Many adults have painful memories linked to dental procedures that involve surgery. However, wisdom tooth removal ranks top among the common oral surgeries many adults undergo. The surgery targets the last molars to grow in a human mouth, usually at the furthest corners of the mouth.
What Is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
It is a wisdom tooth that has erupted improperly, remaining partially stuck under the gum tissue. Some wisdom teeth can be wholly stuck under the gums. The problem with impacted teeth is that they cause soreness, tenderness, swelling, and pain in your jaw every time you chew. If the inflammation is too significant, it can make even swallowing problematic.
Besides, the improper alignment of the impacted wisdom tooth places unnecessary pressure on adjacent teeth, resulting in orthodontic problems. Instead of needing braces, you should talk to a dentist at Family Dental Care – Evergreen Park for a tooth extraction procedure.
Must You Remove Your Wisdom Tooth?
Dentists will only recommend wisdom tooth extractions for problematic teeth. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, there may not be a need to remove them unless to create more space in your jawbone for orthodontic reasons. Other than that, dentists recommend wisdom tooth removal because it is the best treatment protocol for preserving good oral health.
Procedure for Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Removing an impacted wisdom tooth is different from a healthy one. Such a procedure entails surgery to access the entire tooth under the gums. The dentist will first numb your mouth, making the procedure painless. Besides that, you need sedation dentistry to keep you calm and relaxed throughout your surgery.
The surgery begins with cutting open the gums, exposing the entire tooth structure. Sometimes the dentist may need to drill through the jawbone to access the tooth, particularly for stubborn wisdom teeth. The dentist will then break it down into manageable sizes for easy extraction. The dentist will fill the void with a special filling when the entire tooth is out before sewing the gums in place. Afterward, (s)he will place gauze over the wound, controlling the bleeding.
Pain After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Your oral surgeon should prepare you enough for the recovery period after your extraction procedure. The empty socket and open wound will cause throbbing pain in your jaw and gums as if from a toothache. The pain may even cause a headache or pain in other parts of your head. Therefore, dental experts prescribe medication to manage the pain, which is crucial to the first week of recovery. The intensity of the pain should subside by the day, getting better after the one-week mark.
How Long Should It Last?
Dental pain after a wisdom tooth extraction should last about 3-7 days. Some patients take longer than others due to differences in the body’s self-healing pace. However, after 14 days of your extraction, severe tooth pain is unusual and requires immediate evaluation. While at it, consider other symptoms you may be experiencing along with the pain, including:
- Swelling that spreads to other parts of your mouth
- Persistent bad breath
- Bleeding
- Pus or other fluids from the extraction site
- Mouth sores near the extraction site
Reasons that Explain Abnormal Pain After a Wisdom Tooth Extraction Although you should anticipate some swelling, tenderness, and discomfort after impacted wisdom teeth removal, it should be bearable.
Excessive dental pain is abnormal and could indicate an underlying problem that needs urgent attention from your dentist in Evergreen Park.
Some of the factors that may explain your severe pain levels are:
Painful dry socket – occurs when you introduce dry air into your extraction wound. It is common for patients who love drinking through straws.
Infection – sometimes, the excruciating pain your feel in your mouth is because the extraction wound is infected. If you have not been keen on proper oral hygiene, bacterial overgrowth may cause an infection in the wound.
Abrasion – even though you are to maintain good oral hygiene after a tooth extraction, don’t be too harsh. Any abrasion around the extraction site can dislodge the blood clot on the wound, causing bleeding and significant pain.
