Wisdom teeth are a set of four molars that emerge in our mouths around the age of seventeen. Wisdom teeth issues are common because there isn’t enough room for them. If they occur, they can put pressure on your existing teeth, causing pain and shifting.
Although wisdom teeth removal may seem daunting, it is a routine procedure performed by Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Alpha Dental can advise how to best recover from wisdom teeth extraction. Here are our best wisdom teeth removal tips to ensure a quick and relatively pain-free recovery after surgery.
Problems with wisdom teeth
When wisdom teeth get impacted, they usually remain partially submerged in the gums. It may be lying at an unusual angle, either sideways or horizontally, preventing it from self-correcting. As a result of the contact with the adjacent tooth, the third and second molars may need to be extracted. Bacteria from plaque can grow on the partially erupted tooth, causing cavities and painful infections.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause discomfort and sometimes result in an infection. You might have trouble brushing your teeth, which could lead to food being lodged between your wisdom teeth, causing tooth decay and gum infections.
Your dentist may recommend wisdom teeth extraction if you are experiencing:
- Severe pain
- Infection
- Crooked teeth.
Symptoms of wisdom teeth infection
The following signs can identify gum infection caused by wisdom teeth:
- An inflamed, red gum near the wisdom tooth.
- Swelling face due to wisdom tooth pain.
- Discomfort and sensitivity.
- Developing pus from the gum.
- A swollen and painful lymph node underneath the jaw.
- Having difficulty opening and swallowing.
- Fever
- Experiencing bad breath.
Treatment for wisdom teeth infection
The following treatments can be used to treat wisdom tooth infections:
- By improving the cleaning and oral hygiene in the affected area.
- By visiting a dentist to have the affected area cleaned.
- By the prescription of antibiotics.
- Wisdom tooth extraction.
However, the infection may return if the infected teeth are not removed. These infections can affect people with other health issues, particularly low immunity.
Wisdom tooth extraction aftercare
Anaesthesia affects everyone differently. A local anaesthetic may allow you to drive yourself home after waking up. You may even be able to return to work or resume your normal activities. If you have general anaesthesia or still feel drowsy, you’ll need someone to drive you home.
Most people experience little or no pain following surgery. You will most likely experience swelling and mild discomfort for the next three days or so. It may take several weeks for your mouth to heal completely.
Follow your doctor’s advice for a faster recovery. Here are some pointers for the first three days following surgery:
Dos:
- Apply an ice pack to your face to reduce swelling and skin colour changes.
- For a sore jaw, use a heating pad.
- To exercise your jaw, gently open and close your mouth.
- Consume soft foods.
- To relieve pain or swelling, take the medications prescribed by your doctor.
- Drink plenty of water.
Don’ts
- Drinking through a straw is not permitted. Sucking may cause blood to clots, resulting in delayed healing
- Avoid rinsing your mouth too vigorously; use salt water to rinse your mouth
- Avoid eating hard or sticky foods that could irritate your wounds.
- Avoid brushing up against any blood clots.
Wisdom teeth removal recovery timeline
Most people recover quickly from wisdom teeth surgery. You can expect to be swollen and sore for 2-3 days in most cases. Recovery time may be longer in older people. Your dentist may recommend pain relievers to use throughout your recovery.
How long does the pain last after wisdom teeth removal?
After surgery, any pain or symptoms will worsen for a few days and then subside. For the first two days following wisdom teeth removal, you will feel pain, although the anaesthetic will largely alleviate this, followed by a dull ache for a few days.
Wisdom teeth removal surgery usually takes a few weeks for stitches to dissolve, but sometimes it can take as long as four weeks. By filling the extraction site with solid gum tissue, the wisdom tooth extraction site should heal in two to one month.
How to prepare and comfort yourself before the extraction procedure
Feel free to relax if you’re one of the nervous patients. If you prepare in advance, things will go more smoothly. Enlisted below are some questions you might want to know for the upcoming procedure.
Following questions to consider while getting wisdom tooth extracted.
- How many wisdom teeth must be extracted?
- What kind of anaesthesia will I have?
- How difficult do you anticipate the procedure to be?
- How long will the procedure take?
- Have the impacted wisdom teeth caused any damage to the neighbouring teeth?
- Is there a chance I’ll have nerve damage?
- What other dental treatments might I require in the future?
- How long does it take to recover and resume normal activity fully?
Other things to remember
- Wear a comfortable dress
- Do not smoke prior to the surgery
- Remove all jewellery, if any
- Remove contact lenses, if any
- Pull your hair away from the face
Join the Alpha Dental family for all your oral health concerns!
Are you still unsure or feeling unconfident about tooth extraction? Alpha Dental is here to help. During our consultation, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to make an informed and confident decision. With Alpha Dental, you’ll receive the best wisdom teeth removal service using the newest technologies and techniques. Feel free to schedule an appointment with the best dentist Perth.