Impacted and semi-impacted wisdom tooth surgery

Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that usually involves a patient visiting a dental clinic to have one or more wisdom teeth removed. This procedure refers to the four permanent molars that grow in adults at the back corners of the mouth, top and bottom. Wisdom tooth surgery is usually recommended for people with impacted and painful wisdom teeth.

If one of your wisdom teeth does not have enough room to grow (an impacted wisdom tooth) and is causing pain, infection, or other dental problems, your dentist will likely recommend removing the wisdom tooth. Wisdom tooth extraction may be performed by a dentist or oral surgeon.

To prevent possible dental problems in the future, some dentists and oral surgeons recommend wisdom tooth extraction, even if the impacted teeth are not causing you any problems at the moment.

Wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth to erupt in the mouth. These molars usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people never have their wisdom teeth; In others, wisdom teeth grow in normally, just like other teeth, without causing any problems. Many people have their wisdom teeth impacted because they don’t have enough room in their mouths to grow or develop normally.

Reason for wisdom tooth surgery

Wisdom teeth may grow at a different angle than the surrounding teeth.

They may grow at an angle toward the back of the mouth.

Wisdom teeth may grow at a right angle to other teeth, as if the wisdom tooth has grown into the jawbone.

They may grow straight up or down like other molars, but they may become trapped inside the jawbone.

Problems with impacted wisdom teeth

If you have impacted wisdom teeth and find out after a visit to the dentist that you need to have impacted or partially impacted wisdom tooth surgery, you may have one of the following problems:

Food stuck behind the wisdom tooth

Infection or gum disease (periodontal disease)

Wisdom tooth decay that is relatively severe and requires treatment

Injury to nearby teeth or the bone around the wisdom tooth

Cyst growth in the area around the wisdom tooth

Complications from orthodontic treatments to correct other teeth

Preventing future dental problems

Dental experts disagree on the importance of removing impacted wisdom teeth that are not causing problems.

It is difficult and impossible to predict the problems that impacted wisdom teeth may cause in each person’s mouth; however, here is an overview of possible wisdom tooth cases and preventive methods:

Wisdom teeth can cause a variety of diseases.

If there is not enough space for the wisdom tooth to erupt, it is often difficult to access and clean properly.

Side effects are less common in younger people with wisdom teeth.

Young adults may experience some post-operative problems with impacted and partially impacted teeth.

Risks of wisdom tooth surgery

Most of the time, wisdom tooth extractions do not have long-term side effects. However, sometimes, wisdom tooth extractions may require a more complex surgical procedure that involves making an incision in the gum tissue and removing bone. Side effects of wisdom tooth surgery for impacted and partially impacted teeth may include:

A dry, painful socket forms when a blood clot breaks free from the surgical wound after surgery.

An infection in the tooth socket is caused by bacteria or food particles.

Damage to nearby teeth, nerves, jawbone, or sinuses

Local anesthesia or sedation for wisdom tooth surgery

Depending on the complexity of your wisdom tooth extraction and your comfort level, your dentist or dental surgeon may use one of the following types of anesthesia:

Local anesthesia:

Your dentist or oral surgeon will administer a local anesthetic through one or more injections near the site of each tooth. You will be awake while your wisdom teeth are being extracted and operated on. You may feel some pressure and movement on your teeth, but you should not feel any pain during the procedure.

General anesthesia:

In some cases, your dentist may recommend general anesthesia. You may inhale anesthetic through your nose, which will gradually make you unconscious. The surgical team will closely monitor your medication levels, breathing, ambient temperature, fluids, and blood pressure. You will not feel any pain during the procedure, and you will not remember anything about the procedure for impacted or partially impacted wisdom teeth. After the procedure, a local anesthetic will be administered to help relieve discomfort and pain.

Wisdom tooth surgery steps

During wisdom tooth extraction, your dentist in Ottawa or oral surgeon will:

Make an incision in the gum tissue to expose the tooth bone

Remove the bone that is blocking access to the tooth root

Extract impacted or partially impacted wisdom teeth

Clean the site of the extracted tooth of any remaining tooth or bone

Stitch the wound to help it heal, but this is not always necessary

Place sterile gauze over the surgical site to control bleeding and help blood clot formation

After the procedure, if you are under sedation or general anesthesia, you will be taken to a recovery room. If you had local anesthesia during the procedure, your recovery time will likely be short.