Wisdom tooth extraction is a dental procedure that is often performed by oral surgeons and maxillofacial surgery specialists. However, a qualified and experienced dentist can also perform the procedure safely. Depending on the number of teeth that require extraction and the complications of the procedure, the extraction is performed either in the hospital or in a well-equipped dental clinic.
For patients with infections, the surgical process isn’t performed until the infection has been effectively treated. And in most cases, antibiotics are prescribed for healing the infection more quickly.
Before a wisdom tooth is extracted, a local anesthetic is given to the patient for numbing the region where the tooth is removed. General anesthetics are typically used when all of the wisdom teeth require extraction, which prevent body pain and help patients sleep while the procedure is being performed. As part of the preparation for this surgery, patients are recommended to avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight on the night before the extraction.
For the purpose of removing the teeth, dentists start opening up the gum tissues over the teeth while taking out any bones covering them. The tissues connecting the teeth to bones are first separated and the teeth are eventually removed. Sometimes some teeth are cut into smaller pieces so that the extraction process becomes easier.
Once the teeth have been removed, the patient may require stitches. There are some special stitches that dissolve overtime but there are others that may take several days to be removed. The patient is informed about the time or particular days when the stitches will be removed. Usually, patients are recommended to place folded cotton gauze pads over the wounds to stop bleeding.
When Does Wisdom Tooth Extraction Become Necessary?
In most cases, wisdom tooth extraction is performed for correcting an existing dental problem or preventing future dental issues associated with improper wisdom tooth growth.
As wisdom teeth develop, an individual may face many different problems, which may or may not require wisdom tooth extraction. For instance, an individual’s jaw may not be able to accommodate the growing teeth, which may cause the wisdom teeth to become impacted while hindering their ability of breaking through the gums.
In some cases, wisdom teeth do break through the gums, but not completely, which can cause flaps of gum tissue to grow over these teeth. And these flaps may entrap food particles and debris, which can lead to problems like swollen and painful gums i.e. gum infection. Moreover, impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to other dental problems like periodontitis, tooth damage and even oral cysts. Many patients also struggle with wisdom teeth that are positioned at awkward angles.
It is important to understand that most problems associated with wisdom teeth arise during teens and early twenties. And if an individual feels that his/her overall medical condition may start worsening overtime, it is best to opt for wisdom tooth extraction during the healthy years.