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Oral Surgery includes:
Procedure: Before removing a wisdom tooth, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. A general anesthetic 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 make you groggy or 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 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.
TOP HEALTH REASONS FOR HAVING WISDOM TEETH REMOVED:
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Removal of wisdom teeth at an early age (after determining they will not successfully erupt) is associated with a faster and easier recovery.
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Impacted wisdom teeth may contribute to crowding of nearby teeth.
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Inflammation associated with gum disease around wisdom teeth may lead to receding gum tissue. deterioration of jawbone, and tooth loss.
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Chance of complications related to removal of wisdom teeth increases with age.
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Impacted wisdom teeth can develop associated cysts and tumors.
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Even erupted wisdom teeth rarely provide any meaningful function and are always difficult to clean.
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Research suggests that the inflammation associated with wisdom teeth may contribute to pre-term or low birthweight infants.
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Research also suggests that the inflammation associated with wisdom teeth may enter the bloodstream and contribute to the development and/or progression of disease including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
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Research shows that once this inflammation takes hold, it is almost impossible to eliminate and may spread to other teeth.
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Complications are impossible to predict. The longer wisdom teeth remain in the mouth, the more likely they are to cause problems.
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As wisdom teeth develop, their roots grow longer and the jawbone becomes denser, making them more difficult to remove and complications more apt to occur.
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Very often people are unaware of problems with their wisdom teeth because they experience few or no symptoms. Damage from them often occurs before people are aware of it.
DISEASE CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH WISDOM TEETH
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Severe periodontal bone loss also involving 2nd molar
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Gross decay of wisdom tooth and 2nd molar leading to loss of both
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2nd molar root resorption caused by wisdom tooth
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Large cyst with nerve involvement
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 ice pack 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.
- Do not smoke for at least 24 hours after your surgery. The sucking motion can loosen the clot and delay healing. In addition, 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.
Your dentist will remove the stitches after a few days, if needed.
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