The wisdom teeth erupt when the individual approaches their late teens or early twenties. Although they emerge out of the jawbone socket like any other regular tooth, they sometimes tend to get stuck in awkward positions, leading to severe pain. It could also develop a significant risk of infection, making immediate dental attention crucial in such situations.
What are the causes of impacted wisdom teeth?
- Heredity - inheriting jaw size from one parent and tooth size from the other
- Improperly shaped jawbone
- Smaller jawbone sockets
- Injuries to the teeth or jawbone
- Adjoining tooth roots present at an awkwardly inclined angle
What are the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth?
- Bleeding gums
- Discharge of pus
- Risk of developing infections near the tooth
- Severe pain, especially while chewing food or moving the jaw
- Damage to the adjoining teeth and tooth roots
- Jawbone deterioration
How are impacted wisdom teeth treated?
If the severity of impaction is minor, we suggest medication or other simpler treatment to get rid of the condition. But, if the tooth is stuck in a very tight position and is causing a lot of pain, we would suggest getting it completely extracted from the mouth. This procedure would be carried out after we administer local sedatives to numb the tooth and surrounding tissues.
A small slit would be made on the gums to expose the impacted tooth. It could be completely or partially stuck under the gums, making it slightly tricky to remove. We may remove it wholly or section it into smaller pieces and remove them individually depending on the severity of impaction. Suitable aftercare instructions will be given to facilitate optimum healing and prevent infections.
What are the Post-Operative Instructions for Wisdom Teeth Removal?
After the procedure, you need to follow some instructions, that include:
- Do not rinse your mouth or spit for 24 hours.
- Do not put your finger or tongue on the socket or surgical area.
- Use ice packs on the side of the face for the first 48 hours.
- In case of mild discomfort or severe pain, take medications prescribed by the dentist.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Do not use a straw.
- Do not smoke for at least five days.
- Avoid strenuous activity or exercising for about 3–4 days.
- If you feel the muscles of the jaw have gotten stiff, then to help them relax, use warm moist heat outside your face over spots that feel stiff.
- Use a warm salt water rinse following meals for a week to flush out food particles and debris.
- Consume soft foods that can be swallowed easily and cool drinks.
- Do not eat anything that might lodge in your teeth like seeds, nuts, rice, popcorn, etc.
You may schedule a consultation with our team of dental experts by calling us or reaching us through an online query. We’re always happy to help.
