Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Marlton & Turnersville, NJ
Wisdom Tooth Extraction provided by Dr. Gail Childers
in Marlton & Turnersville, NJ at Periodontal Health Professionals
 Every year in the US, around five million people get wisdom tooth surgery. This involves removing the third molars located on the lower and upper jaw.
If you are experiencing any problematic symptoms in your teeth, such as wisdom tooth pain, a surgical extraction becomes necessary. However, in some cases, a person feels nothing at all. The reason they schedule an extraction is because X-rays reveal their wisdom teeth, and the position of them, might become a problem in the future.
Reasons for Tooth Removal
Here are a few other reasons for a dental extraction:
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Damage to Adjoined Teeth: Your wisdom tooth can push back or forward your other teeth, causing bite problems and mouth pain.
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Jaw Damage: If not extracted in time, your wisdom teeth can cause cysts around other teeth. The longer you wait, the greater the damage, which can lead to your teeth damaging nerves and hollowing out the jaw.
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Sinus Issues: Wisdom teeth problems can cause sinus congestion, pressure, and pain.
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Inflamed Gums: Once the tissues around the teeth start to swell, it becomes harder to clean them. This can cause cavities.
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Cavities: The pockets created by swollen gums allow bacteria to grow, leading to cavities.
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Alignment Issues: If the other teeth become crowded due to the wisdom teeth, extra surgeries are required for correction. |
What Happens During the Wisdom Tooth Removal Procedure?
The surgical extraction is divided into five steps. Every step takes less than or around 45 minutes.
Step #1 – Anesthesia
If the case is complicated and will last longer, the dental surgeon will administer anesthesia to relax the patient and so they won't feel any pain during the procedure.
Step #2 – Incision
If the wisdom tooth has not erupted, the surgeon will make a cut to expose it. In case the jawbone is a hindrance, it will be carved to make tooth removal easy.
Step #3 – Tooth Dissection
In case the tooth is not positioned correctly, the periodontist will break it into pieces. This will prevent the gum hole size from widening.
Step #4 – Extraction
The surgeon will rock the tooth to remove it. At this point, you will feel some pressure and then a hollow feeling in your mouth.
Step #5 – Stitching
After the removal is complete, the surgeon will stitch the gum and pack the area with gauze. The pressure will lighten bleeding and lessen pain.
Wisdom Tooth Complications
Most wisdom tooth removal surgeries don't cause any complications. However, if you experience anything uncomfortable, contact us immediately.
Dry Socket
If you are above 25 or smoke, you are more susceptible to getting dry sockets after the extraction. This occurs when the blood clot that is supposed to fill the gum gets dislodged.
Infection
Poor oral hygiene might cause bacteria to enter the wound and lead to pus buildup.
Paresthesia
Nerve damage after the surgery can be permanent or temporary. This occurs if the wisdom tooth was close to the nerve.
Bleeding
As mentioned earlier, you will experience some bleeding after the oral surgery. This will likely continue for two days. However, if the bleeding does not stop, contact us, and avoid any physical activity until your next dental appointment.
Things to Drink and Eat After the Surgery
In the First 48 hours, eat:
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Only soft, lukewarm, or cold nutritious foods
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Foods that require little chewing
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Foods that can be easily swallowed |
Foods To Eat
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Yogurt
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Mango
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Bananas
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Flaky fish
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Avocados
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Applesauce
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Smooth nut butter
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Mashed potatoes
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Soft, baked fruits, like apples or peaches
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Pureed or soft steamed vegetables, such as squash, peas, green beans, or carrots |
Foods To Avoid
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Nuts
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Meats
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Popcorn
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Crunchy vegetables
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Sticky or chewy foods
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Crunchy fruits, such as apples
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Spicy foods, such as curry or hot peppers
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Acidic foods, including tomatoes, oranges, and lemons
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Soft fruits containing tiny seeds, like strawberries or kiwi |
Recommended Drinks
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Water
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Fruit smoothies (without nuts) |
Drinks to Avoid
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Carbonated or acidic beverages
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Alcoholic beverages for 24 hours
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Avoid drinking with a straw for at least 24 hours after the surgery |
Contacting the Periodontist
If you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing after the surgery, contact our periodontist immediately. Note any alarming symptoms, such as:
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Temperature of 101 degrees or higher
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Dizziness
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Cracked and dry lips
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Sore throat |
In severe cases, inflammation stays for a couple of days. If it does not go away, even after taking pain medication, don't be alarmed; however, you should pay an emergency visit to the periodontist.
In the visit following the surgery, the periodontist will ask about your impacted wisdom teeth. We will want to know if you have felt:
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Any unusual taste or feeling in your mouth
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Numbness in the area where your wisdom teeth were removed
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Excessive bleeding |
Depending on how your are healing, we may ask you to visit us again a couple of weeks later so we can check for post-surgery complications, such as an infection.
Wisdom Tooth Removal Healing Timeline
You might experience some numbness in the area of surgery for up to two weeks. That's when the healing process and recovery from extraction begins. Patients are allowed to resume normal activities three days following the procedure. However, avoid doing anything strenuous.
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24 Hours – Swelling begins when a blood clot forms
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2 to 3 Days – Swelling peaks
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4 to 7 Days – Discomfort is gone or minimal, and sutures dissolve
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8 to 10 Days – Soreness and stiffness go away
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2 Weeks – Minor facial bruising fades
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3 to 4 Weeks – Surgical sites close after new tissue grows |
Maintaining Oral Hygiene
Gentle brush your teeth when the surgery site is no longer bleeding. Just as you get closer to the surgery areas, use your toothbrush to brush the tops of your teeth. Maintain as much oral hygiene as you can by continuing to brush your teeth.
Your teeth may not crowd together as much if your wisdom teeth are extracted. You may also be able to prevent tooth decay and a host of other dental issues. It's time to arrange your wisdom teeth extraction if you have one or four of them.
At Periodontal Health Professionals, you will feel immense ease when your appointment begins. Dr. Childers and our staff are dedicated to ensuring every dental experience is stress-free. For more information, call (856) 702-4340. |
