WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT WISDOM TEETH

By Connie Byers

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last to appear in the mouth. Because of their late arrival, there is rarely enough room to accommodate them, causing them to get stuck below the surface of your gums (impacted). Impaction can result in teeth growing at odd angles, causing complications and discomfort. Due to this, most people will undergo a wisdom tooth extraction at some point.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE LIKE?

The first steps for your procedure will vary based on how your wisdom teeth are growing in. If they are coming in straight, you likely won’t need surgery. You’ll receive local anesthesia to numb the jaw, and your dentist will extract your wisdom teeth with standard dental tools. The procedure will be similar to any other tooth extraction.

If, on the other hand, your wisdom teeth are impacted, or other complications are present, you may require oral surgery. Surgery will include general anesthesia, meaning you will sleep through the procedure. Depending on the placement of your wisdom teeth, the doctor may need to make incisions in the gums, muscles or bone tissue to gain access. Once your practitioner has clear access, they’ll be able to determine if the tooth can be removed whole or if it will need to be broken into pieces for removal. After extraction is complete, the doctor will suture all incisions and pack the surgery site with gauze to stop the bleeding.

PREPARING FOR WISDOM TOOTH EXTRACTION:

The preparations will be the same whether you are having oral surgery or a basic extraction.

• Avoid cigarettes and alcohol for 12 hours prior to your procedure.

• It is unsafe to administer anesthesia to patients with a full stomach. Therefore, you should avoid eating or drinking for a minimum of 8 hours before your procedure.

• Provide a complete list of all drugs, vitamins, supplements and medications you take, whether recreational, over-the-counter or prescribed. Omitting something from your list could lead to unsafe anesthesia interactions.

• You must avoid solid, crunchy or hard foods for several days. Before your appointment, stock up on soft foods like smoothies, mashed potatoes, yogurt, soups, noodles and ice cream.

• Arrive at the office for your procedure dressed in comfortable clothing and without makeup or lipstick.

• If you usually wear contacts, today is the day to opt for your glasses instead.

• You will not be able to drive yourself home from your appointment, so make sure to enlist the help of a friend or family member in advance.

AFTERCARE STEPS:

• Once your procedure is complete, you’ll remain at the office until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off and excess bleeding has sufficiently slowed.

• When you arrive home, be prepared to rest for the next 48 hours. Have your bedside stocked with plenty of water, additional gauze and ibuprofen.

• Avoid smoking and any actions that use a sucking motion, such as drinking from straws for 72 hours.

• To help control the swelling, plan to ice your face for 15 minutes at a time and take ibuprofen or doctor-prescribed pain medication as needed around the clock for the first 24 to 48 hours.

• During recovery, avoid nuts, chips, popcorn or any foods that could crunch and scratch your gum tissue. Stick to liquid or soft foods that are easy to chew.

HOW LONG IS THE RECOVERY TIME?

It may take up to two weeks to fully recover from a wisdom tooth extraction procedure. The first 48 hours are critical since you may experience bleeding, pressure, infection and swelling. Your recovery time will be based on procedure type and difficulty. Take it easy, and do not rush the healing process. Your provider will schedule a procedure follow-up visit for you. Wait until this visit to get the sign-off to return to regular eating habits.