Your dentist has just informed you that your wisdom teeth, also known as your third molars, need to come out. And if you’re honest, you’re not quite sure how you feel about it.
The reality is, wisdom teeth removal can be a comfortable process when performed by a reputable dentist. In addition, in your case, it may be necessary if your mouth lacks adequate space behind your second molars to accommodate third molars. Removing the third molars ahead of time will prevent the problem of partially erupted or impacted wisdom teeth, which may damage your adjacent teeth or your jawbone.
Here’s a look at what you can expect from the wisdom teeth removal process and what you can do to ensure a smooth process from start to finish.
What Does the Wisdom Tooth Procedure Involve?
During the wisdom tooth procedure, your dentist will give you local anesthesia so that you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. Additional levels of anesthesia (e.g., general or sedation anesthesia) may also be available to help you experience as comfortable a state as possible, especially if your wisdom tooth case is particularly complex.
Next, the dentist will expose your wisdom tooth, if necessary, and remove any bone blocking access to your wisdom tooth’s root. Your dentist might need to break your wisdom tooth into several pieces to remove it efficiently. Once the wisdom tooth has been extracted, your dentist will clean your extraction site and may place stitches there to promote healing. Gauze will also be placed on the site to control bleeding.
What Happens After the Wisdom Tooth Procedure?
Following the procedure, you might experience some bruising, slight bleeding, swelling, and pain. Although everybody responds to wisdom teeth removal differently, you can increase your chances of experiencing a smooth recovery by doing the following:
- Rest for 24-78 hours following the procedure.
- Take the pain medication your dentist prescribes.
- Avoid smoking, as this can disrupt the blood clot forming over your extraction site and, in turn, cause pain.
- Keep gauze on the site until bleeding in this area stops.
- Use heat and ice as prescribed.
- Rinse and brush gently.
- Eat foods that are soft (e.g., smoothies, pasta, avocado, pudding, soup, mashed potatoes, and ice cream).
As a general rule of thumb, you should be fully recovered from your procedure in 3-4 days. However, it could take one week if you’re recovering from an awkward wisdom tooth angle or an impacted wisdom tooth.
Experience High-Quality Dental Care at Alondra Dental Care Today!
At Alondra Dental Care, we have the highly trained staff and state-of-the-art equipment needed to facilitate efficient and effective wisdom teeth removal every time. We are passionate about creating comfortable experiences for our patients as we restore their smiles to health. In addition, we stand out for personalizing patient experiences to generate optimal results for each of our highly-valued patients.
Call us today to set up an appointment and experience the Alondra Dental Care difference for yourself today!
