Some wisdom tooth pain can be quite severe. In many cases, you will feel pain at the back of your mouth. Some patients feel a throbbing sensation in the back of their jaws. Fortunately, wisdom tooth removal procedures are now being offered in many dental clinics. Wisdom tooth extraction is a dental procedure to relieve toothaches and is used to prevent further problems with your oral health.

Continue reading this blog post if you want to learn more about wisdom tooth removal.

What is Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that involves removing one or more wisdom teeth. You need to have wisdom tooth extraction if there is not enough room for your wisdom teeth to grow.

Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, infection, and other dental issues. Even when the wisdom teeth don’t cause any problems, some dentists may still recommend a wisdom tooth extraction.

A general dentist can perform a wisdom tooth extraction. During the process, your dentist will cut into your gums and remove your wisdom tooth. Depending on your preferences and whether other complicated extractions are required, you may be placed under anaesthesia with nitrous oxide or intravenous sedation.

At What Age Do Wisdom Teeth Grow?

Wisdom teeth are the last ones to erupt at the back of the mouth. You can have two wisdom teeth in your upper teeth and another two wisdom teeth in your bottom teeth.

Some people don’t have to worry about wisdom teeth. Studies have shown that roughly one-third of our population do not develop wisdom teeth.

In most cases, wisdom teeth appear between the ages of 17 and 25. It is possible for wisdom teeth to emerge and align with surrounding teeth without any problems. However, there are instances where the third molars are not able to develop properly due to crowded teeth. In these cases, third molars get trapped. A dental X-ray may show if you have any impacted wisdom teeth under the gum line.

What Are the Possible Problems with Wisdom Teeth?

Most wisdom tooth problems can be treated without any severe consequences. If left untreated for an extended period of time, it can cause symptoms ranging from minor discomfort to severe infection. Severe cases could result if your painful wisdom tooth is not removed immediately.

Here are some examples of possible problems with wisdom teeth:

• Impacted teeth:
  Wisdom teeth can erupt without problems, but sometimes they can come through at an angle, pushing into the gums. When a wisdom tooth becomes impacted, it can be difficult to brush and get rid of food particles. Bacteria from your mouth can get stuck between these structures.
• Increased Risk of Infections:
  The position of wisdom teeth makes it difficult to clean with a toothbrush. Food debris can get trapped between crowded teeth, making the task even more challenging as you struggle to try to reach those hidden in small spaces. This trapped food and bacteria from the mouth could cause an infection or cavity.
• Pain:
  Pain is one of the most common symptoms when your teeth grow at the wrong angle. It tends to radiate from its root, travelling through nearby tissues and even reaching up into your jaw bone. It can also cause pain in other areas, such as the gums around impacted wisdom tooth sites.
• Damage to Nearby Teeth:
  The position of wisdom teeth can cause many problems, depending on how they grow in your mouth. If you have wisdom teeth pushing against the roots of healthy teeth, it can cause damage to your overall oral health. This can also cause crowded teeth that can cause chewing problems and even ulcers on the cheek that may require wisdom tooth extraction.
• Tooth Abscess:
  When teeth are not given the proper cleaning they need because of improper brushing, the bacteria can damage a person’s healthy enamel, eventually creating pockets known as abscesses. These abscesses may ultimately cause pain upon eating certain foods.A tooth can develop an abscess at any time, but wisdom teeth are the most prone to abscesses because cleaning your wisdom teeth clean can be difficult.
• Gum Disease:
  Wisdom teeth can cause gum disease and place pressure on adjacent second molars, resulting in enamel deterioration. Plaque are formed when spaces from the gums to the teeth are too deep. This can cause periodontal pockets. That’s why, in the absence of treatment, impacted wisdom teeth will decay, resulting in gum disease.

How Painful Is Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Wisdom tooth removal can be an uncomfortable procedure, but relatively, the patient should feel no pain because of anesthesia. There are various sedation options to reduce anxiety depending on your preferences.

For a few days after having your wisdom teeth removed, your mouth may be a little tender. However, it should be back to normal in about seven days. You can also take over-the-counter pain medications to reduce the pain and discomfort. Ideally, an ice pack is applied to reduce the swelling. Our dental team will also provide you with aftercare instructions after the wisdom tooth removal procedure.

Are There Any Risks With Wisdom Teeth Removal?

The procedure for wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common surgeries in dentistry. It’s usually safe and easy, but risks and complications can happen with any surgery.

Here are the possible risks after wisdom teeth removal:

• Pain at the area of the injection
• Swelling and bleeding
• Pain in the jaw and teeth
• Lower lip sensitivity
• Dry sockets
• Numbness in the mouth

What to Expect During the Wisdom Teeth Removal Process?

The surgery will be about 45 minutes long. Your dentist may use one of three types of anaesthesia depending on the complexity involved in wisdom tooth extraction.

