Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars and the last adult teeth to emerge in the mouth. Typically, people have four wisdom teeth—two on the bottom and two on the top. However, many individuals don’t have enough space for these molars to fully erupt, resulting in impacted wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth are difficult to clean, increasing their susceptibility to decay and disease. Other issues caused by impacted wisdom teeth include pain, damage to surrounding teeth, and misalignment of the bite. For these reasons, your dentist may recommend removal to prevent future dental complications.
The surgery to extract impacted wisdom teeth is usually performed as an outpatient procedure in a dentist’s office or oral surgeon’s clinic. If there is any infection present before the surgery, the procedure will be postponed, and antibiotics may be prescribed to help clear the infection.
On the day of the surgery, local anesthesia will be administered to numb the area where the tooth will be extracted. Depending on the complexity of the case, general anesthesia may also be used.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, an incision will be made to open the gum, and any bone obstructing the tooth will be removed. The tissue connecting the tooth to the bone will be separated, and the tooth will be extracted. If the tooth is too large to be removed in one piece, the surgeon will cut it into smaller pieces for easier removal. After the extraction, the incision will be stitched and packed with gauze to control bleeding.
Long-term complications from impacted wisdom tooth surgery are uncommon. To ensure a smooth recovery, it’s important to carefully follow all aftercare instructions given by your dentist or oral surgeon.
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