Tooth Extraction
What Exactly is
Tooth Extraction
It is a removal of tooth or pulling out tooth.
If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, dentist will try to fix it with a filling, crown or other dental treatment. But when there’s too much damage for the tooth to be repaired, the tooth may need to be extracted — or removed — from its socket in the bone.
TOOTH REMOVAL Procedures
There are two types of extractions:
- A simple extraction– this procedure is on a tooth that can be seen in the mouth. For a simple extraction, the dentist loosens the tooth with an instrument called an elevator. Then the dentist uses forceps to remove the tooth.
- A surgical extraction– this is a more complex procedure, which is used if a tooth may have broken off at the gum line or has not erupted in the mouth. The oral surgeon will make a small incision into your gum to surgically remove the broken tooth or impacted wisdom tooth.
What is Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Wisdom teeth removal is a common oral surgery procedure. It’s often recommended as a preventative measure to protect your other teeth from future problems and preserve your oral health. Recovery is usually quick and most people can return to normal activities in just a few days.
Wisdom teeth removal is the extraction of your third molars — the four permanent adult teeth located in the very back of your mouth, in the upper and lower jaws. Wisdom teeth usually erupt between the ages of 17 and 21. Most people have all four of their wisdom teeth. It’s estimated that 5% to 37% of people only have some of their wisdom teeth — or in some cases, none at all.
Why do we have wisdom teeth?
Researchers believe that wisdom teeth were necessary for our ancestors, as their diet mostly consisted of hard nuts, crunchy leaves and uncooked meat. Today, however, we eat more cooked food and use forks and knives to cut our food up into smaller pieces. As a result, wisdom teeth are widely regarded as vestigial structures (parts of the human body that have become unnecessary).
How do I know if I need to get my wisdom teeth removed?
Sometimes all four wisdom teeth erupt normally and don’t cause any problems at all. But oftentimes wisdom teeth grow in at an angle or stay fully or partially trapped (impacted) in the jawbone or under the gum tissue. This can cause a range of problems. Your dentist may recommend wisdom teeth extraction if you:
- Have dental pain near the back of your mouth.
- Trap food and debris around your wisdom teeth.
- Develop gum disease, particularly around your molars.
- Have tooth decay (cavities) in a partially erupted wisdom tooth.
- Develop a cyst (fluid-filled sac) around one or more wisdom teeth.
- Have sustained damage to nearby teeth or surrounding bone.
In many cases, healthcare providers recommend wisdom teeth extraction as a preventative measure. As a result, your dentist may suggest removing your wisdom teeth even if you don’t have any symptoms. This can help reduce your risk for future problems, including infection and tooth decay.
At what age should I have my wisdom teeth extracted?
People of all ages can have their wisdom teeth removed. However, many dentists recommend having them extracted in your late teens or early 20s. During this stage of development, your wisdom teeth are still forming. For this reason, they may be easier to remove with less risk of complications.
Procedure Details:
What happens before wisdom teeth extraction?
Your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon for a consultation. During this visit, the surgeon will assess the health of your wisdom teeth and take dental x rays to determine their exact location. They’ll also discuss sedation options with you. Wisdom teeth extraction is typically performed under local anesthesia, IV sedation or general anesthesia, depending on your specific needs.
Be sure to tell your surgeon about any medications, vitamins or supplements you’re currently taking. This is also a good time to ask any questions you have about the procedure.
What happens during wisdom teeth removal?
Your oral surgeon will administer local anesthesia to numb the teeth and gums. Impacted wisdom teeth (wisdom teeth trapped in the gums or bone) are exposed with incisions, giving your surgeon adequate access. Once the wisdom teeth are visible, your oral surgeon carefully loosens and lifts them from their sockets, cleans the areas and places stitches. In most cases, the stitches will fall out on their own in a few days.
How long does wisdom teeth removal take?
Typically, wisdom teeth extraction takes about one hour or less. More complex cases may take longer.
What happens after wisdom teeth removal?
After wisdom teeth removal, you can expect mild discomfort accompanied by slight bleeding and swelling. Your oral surgeon will give you instructions for management to ease these side effects.
Risks/Benefits
What are the advantages of wisdom teeth removal?
The most significant benefit of wisdom teeth extraction is that it reduces the risk for future oral health problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, damage to adjacent teeth, bone loss and jaw damage. If you’ve already developed pain because of your wisdom teeth, then extraction can alleviate discomfort almost immediately and get you back on track to optimal oral health.
What are the risks or complications of wisdom teeth extraction?
Most of the time, wisdom teeth removal doesn’t result in long-term complications. In rare instances, people may develop:
- Infection.
- Dry Sockets (loss of blood clot resulting in exposed bone).
Damage to other oral structures, including the jawbone, nerves, sinuses or nearby teeth.
Recovery and Outlook
How long does it take to recover from wisdom tooth removal?
Most people are comfortable in three to four days, but it can take a couple of weeks for your gums to completely heal. Your oral surgeon will provide you with detailed post-surgical instructions to keep you comfortable.
Wisdom teeth removal aftercare or Post extraction instructions
Day of surgery
- Keep gauze in the mouth for atleast an hour afterwards by maintaining a firm pressure. This will put pressure over the wound and help it to stop bleeding. However, make sure you don’t chew on gauze piece.
- Eat an ice cream or take cold milk or juice immediately after removing gauze.
- Get some rest. Don’t do so many activities within the next 24 hrs. When you are resting, keep your head elevated using a pillow.
- Apply ice on the cheek for 20 minutes within an hour of procedure.
- Blood-tinged saliva is a normal postoperative effect.
- Do not dislodge the blood clot that has formed in the tooth socket because it helps to heal.
- Avoid drinking through a straw.
- Do not rinse your mouth or spit for 24 hrs.
- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol & chewing tobacco.
- Do not eat hard & hot foods.
- Avoid brushing your teeth near the extraction site for the first 24 hours.
- If you are experiencing some pain, take the medication that has been prescribed to you.
- If you were prescribed antibiotics for this treatment, continue to take them for the specified time period, even if the symptoms go away.
- Only eat soft foods or cold liquids on the day of the extraction. Resume your usual diet as soon as you are able to.
From the next day and until complete healing
- Rinse your mouth three times a day with warm water and salt (2 ml or 1/2 tsp of salt in 250 ml or 1 cup of water).
- Brush and floss every day to remove plaque and ensure better results in the long term.
- Avoid eating hard foods (nuts, candies, ice)
- You may experience pronunciation difficulties and an increased amount of saliva. Everything should come back to normal within a week.
- Bruising may appear on the skin. It will disappear after five to seven days.
- You may have difficulty opening your mouth. It should come back to normal after a week.
WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR
Most of the time, wisdom teeth extraction doesn’t cause major complications. However, you should call your oral surgeon if you have:
- A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
- Infection (pus) coming out of one or more extraction site.
- Heavy bleeding.
- Pain that doesn’t improve with medication.
- Swelling that worsens after three days.
- Facial numbness.
- Difficult swallowing or breathing.
- Blood or pus in nasal drainage.
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