Options for anaesthesia for wisdom teeth include the following:

• Local anesthesia.
  Local anaesthesia will be given to you before your extraction. You’ll receive one or more injections near the site of each tooth removal while awake during the procedure but shouldn’t feel any pain.
• Sedation anesthesia.
  You will be given sedation anaesthesia through an intravenous line in your arm during your dentist’s appointment. You will feel a slight sting as the anaesthesia begins to take effect.
• General anesthesia.
  In some rare cases, you may be offered general anesthesia. You will inhale medication through your nose or have an IV line in your arm before you lose consciousness. At the same time, the surgical team monitors your medication, breathing, temperature, fluids, and blood pressure.

After the anesthesia, these are the steps of a typical wisdom tooth removal procedure:

• Tissue removal:
  The dentist will cut the gum tissue covering the wisdom tooth’s area to access it.
• Bone removal:
  Impacted wisdom teeth are often covered with bone. If this is the case, an impacted tooth can be drilled and removed with a high-speed handpiece to avoid breaking any other healthy tissue and to remove the bone covering the tooth.
• Loosening and sectioning of the tooth:
  The dentist will use some instruments to gently loosen and cut away any connective tissue from the tooth’s socket. The dentist may also cut the tooth into sections for easier removal.
• Tooth removal:
  When the wisdom tooth is loose or has been completely sectioned, your dentist will now completely remove it using forceps.
• Stitches:
  Stitches may be necessary to close up the area after impacted wisdom teeth are removed or when health care providers feel that patients will heal better with stitches in place.

What Are the Things to Expect After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

In some cases, a brief recovery time in the dental chair is likely if you have local anesthesia. As you heal from the surgery, some situations are likely to be expected, including the following:

• Significant bleeding.
  The day after wisdom tooth removal, you may experience heavy bleeding from the socket. It would be best to avoid excessive spitting to prevent dislodging of the clot. Put some clean and dry dressings on the area where the tooth was removed. Your dentist will also educate you on how you can put dry dressings on the extraction site.
• Pain.
  If you’re experiencing dental pain, there are many ways to relieve it. Over-the-counter medicines like Tylenol or acetaminophen may help manage the discomfort. Your dentist may also prescribe you some pain medications after the procedure. Holding an ice pack against your jaw can also help relieve pain.
• Swelling and bruising.
  To help with any swelling or bruising, apply an ice pack as directed by your dentist. Swollen cheeks will usually improve in two days, and a bruise may take one more day before it resolves fully.
• Limited activity.
  After your surgery, don’t plan to resume normal activities for at least a week. Avoid strenuous activity that may cause the blood clot to fall out of the socket.
• Food restriction.
  During the first 24 hours, you must avoid hard, chewy, and spicy foods that might get stuck in your socket. Try eating semi-soft or creamy snacks like yoghurt or ice cream.
• Difficulty in cleaning your mouth.
  Your dentist will remind you not to brush your teeth. You can only resume brushing your teeth after 24 hours. For a week, gently rinse the outside of your mouth with warm salt water every two hours and after meals. This is important because it helps reduce pain from inflammation in that area and keeps bacteria away, which leads to infection and poor recovery.
• Stitches.
  Stitches dissolve in a few weeks, but if you want them gone sooner, you can schedule an appointment with your dentist to have them taken out.

How Can I Make the Wound from Wisdom Teeth Extraction Heal Faster?

You may experience some pain, swelling, and bleeding in your mouth after surgery. The extraction site will heal over six weeks, but you may not be able to open your mouth for several days after the surgery.

For a fast recovery and healing process, patients must follow these care instructions:

• Keep your head elevated and get plenty of rest.
• Take your pain medicine as prescribed by the dentist.
• Use cold packs for the first 48 hours, then move to warm packs.
• Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater.
• For a few days after wisdom teeth removal, avoid eating hard or chewy snacks.
• After the operation, you should avoid drinking through a straw or washing your mouth too much.
• Do not consume alcohol or use mouthwash containing alcohol.
• Avoid smoking.
• Brushing your teeth around the extraction site is not a good idea. To clean the extraction site, you can use dry dressings and rinse it gently with warm water.

Can I Have All Four Of My wisdom Teeth Extracted At The Same Time?

Our patients do not experience a great deal of discomfort regardless of how many teeth are removed at one time. Furthermore, having each tooth extracted separately is more expensive than having one procedure for all four. If you price out each procedure separately, you’ll need to pay multiple office visits, more surgical costs, and double or triple anaesthesia expenses.

Getting all your wisdom teeth removed on the same day reduces recovery time and the risk of developing dry sockets and infections. However, it’s possible to split the procedure into two or three appointments. For best results, you must first let our dentist assess the condition of your wisdom teeth so we can have the proper and best treatment plan depending on your condition.

Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Change My Face Shape?

Following a wisdom tooth extraction, you may notice some changes in your mouth. When the swelling goes down and you go back to your normal diet, you will be able to get your face back to looking normal.

The wisdom teeth are located in the back of the mouth, where there is dense bone. The area in which wisdom teeth develop is called the dental alveolus. It is separate from the basal jawbone, which determines the shape of your jaw. It is important to remember that removing your wisdom teeth will not change the shape of your face or jawbone.

