A total of four wisdom teeth, two in the lower jaw and two in the upper jaw, sometimes may not be able to fully reach the gingival surface. Teeth in this condition are called impacted teeth. While there may be teeth that are completely under the gingival mucosa, there are also wisdom teeth that some of them manage to come to the surface. In this case, the position and root structure of the tooth is examined with dental imaging. As a result of the examination, it is decided to remove the impacted teeth that are found to damage other teeth, cause aesthetic problems and disturb the patient.
How is Impacted Tooth Extraction Performed?
During the extraction of the impacted tooth, local anesthesia is applied to prevent the patient from feeling pain and suffering. This operation takes longer than normal tooth extraction as it is performed with surgical techniques. During the operation, the bone tissue around the tooth is first removed. Where possible, the impacted tooth is removed in one piece. In cases where this is not possible, the tooth is divided into parts and all parts are removed one by one. After all parts are completely removed, the operation area is closed by suturing. Your stitches are removed after 7 to 10 days. After the impacted wisdom tooth extraction, if the blood clot breaks down in the treated area, the patient may develop alveolitis.
Alveolitis Formation After Impacted Tooth Extraction
Alveolitis is inflammation of the treated area. Sometimes, the patient’s non-compliance with the dentist’s recommendations after the procedure also causes the formation of alveolitis. Situations such as foreign matter escaping into the operation area, smoking, spitting that will cause the blood clot to deteriorate, or intervention in the area where the operation is performed; It is one of the main causes of alveolitis formation. The most important symptom of inflammation is severe pain. At the same time, problems such as incomplete opening of the jaw, hypersensitivity, lymph node swelling may occur. In such cases, you should consult your dentist without wasting time. The problem can be easily overcome by providing blood to the area again.
Will There Be Swelling After Impacted Tooth Extraction?
The process after impacted tooth extraction is a little more difficult than routine tooth extraction. It is normal for swelling and a certain amount of bleeding to occur during this process. After the operation, you can reduce the swelling a little by placing ice on the cheek at certain intervals.
Does Pain Occur After Impacted Tooth Extraction?
It is normal for pain to occur after the effect of the local anesthesia applied during the extraction of wisdom teeth. The pain starts to decrease after 2-3 days. Your doctor also includes painkillers in the treatment so that the pain does not negatively affect your daily life.
Nutrition After Impacted Tooth Extraction
After the impacted tooth extraction, it is necessary not to eat or drink anything until the effect of the anesthesia wears off (for about 2 hours). Otherwise, the affected area may be damaged by the effect of numbness. After the effects of drowsiness disappear completely, you should consume soft foods such as yogurt and puree. Straws should never be used while consuming these foods. Carbonated and acidic beverages are also not recommended during the healing process. When you start to move your jaw comfortably and the swelling in the mouth goes down, you can gradually switch to solid food.
What Should Be Considered After Impacted Tooth Extraction?
Not smoking for the first 24 hours is important for the success of the operation. You should maintain your oral hygiene after impacted tooth surgery. You can start brushing your teeth 24 hours after the operation without damaging the operated area. After the operation, you should not touch the treated area with your hand or with a different tool.
Recovery Time After Impacted Tooth Extraction
Impacted tooth surgery recovery process may follow a different course from patient to patient. The extent to which the patient complies with the physician’s recommendations is an important factor at this point. It may take up to three weeks for symptoms such as swelling and pain to disappear completely. The bone tissue in the treated area recovers a little later. Bone tissue can take up to 6 months to heal.
