How are wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to remove wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are the four permanent teeth that erupt in your late teens or early twenties, long after all other teeth have already erupted. The wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are located at the back of the mouth, and they don’t serve any real function. If a wisdom tooth doesn’t have enough room to grow properly, it may become an impacted wisdom tooth that has to be extracted.
Wisdom tooth extraction is performed as an in-office procedure by a dentist or oral surgeon. Simple wisdom tooth extractions can be performed by dentists, but severe cases may necessitate the involvement of an oral surgeon. Wisdom tooth extraction is generally performed under local anesthesia, and you can also opt for intravenous or oral sedation to reduce anxiety. The wisdom tooth extraction dentist will provide an overview of the procedure in advance.
During your wisdom tooth extraction, the dentist or oral surgeon will make a small incision in the gum tissues surrounding the wisdom tooth. The dentist will expose the wisdom tooth and bone, remove the bone tissues around the tooth to expose the root, and then divide the tooth into the smallest sections. The wisdom tooth extraction dentist will remove the individual pieces of the tooth one by one, following which the extraction site will be cleansed.
Once the wisdom tooth is completely removed, the dentist will suture the incision closed to facilitate healing. An antiseptic gauze will be placed on the extraction site, and you’ll be asked to bite down on the gauze to reduce bleeding. The antiseptic gauze will also promote blood clot formation, which will speed up the healing process. You must not dislodge the blood clot because that will lead to an extremely painful dry socket.
What causes an inflamed gum around my wisdom tooth?
If the gum tissues around your wisdom tooth are inflamed, you may have pericoronitis, i.e., painful inflammation or swelling of the gum tissues. Pericoronitis can happen anywhere in the mouth, but it’s extremely common around the wisdom teeth. You may develop pericoronitis because of partially erupted wisdom teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, or horizontally impacted wisdom teeth.
Impacted wisdom teeth often experience soft tissue growth, which is known as the operculum. If bacteria accumulate under the operculum, they can also enter the wisdom teeth and cause wisdom teeth swelling and inflammation, leading to pericoronitis of the wisdom teeth. As such, if you have inflamed gums around your wisdom teeth, you probably have bacterial infections in your wisdom teeth and need immediate wisdom teeth extraction.
The following are the primary symptoms of pericoronitis around wisdom teeth:
- Pain
- Swollen gum tissues
- Discharge of pus
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Painful swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Infections
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bad taste in the mouth
In what cases a wisdom tooth needs to be removed?
Contrary to popular opinion, wisdom teeth don’t always have to be removed. You don’t need a wisdom tooth extraction if your wisdom tooth is healthy, completely erupted, and positioned correctly. Your dentist will examine your wisdom teeth to determine the likelihood that they’ll cause dental problems. If the dentist believes your wisdom tooth won’t cause any problems, you don’t need a wisdom tooth removal. However, most people need to have at least one or two wisdom teeth removed for numerous reasons.
You might need to undergo wisdom tooth extraction in the following situations:
- The wisdom tooth doesn’t have enough room to grow properly.
- The wisdom tooth is growing at various angles, including horizontal.
- The wisdom tooth is completely hidden underneath the gums.
- The wisdom tooth has only erupted partially.
- The wisdom tooth can’t be cleaned properly, leading to a high risk of caries.
- The wisdom tooth is pushing against surrounding teeth.
- The wisdom tooth is responsible for overcrowded teeth.
- The wisdom tooth is leading to cysts, pain, tumors, gum disease, extensive tooth decay, and other problems.
What are the signs and symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth?
An impacted wisdom tooth is a wisdom tooth without enough space in the jaw to grow normally. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause severe pain and discomfort, and they can damage surrounding teeth, so they should be removed. The following are the primary signs and symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth:
- Swollen gums
- Reddened gums
- Tender gums
- Bleeding gums
- Jaw pains
- Jaw swelling
- Bad breath
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Lockjaw
Are you put to sleep for wisdom teeth removal?
No. You are not put to sleep for wisdom teeth removal. Your wisdom tooth extraction is performed under local anesthesia, which means you’ll be awake but won’t feel anything. If you’re feeling anxious, you can also ask for sedation dentistry to alleviate the mental anxiety.
Is wisdom tooth extraction (using surgery) very painful?
Wisdom tooth extraction is a painless procedure before it’s performed under local anesthesia, so you don’t feel any pain or discomfort. You can also ask for sedation dentistry. After wisdom tooth extraction, you can take over-the-counter pain medications to ensure comfort.
Schedule an appointment at our wisdom teeth extraction clinic in Houston
Emergency Dentist Houston is a state-of-the-art wisdom teeth extraction clinic specializing in emergency dental procedures. We use the safest techniques to remove impacted wisdom teeth and restore optimal oral health. If you notice the signs and symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, please schedule an appointment at our wisdom teeth extraction clinic in Houston.
