like many others, you may not have sufficient space in your jaw to accommodate your wisdom teeth without your other teeth shifting. Eruption of wisdom teeth can lead to various problems.

If the dentist near you detects your wisdom teeth during routine dental exams by taking x-rays, they recommend wisdom tooth extraction, a standard procedure requiring about a week to recover, depending on your unique case. However, if your wisdom teeth are impacted, you may need longer to recover. This is because impacted wisdom teeth remain below the gum line and aren’t visible to the naked eye.

What is Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Wisdom tooth extraction in Plano is a standard procedure to prevent or fix problems with your final set of molars. If you have impacted wisdom teeth, they may erupt at an angle towards the second molar. They can also grow at angles towards the posterior region of your mouth, towards other teeth, or erupt straight like your other teeth but remain trapped in the jawbone. It is why the Plano dentist recommends removing them.

Why Is Wisdom Tooth Extraction Done?

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain and trap food and debris behind it. You may experience tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth or infections like gum disease. The tooth can damage the adjacent teeth or surrounding bone or develop into a fluid-filled sac around the wisdom tooth. They also cause complications with orthodontic treatments for straightening teeth. The dentist in Plano aims to prevent future dental problems that are challenging to predict. Therefore wisdom tooth extractions are a preventive measure because asymptomatic wisdom teeth can also harbor disease or cause severe complications because they are challenging to clean.

Post-Surgery Instructions after Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Wisdom teeth removal is a severe surgical process. Therefore, you must follow the post-operative care tips provided by the Plano dentist to minimize your wisdom tooth removal recovery time. Additionally, the instructions can reduce unnecessary pain and swelling, helping you avoid wisdom tooth extraction complications like infections.

After getting your wisdom teeth extracted, the Plano dentist recommends the following instructions on the day of the procedure. They are:

• You must limit or restrict your activities, including anything strenuous.
• You must avoid touching the extraction site.
• It would help if you did not rinse your mouth vigorously.
• You can use ice packs on your cheeks to reduce swelling.
• You can remove the surgical gauze pad 30 minutes after your procedure.
• You can start taking pain relievers as soon as you begin feeling any discomfort.

You can expect some bleeding to occur after wisdom teeth removal. You can control excessive bleeding by placing a gauze pad over the surgical area and biting on it for 30 minutes. Teabags also help prevent bleeding if it is extreme.

You can control moderate pain using over-the-counter painkillers every three to four hours. If the pain is severe, you can take prescribed pain medication as instructed by the dentist. However, you must stop the medicines if you develop rashes or experience other side effects. In addition, painkillers can make you dizzy, requiring you to stand up gradually. However, the pain and discomfort lessen progressively every day.

You must remain hydrated by having plenty of fluids without using straws because the suction motion can dislodge the blood clot. However, do not try to have crunchy and complex foods until you recover from the surgical procedure. Instead, stick to a diet of soft foods high in calories and protein. Do not avoid eating because it can weaken you and cause discomfort instead of giving you the strength to heal faster.

Wisdom Tooth Removal Complications

You might experience temporary numbness in the lips, chin, or tongue. Minor elevations of your temperature are also a problem relieved by taking over-the-counter medicines. However, if the fever persists, call the Plano dentist for help.

Immediately after wisdom tooth removal, you may experience sore throat and pain when swallowing. However, the discomfort subsides within two to three days. In addition, your jaw muscles may feel stiff, causing difficulties in opening your mouth. These are regular episodes and will fade as you recover.

You might have to schedule an appointment with your dentist if you had sutures inserted during wisdom tooth removal. However, in most cases, the sutures dissolve, requiring no further treatment from the dentist after you recover.