A Quick Guide to Wisdom Tooth Extraction
January 8, 2018
Your wisdom teeth are the final set of molars to grow when you get your adult teeth. For most people, they begin to grow during the late teens or early 20s, and for many, the mouth does not have enough room to support these molars, which causes them to grow in misaligned. Misaligned wisdom teeth can cause pain as well as damage the jawbone, nerves or other teeth. For this reason, many oral health professionals recommend wisdom tooth extraction.
How the Procedure Works
The first step of wisdom tooth extraction is to receive anesthesia. Depending on your needs, the anesthesia may be local, sedation or general. After receiving anesthesia, we make an incision in your gums to expose your wisdom tooth and bone. If any bone blocks the root of the tooth, we remove it. Depending on the size of the tooth, we may need to separate it into sections to remove it more easily. After we remove the tooth or teeth, we clean the area to remove debris, stitch the wound if necessary and use gauze to control bleeding and help a clot to form.
What to Expect After the Procedure
You can expect some pain, swelling and bruising after your wisdom tooth removal. Because each patient is different, the amount of pain depends on you. Regardless, Dr. Michael J. Ruff, may provide pain medication. A cold pack on your jaw may also help. You will need to take the rest of the day off from work or school, but can return the next day. However, you should still avoid strenuous activity for about a week. Avoid solid food or alcohol, caffeine or carbonation for the first 24 hours.
You do not need to live with pain due to your wisdom teeth. Allow our dentist, Dr. Michael J. Ruff, to help you feel more comfortable. We are professional, friendly and always ready to help. Contact Highland Meadows Dental Health Center in Windsor, CO today!