For decades, wisdom tooth removal has been treated as a right of passage. Often there are stories that come with it, funny responses to anesthesia, chipmunk cheeks, etc. At Bells Corners Family Dentistry, we want to paint a bigger and better picture of the whole process. 

We find that many patients are nervous when it comes to this larger type of extraction. That’s normal, but our goal today is to educate you so that you’re comfortable walking into your extraction. 

First, let’s go over why you may need your wisdom teeth removed. If your dentist recommends wisdom tooth removal, there is a reason for it. Traditionally there are two main reasons why your wisdom teeth are removed. They are either already impacted, or are at potential risk to become problematic if not extracted. Potential issues caused by the presence of problematic grown-in wisdom teeth can include infections (caused by easily trapped food particles in the jaw area behind the wisdom teeth where regular brushing and flossing is difficult). Such infections may become frequent and cause considerable pain and medical danger. 

Now that you have a better understanding of the risks of maintaining problematic wisdom teeth, it is time to walk you through the procedure. Day surgery is typically what is required for wisdom teeth removal and is done under local anesthetic and sedation. Once the procedure is complete, patients are quickly on their way to recovery. 

There are times where the patient may come in with a complaint about one specific wisdom tooth. Depending on the circumstances, and that the other wisdom teeth are not problematic, there may be an option to remove the individual wisdom tooth. In this case, you would simply receive numbing orally through a needle. 

Each individual’s healing journey is unique and while your recovery may vary, we have listed some things you can expect. 

• Lower energy levels: You will want to restrict your activities for a while.
• The extraction site will be sensitive: Avoid touching the wound area.
• Some blood when rinsing: Do not vigorously rinse your mouth.
• Swollen cheeks: To combat this, apply ice to your cheeks outside the surgery site.
• Soaked through gauze on the extraction site: Remove the gauze surgical pad 30 minutes after your surgery.
• Some pain or discomfort is normal: Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort.

We hope this post has assisted in calming your nerves because at the end of the day we want you to know that you’re in the hands of the best dental professionals in the field. At Bells Corners Family Dentistry we want your questions to be answered, your confidence in us means the world. If you have any questions regarding wisdom teeth extractions or any other questions in general, our team is waiting by the phone to assist you. You can book your appointment online or call us at 613-596-6447. Let us help you put a smile on your face.