Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to grow in the back of the mouth. For many people, wisdom teeth arrive with complications that could impact your oral health. Riverbend Dental Health provides gentle and efficient tooth extraction services to help you get back to doing what you love.

Common Reasons for Wisdom Teeth Removal

There are several reasons for wisdom teeth to be removed including impaction, pain and crowding of the other teeth. Impacted teeth don’t have enough room to grow and will lie beneath the gums, which may cause a problems like pain, risk of infection and dental misalignment. Complications also can arise when wisdom teeth partially erupt. The broken gum acts as a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. When wisdom teeth partially erupt, food can get caught in the gums and may cause an infection, swelling, growth of a tumor or cyst and pain. 

Wisdom Teeth Extraction Aftercare

• Take all your medications as prescribed.
• Place an icepack on your face to reduce swelling and pain.
• Get adequate rest during the first 24 hours and minimize activities in the following two days to avoid -putting pressure on the area.
• When lying down, elevate your head with a pillow to reduce bleeding.
• Do not spit forcefully or rinse your mouth for 24 hours after your procedure to avoid dislodging the clot necessary for healing.
• After 24 hours, rinse your mouth with warm salty water. You can brush your teeth gently, but make sure to avoid the extraction area.
• Do not smoke or use tobacco products during the healing process.
• Avoid excessive mouth rinsing, which may interfere with blood clotting and avoid hot drinks and alcohol.
• Eat soft foods that don’t require much biting or chewing.
• When drinking beverages, stay away from straws. The pressure from sucking can dislodge the clots that form in the socket.

Dry Sockets

Dry socket is the most common post-operative complication from tooth extractions. It results when the newly formed blood clot in the extraction site does not form correctly or is prematurely lost. The blood clot lays the foundation for new tissue and bone to develop over a two-month healing process. Women who take oral contraceptives are at a higher risk of developing dry socket after wisdom teeth extraction due to high levels of estrogen. 

Wisdom tooth extraction may seem unpleasant, but having a reliable dental team can help give you a positive and successful experience. If you are looking for reliable and gentle wisdom teeth extractions, Riverbend Dental Health can help.

Our years of experience extracting teeth have helped us hone a reliable skillset for gentle wisdom teeth extractions- leaving you with a positive outcome every time.