A wisdom tooth extraction is a dental procedure that removes your wisdom teeth. They will be removed differently depending on their location and whether they are impacted.

If your dentist determines that wisdom tooth extraction would be in your best interest, the procedure, which is considered oral surgery, will be scheduled for you. As you will be sedated, someone will need to take you home following the procedure, but the extraction itself can be done at your dentist’s office. The steps of wisdom tooth extraction include:

Anesthesia – Both local and general anesthetics will be given, including nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to relax or even make you sleepy. You will discuss this with your dentist before the procedure.

Extraction – A small incision is made to expose the wisdom teeth if they have not broken the gumline yet. In order to minimize the size of the incision, the tooth may have to be broken up before being removed. In addition to stitching the empty socket closed, a large piece of gauze will be placed over it. As part of the healing process, you will be asked to bite the gauze to create a blood clot.

Recovery – As the anesthesia wears off, you will need to remain in the office for a while, but you won’t be able to drive yourself home. After your procedure, you will need to take care of the blood clot you formed at home. During your recovery, you should avoid hard foods, straws, and anything else that might disturb the blood clots.

You may experience bleeding, pressure, and swelling during the first 48 hours. Full recovery usually takes a week or two. Recovery time depends on the procedure and whether you had surgery to remove your wisdom teeth.

If you are experiencing discomfort due to wisdom teeth, don’t ignore them. Contact Perry Family Dentistry in Mount Vernon, WA, to schedule a free consultation or appointment for wisdom tooth extraction at (360) 424-3133. Our online appointment booking tool is also available for your convenience