Wisdom teeth are somewhat of a mysterious body component. Appearing rather late in a person’s adult development, without a clear functionality, they also can cause quite the trouble. Because of their potentially problematic impact on the other teeth and your mouth, sometimes wisdom tooth surgery is recommended to remove them.
How do you know if you need your wisdom teeth removed or not? Well, it’s fairly easy: in some cases they bother you and you’ll want them out yourself. In other cases, your dentist will recommend it for the harmful influence they have on your other teeth due to bad positioning. In any case, you should ask your dentist whether you need wisdom tooth surgery or not. Chances are at least one of your wisdom teeth will be problematic, as it’s a fairly common issue.
Steps in Wisdom Tooth Surgery
- If you suffer from any infections, your doctor will first prescribe antibiotics and wait with the surgery until you’re infection-free.
- Also, if you’re at risk for any complications, the procedure will be scheduled in a hospital instead of the dentist’s office.
- Before the wisdom tooth extraction begins, you will be given a local anaesthetic. General anaesthesia is recommended only if you prefer to sleep through the procedure. It may also be advised to opt for it if you’re pulling out all your wisdom teeth at once.
- The doctor will then proceed with the extraction, by first opening the gum tissue (and removing any potential bone covering the tooth). Then, they will remove the wisdom tooth, and sew up the area with stitches.
- After the extraction is done, you will be prescribed painkillers. You should also take the rest of the day and the next one off, for rest and recovery.
What to Expect from Surgery: 3 FAQs
How much does this surgery cost? The usual wisdom tooth surgery cost is around $250-$600 for the extraction only, with another $200-$400 to be added for X-ray, anaesthetic etc.
How long does wisdom tooth surgery take? It depends on whether the extraction proves to be difficult for the doctor. Sometimes, if a tooth is particularly stubborn or deep-buried, the surgeon will prefer to cut it into smaller pieces first. This is done in order to minimize trauma and speed healing, even if it prolongs the procedure’s duration.
Does this procedure hurt? The local anaesthetic you will be administered should be almost perfect at eliminating pain completely. Some discomfort will exist, but not as pain per se.
Recovery and After-Care: 5 Tips
- The stitches in the area will need to be removed after 2-3 days (maybe), or simply be absorbed by the body in a short time.
- Right after your wisdom tooth surgery, don’t lie flat on the bed as it may prolong bleeding. Keep your head higher up with some pillows.
- Try biting on the gauze from time to time to stop bleeding faster. Careful not to bite your cheek or tongue while still numbed.
- You can also apply an ice pack on your cheek, on the outside, for 10 minutes at most. It will help reduce swelling.
- Stay away from alcohol, cigarettes and solid foods for at least a few days after the surgery.
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