There is a very thin line between pulling out a wisdom tooth and leaving it as it is. What is a Wisdom Tooth?
Oral surgery is needed if a person suffers from an impaction - the root cause of taking out the tooth. In some instances, the impaction pushes the row of teeth sideways and that is not good. It misaligns not only the wisdom tooth but the whole set of teeth as well. Go to your dental oral surgeon immediately. It's not only because of the throbbing pain which affects your whole body but an impacted tooth can cause severe damage to your mouth region if not attended to right away.
One of the complications of an impacted wisdom tooth is nerve damage or Paresthesia. This is numbness of the chin, mouth and tongue. Just remember that it is always in your best interest if your dentist tells you what is needed when it comes to your wisdom tooth and everything about your oral health.
A few years ago, I had an abscessed tooth extracted, and I wrote about my experience then. Recently, I had to have another tooth extracted, and I'm writing about it once more, since it was a completely different experience this time around. When I was 18, I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed with no adverse reaction to anesthesia, so I was confident I wouldn't this time, either.
I was provided with after-surgery care instructions upon arrival at the office so that I'd have literature to read over and follow after the surgery.
I walked back to the dental surgeon's exam room, met the anesthetist and sat in the chair. Then I remember waking up after the surgery.
I felt little to no pain even after the anesthesia wore off. I was prescribed a generic Vicodin for pain, though I didn't use any of it (I didn't after my first tooth extraction, either). The main concerns after having a tooth extracted (with either type of anesthesia) are proper healing and dry sockets. To help heal, keep the area clean by using warm salt-water rinses 2-3 times per day for five days. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot on the site is lost. I do urge everyone to get regular dental checkups, and don't put off seeing a dentist if you experience any tooth pain, even if it goes away. With an abscessed tooth, the pain generally goes away and comes back much later, even though the infection is present the entire time. With regular checkups and dental care, you should be able to retain all of your teeth in good condition.
It is most likely that the recovery of a tooth extraction will only take a couple of days, but there are some instructions that will lower the risk for post-operative issues (like the so-called Dry Socket) and may help on the road to recovery.
Always follow the instructions of your dentist to avoid slight or even serious problems, so: Be a good patient and pay attention to your dentist.
Bite down hard on the moist cotton gauze the dentist placed over the extraction wound for 30-45 minutes to support a solid blood clot to form. If it keeps bleeding contact the dentist.
Don't rub the wound with the tongue or suck on the tooth socket, this may release the clot of blood.
Try to relax after the extraction. Lie down, but put a pillow under the head, lying flat may extend the bleeding.
Nicotine can break down the blood clot and cause a wound healing disorder like the painful "Dry Socket", while consuming alcohol will dilute your blood and hence might increase the chance of bleeding. Even if you follow all advices, problems might still occur. Never hesitate to contact your dentist if you encounter too much bleeding or pain.
Jorn is an editor of a Local Dentist Directory [http://www.dentistinsider.com] that lists facts provided by patients about their dentists like reviews, actual procedure costs and contact information.
