Wisdom teeth are surgically removed by a dentist for a number of reasons.

Wisdom teeth, which are located at the back of the mouth, sometimes become impacted. This can lead to considerable pain and even infection, in which case they will need to be surgically removed. But how exactly are wisdom teeth removed? Read on to find out what the procedure involves…

What does the surgery involve?

During the procedure, your dentist will administer a local anaesthetic to ensure that you don’t feel any pain when your teeth are removed. Your dentist will then make a small incision in the gum tissue in order to expose the tooth and bone. Once these are exposed, your dentist will carefully remove any bone that is blocking access to the root of the tooth. The tooth will then be removed and if necessary, it may be removed in small pieces, rather than all at once.

When the wisdom tooth has been removed, your dentist will clean the area to ensure that no debris remains. In some cases, the incision will be stitched closed, although this is not always necessary. Some gauze will be placed over the site of extraction in order to control any post-surgical bleeding.

Does the procedure hurt?

An anaesthetic will be administered before the procedure begins so you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during the surgery. If you feel anxious about the procedure, you have the option of having IV sedation. IV sedation is administered in small, continuous doses and will make you feel very relaxed throughout the procedure. You won’t feel anything during the procedure, and once the procedure is complete, you won’t have any memory of the treatment occurring.

What can you expect after the procedure? Once your wisdom tooth extraction is complete, you can expect some swelling and bruising, as well as some bleeding and discomfort. Your dentist will advise you on the best ways to manage any pain that you experience.

You will need to stick to soft foods for the first day or so following the treatment. It is best to avoid foods that are hard and chewy as these can irritate the wound and get stuck in the socket.

How can we help?

If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain, we recommend that you come in for a consultation as soon as possible. Wisdom teeth can cause a number of issues, all of which should be dealt with at an early stage to prevent complications from developing in the future. If left unresolved, problematic wisdom teeth can cause damage to nearby healthy teeth and can also affect one’s bite.

When you come in for a consultation, your dentist will discuss any health issues that you have, as well as any medications that you take. It is important that you let your dentist know this information as it could have an effect on your treatment. To find out more about wisdom teeth removal and what the procedure involves, please have a look here.

During the procedure itself, you will be given an anaesthetic to ensure that you don’t feel any pain or discomfort while your wisdom teeth are being removed. If you choose to have IV sedation during your procedure, small doses of medication will be administered through a very small needle in your arm. This will make you feel drowsy and relaxed throughout your treatment

If you would to make an appointment to see us, please get in touch with us here. We look forward to welcoming you to our practice.

For a full list of the treatments we offer, please take a look here.