Wisdom teeth are molars that typically emerge in the back of the mouth between ages 17 and 25. In many cases, there is not sufficient room for wisdom teeth to grow in, making it necessary for a dental surgeon to remove the teeth to prevent pain or future complications. Persistent pain after the procedure may indicate an infection or another oral problem.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth have limited space to grow and may block or put pressure on neighboring teeth as they push to the surface. More serious problems can also develop around impacted teeth that are not removed, such as infections or cysts. If liquid collects in the protective tissues surrounding the tooth, a cyst can form and cause jaw and nerve damage, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
The type of complications the wisdom tooth causes will determine how the dental surgeon performs the extraction surgery and may affect the degree of pain following the procedure.
Anesthesia
Wisdom tooth extraction is commonly an outpatient surgery, and the dentist will administer anesthesia to help you cope with any pain. For a simple surgery, the patient remains awake and is typically given a local anesthetic that involves an injection in the gums, notes MayoClinic.com.
When the procedure is more complex or the patient doesn’t feel comfortable remaining awake, the dental surgeon may opt for a sedation anesthetic. A sedation anesthetic is inhaled or is administered through an IV line and renders the patient unconscious.
Extraction Procedure
The process of wisdom tooth extraction begins with an incision in the gums to expose the tooth and surrounding bone. The surgeon removes any obstructive material, such as bone, before the tooth is extracted.
After the extraction, the surgeon clears the extraction area of debris, stitches the incision closed and covers the area with gauze. Normal swelling and soreness is expected after the surgery, so some facilities may administer a mild steroid to reduce these side effects.
Pain Management
Following the extraction surgery, a prescription or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication will help relieve any lingering pain. To prevent additional trauma and manage pain, the patient should only eat soft foods, such as yogurt, and avoid foods that are chewy. Patients also should abstain from brushing teeth for at least 24 hours, MayoClinic.com says.
Complications
Behaviors such as smoking or spitting can cause further complications after surgery, such as a “dry socket.” A dry socket is an exposure of bone that results when a post-surgical blood clot breaks down, leaving the area open to infection, explains the Colgate World of Care website. A dry socket can be painful and requires another visit to the oral surgeon.
Other possible complications include long-term numbness due to nerve damage. In such cases, it may take a period of several months for the nerves to heal.
