This is one of the common dental surgeries that most adults go through. It is thus vital to know what to expect before the procedure. The following are some of the types of removal processes for wisdom teeth:
This is the most conservative method of wisdom tooth removal, and it can be done by simply removing the tooth as it is. The dentist will give an anesthetic to make the area numb and use special instruments to carefully pull out the tooth.
Your dentist has to extract part of the tissue that surrounds the tooth to extract the teeth. This is when impacted tissues make the removal of the teeth difficult and are eliminated.
This procedure involves the removal of more than one part of a surrounding bone by your dentist for easy access to wisdom teeth.
Recovery from wisdom tooth removal can be tough and painful, but it has to be done. The process may be smoother and easier if proper care and advice are given. Here are some helpful tips to make a recovery from a wisdom tooth much less painful.
Managing pain and discomfort:
Extraction of wisdom teeth often causes pain and swelling in your mouth. Self-care to minimize discomfort may include over-the-counter pain medication and, if you have to lie down, the application of ice packs to your face and elevation of your head.
What to eat and drink:
Recovery phase Avoid eating hard and spicy food, which irritates your mouth and pain. You may eat semisoft foods 24 hours later, including mashed potatoes, yogurt, soup, and scrambled eggs. Other restrictions include no hot foods or drinks, alcohol, or carbonated drinks.
Cleaning the mouth and preventing infection:
Keep the space where you had your wisdom teeth removed clean with a soft-bristled toothbrush and warm water, but avoid mouthwash or anything alcohol-based since this inhibits healing.
Activities to avoid:
Generally, during the first week or so after surgery, one must avoid contact sports, heavy lifting, and swimming. It is also recommended not to smoke and drink because these delay healing time.
These can help make recovery easier and less painful, but in case of pain or worsening symptoms and indications of an infection, seek out your dentist right away.
Removing the patient’s wisdom teeth sometimes proves beneficial when this is done during their younger years. This is because crowding from the wisdom teeth can damage the adjacent teeth as well as impede orthodontic treatment. However, there are instances when it is better to wait until the extraction of the wisdom teeth is over. For example, when the patient is over 24 years old, it would be better to wait until the roots of the teeth become more developed before trying to extract them. The more developed the roots, the easier it will be to extract the teeth without much trouble. Besides, if the oral health of the patient is good in all respects, then it is not necessary to rush into the procedure.
However, a few factors determine when to extract wisdom teeth, including general health, the position and shape of the mouth, space availability, and the severity of associated symptoms. Your dentist can assess these factors and determine your situation‘s right action.