Surgery Overview
An
or your
can remove (extract) a wisdom tooth. The
procedure often can be done in the dentist's or surgeon's office. You may have
the surgery in the hospital, especially if you are having all your wisdom teeth
pulled at one time or if you are at high risk for complications.
If you have any infections, surgery will usually be delayed until the
infection has cleared up. Your doctor or dentist may have you take antibiotics
to help heal the infection.
Before removing a wisdom tooth, your
dentist will give you a
to numb the area where the tooth will
be removed. A
may be used, especially if several
or all of your wisdom teeth will be removed at the same time. A general
anesthetic prevents pain in the whole body and will cause you to sleep through
the procedure. Your dentist will probably recommend that you don't eat or drink
after midnight on the night before surgery so that you are prepared for the
anesthetic.
To remove the wisdom tooth, your dentist will open up
the gum tissue over the tooth and take out any bone that is covering the tooth.
He or she will separate the tissue connecting the tooth to the bone and then
remove the tooth. Sometimes the dentist will cut the tooth into smaller pieces
to make it easier to remove.
After the tooth is removed, you may
need stitches. Some stitches dissolve over time and some have to be removed
after a few days. Your dentist will tell you whether your stitches need to be
removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed over the wound will help stop the
bleeding.
What To Expect After Surgery
In most cases, the recovery period lasts
only a few days. Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist or oral
surgeon. The following tips will help speed your recovery.
- Bite gently on the gauze pad periodically, and
change pads as they become soaked with blood. Call your dentist or oral surgeon
if you still have bleeding 24 hours after your surgery.
- While your mouth is numb, be careful not to bite the inside of
your cheek or lip, or your tongue.
- Do not lie flat. This may
prolong bleeding. Prop up your head with pillows.
- Try using an
on the outside of your cheek for the first 24 hours. You can use
moist heat—such as a washcloth soaked in warm water and wrung out—for the
following 2 or 3 days.
- Relax after surgery. Physical activity may
increase bleeding.
- Eat soft foods, such as gelatin, pudding, or a
thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing
progresses.
- Do not use a straw for the first few days. Sucking on a
straw can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.
- After the first
day, gently rinse your mouth with
warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling
and relieve pain. You can make your own salt water by
mixing 1 tsp (5 g) of salt in a medium-sized glass [8 fl oz (240 mL)] of warm water.
- Do not smoke for at least 24 hours after your
surgery. The sucking motion can loosen the clot and delay healing. Also,
smoking decreases the blood supply and can bring germs and contaminants to the
surgery area.
- Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue or touching
it with your fingers.
- Continue to brush your teeth and tongue
carefully.