Wisdom teeth often cause problems as they erupt through the gums. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it means the tooth is coming in at an angle and not straight through the gum line, which can cause pain.
Gentle, Expert Tooth Removal for a Healthier Smile
Wisdom teeth often cause problems as they erupt through the gums. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it means the tooth is coming in at an angle and not straight through the gum line, which can cause pain. The tooth can come in unevenly or may only emerge partially. Wisdom teeth extraction is a fairly common procedure to prevent impacted teeth from becoming an oral health problem.
Complications of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
When a wisdom tooth only partially emerges, a flap of skin may form over the tooth, making it difficult to clean, and pieces of food may become trapped underneath.
This makes it easy for an infection called pericoronitis to develop. It usually resolves on its own, but it can cause swelling and pain in the affected area.
Impacted wisdom teeth and teeth that can potentially cause problems need to be removed. If you need one or all of your wisdom teeth extracted, we may use a local anesthetic to numb the areas. Some patients may prefer to go under general anesthesia so they will be sedated during the procedure.
We will cut the gum tissue around the wisdom tooth to reveal the tooth. Then, we will gently loosen the tooth by gripping it tightly and wiggling it back and forth until we can lift it out of the gums. Sometimes a tooth may be impacted so tightly that we cannot simply lift it out of the gums.
In cases like this, we will break the tooth into pieces first before removing it. Depending on the incision and extraction site, we may need to suture the gums to close them. Soluble sutures are the best option, which will dissolve on their own.
After a tooth extraction, you will need someone to drive you home because of the anesthesia, and you will need to rest once you get home. You can expect the extraction site to bleed for a little while after the surgery.
We will apply gauze at the end of the procedure, and you will need to change it when it becomes soaked with blood. If bleeding continues for longer than 24 hours, you should call us.
While you are home resting, be careful not to lie flat. Instead, prop your head up on a pillow. We will likely prescribe pain medication, so if your mouth is sore, take it as directed. You can also use an ice pack for the pain. Your dentist might also provide you with a cleaning solution to clean the extraction site.
You will be limited to soft foods for a few days after your surgery. You can make a few of the following ahead of time to have on hand while you are home resting:
- Gelatin
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Ice cream
- Thin soup
- Any food you can eat without chewing
When drinking, do not use a straw. The sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process. The same goes for smoking. If you have prolonged pain, bleeding, irritation, or don’t feel that the extraction site is healing properly, call us right away.
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