Who would need this procedure?

Many adults find that they might struggle with their wisdom teeth, and this can be for a variety of reasons. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in someone’s mouth, and, for that reason, there is often a struggle with space. This often causes the wisdom tooth to become impacted in the mouth. It means that the wisdom teeth have erupted at an abnormal angle, gotten stuck, or has only erupted partially from the gum.

Other treatments are also possible for wisdom teeth which have started to decay, cause gum disease, or cause abscesses. The extraction will only be recommended as a last resort, as there are potential complications involved. Those who are experiencing severe pain from this, you will be advised to speak with your dentist immediately.

What is the the next step?

If you’ve been advised to have your wisdom tooth removed, your surgery will start to be planned from the initial x-ray. An x-ray will be used to confirm the exact position of the impacted tooth in the jaw. It will also give a unique and detailed insight into the surrounding areas of the wisdom tooth, which will be used to decide if the surgery could be overly intricate or not. Your dentist will then evaluate if it is possible to do at the practice, but they may feel uncomfortable doing this for a complex procedure. In these circumstances, a specialist oral surgeon will be required to perform the surgery at the hospital.

The final step before surgery would be to sign a consent form. This clarifies that the entire procedure has been explained to you. Before any surgery, your dentist will run you through everything involved with your treatment, and this will include the cost, risks, as well as the benefits. The treatment cannot continue without signed consent.

What does the surgery involve?

A simple surgery can take as little as 20 minutes to complete, but this can vary depending on the complexity of the case. The surgical appointment will begin with having a local anesthetic injected into the required area(s) so that it will be numb for the extraction. Once numb, the dentist will begin to rock the tooth back and forth, which will widen the socket and allow the tooth to become loose enough for the extraction.

A small incision into the gum may be required if the wisdom tooth has not fully erupted. Furthermore, the tooth may need to be cut into smaller piece in order to extract it. These parts of the surgery would only be necessary if your case was particularly complex. Due to the anesthetic, you won’t feel any pain when the wisdom tooth is being removed, but you will experience some pressure when the tooth is being extracted. If you are experiencing any pain during the treatment, make your dentist aware of this immediately.

Complications?

There are potential for complications with any oral surgery, and your dentist will make sure you are completely aware of the risks before having treatment. Particularly if you are a smoker, there is a risk of infection or delayed healing. It is generally advised to avoid smoking while the wound is healing. Further complications, such as dry socket and nerve damage, also have a chance of occurring in patients. If you do experience any of these issues, seek advice from your dentist as soon as possible.