Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedures
Before the Procedure
Impacted wisdom teeth are dangerous to keep in the mouth because they will continue to grow into the jaw, causing the jaw to become misaligned, or grow sideways into the other teeth, causing these teeth to press into one another and become crooked. Your dentist or orthodontist will be able to determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted by taking x-rays. He will then refer you to an oral surgeon if there is cause for concern. The oral surgeon will determine, by examining the x-rays and taking more if necessary, whether or not a surgical procedure is necessary. The oral surgeon will then set the date for your procedure, which you will have to take the day off of school or work for for both the procedure and the recovery.
During the Procedure
Your oral surgeon will most likely perform the procedure in her office or a nearby hospital. Depending on the severity of your impacted wisdom teeth and how many teeth are being removed, you will be given either local anesthesia, where only the mouth is numbed, or general anesthesia, where you will be knocked out entirely. The procedure can take between 1 and 4 hours. An incision will be made in the gum, then the tooth will be removed either whole or in pieces, depending on how impacted the tooth is into the jaw. Sometimes, small pieces of the jaw may be removed in order to remove it completely. The severity of the impacted tooth directly correlates to how long your recovery time will be after the surgery. After the teeth are removed, the oral surgeon will stitch up the gums and pack the cheek area with cotton to promote blood clotting.
After the Procedure
Following the surgical procedure, depending on whether you were given local or general anesthesia, you may feel groggy and tired. Even if you do not feel hungry, try to drink liquids like room-temperature water and sports drinks throughout the rest of the day. Do not use a straw to drink, as the suction may damage your stitches. The first few days following your surgery, stick to eating soft, room-temperature foods like cottage cheese and applesauce. It can take between 2 and 4 weeks to heal completely from your wisdom tooth procedure, and the oral surgeon will usually schedule one follow-up appointment to determine how your teeth are healing and remove your stitches if necessary. Most people take 1 to 4 days off of work or school to recover from wisdom tooth surgery.
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