Dental extraction (also referred to as exodontia) is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Extractions are performed for a wide variety of reasons, including tooth decay that has destroyed enough tooth structure to render the tooth non-restorable. Extractions of impacted or problematic wisdom teeth are routinely performed, as are extractions of some permanent teeth to make space for orthodontic treatment.
Dental Extractions
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to remove one or more wisdom teeth — the four permanent adult teeth located at the back corners of your mouth on the top and bottom.
If a wisdom tooth doesn’t have room to grow (impacted wisdom tooth), resulting in pain, infection, or other dental problems, you’ll likely need to have it pulled. Wisdom tooth extraction may be done by a dentist or an oral surgeon.
Is Wisdom Tooth Removal painful?
You shouldn’t feel any pain as your wisdom teeth are removed because the area will be numb. However, if you do feel pain during the procedure, tell your dentist or oral surgeon so they can give you more anaesthetic.
What are the side effects of removing wisdom teeth?
It can take up to 2 weeks to recover from the surgery for having your wisdom tooth or teeth removed. During this time, you may have: a swollen mouth and cheeks – this will be worse for the first few days but will gradually improve; gently pressing a cold cloth to your face helps reduce the swelling.
How long does it take to recover from wisdom tooth removal?
Side effects of wisdom teeth removal include: subcutaneous bruising, restrictions in opening the mouth for a limited time and swelling that may appear after the operation and will disappear after 5-8 days. Swelling is a natural reaction to the removal and does not necessarily indicate infection.
References – Mayo Clinic | NHS UK | SZMC.org