Furthermore, the skin and soft tissues surrounding the wisdom teeth are composed of underlying fat, muscles, and fat pads. Having a wisdom tooth removed will not affect these tissues.

What Can You Not Do After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

When your wisdom teeth are pulled, blood clots will form at the extraction sites to protect the exposed bone and soft tissue. If these get dislodged, it can lead to a dry socket. If you take the following precautions, you can lessen the chances of this happening:

• Brushing near extraction areas is not recommended:
  It would be best to brush your teeth on the second day after surgery. But make sure not to brush at the extraction site because it could cause pain and swelling, which will affect your healing process.
• Sticky, crunchy, and chewy foods should be avoided:
  Don’t eat hard or crunchy foods for at least a week after extraction. Dentists say you can eat soft foods only after the extraction.
• Drinking liquids using a straw is not recommended:
  You should not drink carbonated beverages or suck on straws until 24 hours after wisdom tooth extraction.
• Don’t spit or vigorously swish liquids in your mouth:
  A sudden increase in pressure could dislodge the blood clot and result in complications.
• Smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages is not recommended:
  If you have had oral surgery, it is important to avoid drinking alcohol for at least 48 hours. This will help you avoid dry sockets and more bleeding.

What Happens if Your Wisdom Teeth Don’t Get Removed?

• Overcrowding:
  If you have a small mouth or jaw, your third molars won’t be able to grow correctly. This can lead to overcrowding and overlapping teeth when they finally emerge.
• Impacted Wisdom Teeth:
  When wisdom teeth are trapped below your gum line, they can become very painful and prone to infections. Leaving these fourth molars in place could lead to decay and tooth loss if they aren’t treated for a long time.In some cases, wisdom teeth can grow in an unusual location, affecting how your jaw works. There could be instances where you will have difficulty opening and closing your jaw.
• Increased Risk of Tooth Decay:
  The location and alignment of wisdom teeth can make it hard to care for them properly, leading to health issues later on.If you don’t have your wisdom teeth removed, they will require continued monitoring. Wisdom tooth problems are just as subject to decay and other issues as the rest of your teeth. That’s why a lot of dentists recommend wisdom tooth extraction once you feel a severe toothache.

How Much Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?

Several factors may affect the cost of your procedure, including the condition of your impacted wisdom tooth, the number of teeth that need to be extracted, and whether anaesthesia is required.

Wisdom tooth removal can cost anywhere from $380 to $460 for a complex procedure. The dentist will provide you with an estimate of costs before checking if your insurance provider covers it.

Why Is Wisdom Tooth Removal More Expensive than Tooth Extraction?

Wisdom tooth removal can be more expensive than a regular tooth extraction, but the cost may still vary depending on the complexity of your extraction.

Tooth extractions are usually more straightforward than wisdom tooth surgeries, which can be pretty complex. Regular teeth are much easier to remove than impacted wisdom teeth because your dentist needs only to drill into the gum to remove them.

When a tooth is impacted, it brings it closer to the nerves underneath. This means that extra care must be taken when removing an affected tooth so as not to damage these sensitive tissues and avoid any nerve pain. Also, some wisdom teeth have an irregular root shape that makes them much harder to extract than regular teeth.

Is the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal Covered by My Dental Insurance?

Insurance coverage for wisdom teeth removal depends on the type of dental plan you have. The majority of insurance companies cover up to 80% of the cost of wisdom tooth extraction.

Gum infection, tooth decay, and undermining of adjacent teeth are the common reasons patients undergo wisdom tooth removal. The dentist will provide you with an estimated cost of your treatment plan depending on your condition. Then, you can confirm with your insurance provider if they will cover the costs.

You can always pay for the wisdom tooth extraction out of pocket, but if you are concerned about costs, you can contact our dental team if you are looking for a flexible payment option. Though it seems like a high price for such an operation now, it may prevent more serious problems in the future.

Final Thoughts

Wisdom tooth removal surgery is one of the necessary dental treatments to prevent pain and other dental infections. It is one of the recommended dental surgeries for patients with painful wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth are needed to be removed immediately to alleviate the pain. The wisdom tooth extraction process is not a painful dental procedure because our team will provide you with anaesthesia options for a more comfortable surgery. After the surgery, your oral dentist will give you post-operative instructions that are specific to your procedure.

At Maylands Dental Centre, we offer low prices for comprehensive dental treatment, including wisdom tooth extractions. Our dental team will provide you with great service and high-quality products. Moreover, we ensure that our dental services are convenient and affordable for all of our patients. We offer a variety of dental treatment options to meet your specific needs. We not only provide excellent dental services at an affordable price but also offer flexible payment options for all of your dental needs.

With proper dental care, we aim to provide patients with a perfect smile. Your oral health is our number one concern. For more information about our wisdom tooth extraction procedure, call (08) 9370 5464 today. If you want to visit our dental clinic, our location is at Maylands Dental Centre 185 Guilford Rd. Maylands, WA 6051. We are open from Monday to Saturday.