Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Process

Steps involved in getting the treatment done

The procedure can be done in the clinic by your regular Dentist however if the tooth is deeply impacted or if the extraction requires an in-depth surgical approach, the Dentist may recommend approaching an oral surgeon. In addition to making the area numb with a local anaesthetic, your surgeon may suggest sedation to allow you to be more comfortable during the procedure.
At Dental Concepts, a wisdom tooth extraction is mostly performed as an outpatient procedure which means the patient goes home the same day.

During a wisdom tooth extraction, the dentist or oral surgeon:

• Makes an incision in the gum tissue to expose the tooth and bone
• Removes the bone that blocks access to the tooth root
• Removes the tooth, cleans and stitches the wound

Benefits with Dental Concepts

• We are happy to assist you and provide flexible finance options so that you can begin your smile journey immediately.
• Two follow up checks after completion of the treatment are free.

Many people develop wisdom teeth that don’t have enough room to erupt into the mouth or develop normally. Eventually, an impacted wisdom tooth may:

• Grow at an angle toward the next tooth (second molar)
• Grow at an angle toward the back of the mouth
• Grow at a right angle to the other teeth, as if the wisdom tooth is “lying down” within the jawbone

• Grow straight up or down like other teeth but stay trapped within the jawbone

You’ll likely need your impacted wisdom tooth extracted if it results in problems such as:

• Pain
• Trapping food and debris behind the wisdom tooth
• Infection or gum disease (periodontal disease)
• Tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
• Damage to a nearby tooth or surrounding bone
• Development of a fluid-filled sac (cyst) around the wisdom tooth
• Complications with orthodontic treatments to straighten other teeth

Extraction of wisdom teeth occasionally requires a surgical approach that involves making an incision in the gum tissue and removing the bone. Rarely, complications can include:

• Painful dry socket, or exposure of bone when the post-surgical blood clot is lost from the site of the surgical wound (socket)
• Infection in the socket from bacteria or trapped food particles
• Damage to nearby teeth, nerves, jawbone or sinuses

Frequently Asked Questions

All the FAQs for the treatment.

Quick tips or care instructions for the treatment.

If you receive sedation anaesthesia or general anaesthesia, you’re taken to a recovery room after the procedure. If you have local anaesthesia, your brief recovery time is likely in the dental chair.

As you heal from your surgery, follow our Dental Concepts Dentist’s instructions. There may be

• Bleeding. Some oozing of blood may occur the first day after wisdom tooth removal. Try to avoid excessive spitting so that you don’t dislodge the blood clot from the socket. Replace gauze over the extraction site as directed by the Dental Concepts Dentist.
• Pain management. You may be able to manage pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever or a prescription pain medication as directed by the Dental Concepts Dentist. Holding a cold pack against your jaw also may relieve pain.
• Swelling and bruising. Use an ice pack as directed by the Dental Concepts Dentist. Any swelling of your cheeks usually improves in two or three days. Bruising may take several more days to resolve.
• Activity. After your surgery, plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Resume normal activities the next day, but for at least a week, avoid strenuous activity that might result in losing the blood clot from the socket.
• Beverages. Drink lots of water after the surgery. Don’t drink alcoholic, caffeinated, carbonated or hot beverages in the first 48 hours. Don’t drink with a straw for at least a week because the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot from the socket.
• Food. Eat only soft foods for the first 48 hours. Start eating semisoft foods when you can tolerate them. Avoid hard, chewy, hot or spicy foods that might get stuck in the socket or irritate the wound.
• Cleaning your mouth. Don’t brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, spit or use mouthwash during the first 24 hours after surgery. Typically you’ll be told to resume brushing your teeth after the first 24 hours. Be particularly gentle near the surgical wound when brushing and gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours and after meals for a week.
• Tobacco use. If you smoke, don’t do so for at least 48 hours after surgery — and wait longer than that if possible. If you chew tobacco, don’t use it for at least a week. Using tobacco products after oral surgery can delay healing and increase the risk of complications.
• Stitches. You may have stitches that dissolve within a few weeks or no stitches at all. If your stitches need to be removed, schedule an appointment to have them taken out.

When to call your dentist or surgeon Call your dentist or oral surgeon if you experience any of the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate an infection, nerve damage or other serious complication:

• Difficulty swallowing or breathing, fever and/or excessive bleeding
• Severe pain and no relief by prescribed pain medications or swelling that worsens after two or three days
• A bad taste in your mouth even after salt water rinsing, persistent numbness or loss of feeling, blood or pus in nasal discharge