The thought of having a tooth pulled is nerve-racking for some people. If you’ve come to this page, perhaps it’s because a wisdom tooth extraction may be in your future, and you’re interested in learning as much as possible about this common dental procedure. If that’s the case, you’re in good hands. At Boon Dental, we perform many successful tooth extractions every year.
Why Do We Need Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
For most people, wisdom teeth are the final four molars that grow through the gums in the back of the jaw during the late teens or early 20s. They can affect people in different ways. If you’re lucky, they will never give you any trouble. However, for others, they do. In some cases, those additional teeth in the back of the mouth can lead to:
Tooth decay or infection: Brushing wisdom teeth can be challenging since these final molars are situated in the back of the mouth. Food and bacteria tend to get easily trapped.
- Acute gum infections: Often wisdom teeth do not come out in full and this makes it difficult to keep them clean. As a result, it can cause inflammation of the gum around the wisdom tooth and results in bad breath, pain, dental abscess or even facial swelling.
- Cheek ulcers: This can happen when crowded wisdom teeth lean sideways and rub against the inner cheek.
- Chewing problems: In some instances, crowded wisdom teeth can lead to pain, making eating less than enjoyable.
How To Prepare For A Wisdom Tooth Extraction
After a thorough medical and dental examination, you may be a candidate for wisdom tooth extraction. Most upper wisdom teeth are easily taken out under a local anaesthetic. Lower wisdom teeth, however, can be a little harder to remove. Before scheduling surgery, it’s important to do your research. The more you learn about what to expect, the better your procedure experience will likely be. Here are other things to keep in mind.
Choose The Best Dental Clinic
Not all dental clinics are created equally. Experience matters. For example, when consulting a dentist or oral surgeon, there’s nothing wrong with asking them how many wisdom tooth extractions they’ve performed. Some other questions to consider:
- Is the dental practice clean and inviting?
- Is the staff friendly and approachable?
- Were your concerns addressed?
Cost
Depending on the complexity of the procedure, where it’s performed and by who, costs can vary greatly. According to Finder.com.au, tooth extraction in Australia can cost anywhere from $75 to $3,000. However, insurance can pay for most or all the costs. Some dental clinics in Australia, including ours, also offer flexible payment plans.
Treatment
Before your dentist or oral surgeon removes your wisdom tooth, local anaesthesia will be given to numb the tooth. Forceps are then used to remove the tooth. However, often larger molars may involve cutting the gum to uncover your tooth and/or removing bone around it.
IV sedation And Recovery Time
If you opt to have the wisdom tooth extraction under sedation, a qualified medical professional will give intravenous sedation. This means you will be relaxed but will neither remember the process nor feel any pain. Following the surgery, you’ll be groggy and need someone to drive you home safely. You’ll probably also want to take a few days off work as part of your recovery. Take it easy and avoid anything too strenuous the first few days after surgery. Typically, most people fully recover from the procedure within seven days.
Medications
After the surgery, you’ll likely experience some pain and swelling. Your dentist or oral surgeon will likely prescribe you pain medication, such as ibuprofen.
After Care
Your dentist may want you to avoid brushing, spitting, flossing and rinsing for 24 hours. You may be asked to use an antibacterial mouthwash and rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce the risk of infection. Sticking to a soft-food diet for the first few days after surgery will also help minimise mouth pain. Cold drinks can also be soothing.
When Should You Call Your Dentist?
A wisdom tooth extraction is generally a safe procedure. Rarely are there any complications; however, they can happen. You should contact your dentist or oral surgeon if the following occurs:
- You develop a fever
- The swelling intensifies
- You develop an infection
- The bleeding worsens
Ultimately, trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
How Boon Dental Can Help
At Boon Dental, the care of our patients is No. 1. We pride ourselves on providing the best dental care possible from beginning to end. While wisdom teeth extraction can be daunting, we walk our patients through the process from A to Z to make them feel at ease. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.