What to Expect From a Wisdom Tooth Removal

Do you need a wisdom tooth removal? Here’s what to expect & how our Calgary sedation dentistry services can help make the experience more pleasant and pain-free.

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There comes a point in every patient’s life when their family dentist has to assess their wisdom teeth. A removal may be recommended if:

• The wisdom teeth are impacted (meaning they cannot erupt and become trapped in your jawbone or gum).
• They grow in at the wrong angle due to crowding with your other teeth.
• There is not enough space in your jaw.
• Your wisdom teeth have developed cavities.

If they aren’t removed, wisdom teeth can cause swelling, gum soreness and acute pain. In addition, impacted teeth are extremely difficult to clean and, as such, are vulnerable to tooth decay and may even damage the surrounding bone structure.

Wisdom Tooth Removal at Marlborough Dental Centre

At our Calgary dental clinic, our family dentists provide comprehensive and safe wisdom teeth removal services to help ensure the health of your teeth, gums and mouth. We also offer sedation dentistry to help make the process as pain-free and comfortable as possible.

What to Expect From a Wisdom Tooth Removal

Wisdom tooth removal is a surgical procedure to remove one or more of your wisdom teeth. Depending on the complexity of the situation, this can be done by an oral surgeon or one of your family dentist under general or local anesthetic.

Typically, during a wisdom tooth removal, your dentist will:

• Make a small incision in your gum to access the wisdom tooth (if it hasn’t already erupted)
• Extract the tooth
• Clean the extraction site of any tooth/bone debris
• Close the wound to promote healing using dissolvable stitches
• PLace a gauze over the treatment site to assist in the formation of a blood clot

How long does a wisdom tooth removal take?

The time for this procedure will vary from patient to patient, depending on the complexity. While simple extractions can take only a few minutes, more complex situations will require a longer time period.

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Preparing For Your Wisdom Tooth Removal

A wisdom tooth removal is almost always performed as an outpatient procedure, so you will be able to go home the same day. In addition, your family dentist will give you instructions on how to prepare for your procedure.

Checklist on How to Prepare For a Wisdom Tooth Removal

• You will be required to fast on the night before your surgery. This means not eating/drinking anything at least 8-12 hours before your treatment.

• Arrange for transportation to-and-from your surgery as the side effects of the anesthesia mean that you won’t be able to drive yourself home.

• If you are taking any medications, make sure to discuss with your family dentist about whether or not you can take them before the surgery.

A PATIENTS GUIDE TO WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTION

Recovering From Your Wisdom Tooth Extraction

After your wisdom teeth have been removed, it is normal to experience some pain, swelling and bleeding. The typical recovery time is 3-4 days, although healing can take up to one week. This is dependant on:

• How badly the wisdom teeth were impacted
• The angle at which they were growing

4 Tips on Speeding Up Your Recovery

There are several things you can do to make your recovery time shorter, including:

• Avoiding rigorous activity for up to 7 days, as you don’t want to dislodge the blood clot
• Taking prescription painkillers to help with any discomfort
• Using an ice pack on your jaw to minimize any swelling after the procedure
• Rinsing your mouth regularly with warm salt water to keep the extraction site clean and infection free

Sedation Dentistry & Wisdom Teeth Removal

Worried about your wisdom tooth removal procedure? At Marlborough Dental Centre, we offer sedation dentistry services to help induce a relaxed state in our patients so that they feel more relaxed and less anxious during their treatment.

Some of the benefits of this service include:

• Pain-free dental experience
• Allows for a quicker treatment time
• You will still be able to respond and interact with your dentist
• No more fear or anxiety

Sedation dentistry allows you to be comfortable throughout your procedure and ensures that you have a positive and relaxed experience as your teeth are being treated.

Call Today

To find out more about our comprehensive and affordable services including wisdom teeth removals and sedation dentistry, contact our Calgary family dentist today at 403-248-2066 or fill in our online contact form.