Every year, millions of people throughout the United States have their wisdom teeth removed. This type of surgery is often recommended when the third molar is impacted because there is not enough room for the wisdom teeth to emerge properly. Your dentist will be able to determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted by examining an x-ray of your mouth.
Preparing for Surgery
Prior to surgery, your dentist will explain which wisdom teeth will be removed. In some cases, only one or two wisdom teeth are removed, whereas, in other cases all four molars are extracted. Your dentist would request that you not eat or drink anything prior to your surgery. As most Greenville dentists would. You may have to stop taking certain types of medication. In addition, you may not be able to drive right after your surgery, so plan ahead for someone to drive you to and from your appointment.
Outpatient Surgery
Greenville dentists will start by administering some form of anesthesia. This will ensure that you are in no pain during the surgery and it will help to keep you calm. The surgery is performed by making a small incision in the gums near the molar. This gives the dentist access to remove your wisdom teeth without damaging the surrounding teeth. Once the surgery is completed, you will move on the recovery stage until your dentist feels you are stable enough to go home.
After Surgery Care
After surgery, you can expect your gums to bleed for at least the next 24 hours. Packing gauze where your wisdom teeth were extracted will help reduce the bleeding. Your jaw area may also be swollen and even bruised immediately following surgery. Placing an ice pack on the outside of your jaw in 15-minute intervals will bring the swelling down. In addition, pain medication should be used to help alleviate any pain after surgery.
Wisdom teeth removal in Greenville SC is the best option to treat impacted third molars. It is considered a standard surgery, since reputable dentists like those in Downtown Dental preform many of these surgeries every year. Following all the dentist’s aftercare requirements will ensure a speedy recovery
Sources:
Being Prepared for Oral Surgery, Humana.com
Preparing for Third Molar Removal, CC.NIH.gov
The Prophylactic Extraction of Third Molars: A Public Health Hazard, CC.NIH.gov
