do they break your jaw to remove wisdom teeth

Do they break your jaw to remove impacted wisdom teeth? How to extract an impacted wisdom tooth? What is an impacted wisdom tooth? Is it recommended to extract an impacted wisdom tooth?  How is the surgery performed? And finally, what are the possible complications after the extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth?

I. What Is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?   

Wisdom teeth can be recognized by their position. They are the third molars and they are the last teeth to come out of a mouth.

An impacted wisdom tooth is a wisdom tooth that is not growing in the right direction.

An impacted wisdom tooth does not come out of the jaw, and the bone and gum continue to cover it.

II. Why Is It Recommended to Remove an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?  

Impacted wisdom teeth carry health risks. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it can cause a cyst to form, for example. This tooth can move into the jaw and damage the formation of neighboring teeth.

Even after the roots of this tooth have formed, this type of tooth can move. For all these reasons, it is necessary to extract an impacted wisdom tooth.

III. Symptoms of a Growing Impacted Wisdom Tooth

Some signs may let you know that you have an impacted wisdom tooth emerging.

First, you may experience severe pain in the tooth and jaw for periods.

The eruption of a wisdom tooth can also cause headaches and a sore throat. Inflammation, as well as swollen or red gums, are other signs of an impacted wisdom tooth.

IV. Do They Break Your Jaw to Remove Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

The answer to this question is obviously no. Many people indeed think that you have to really break your jaw to extract a wisdom tooth that is impacted or cannot come out normally.

But in reality, it is usually a simple dental surgery. Let’s take a look at how it all works:

1. Examinations Before Extracting the Impacted Wisdom Tooth

If you notice a lump in your gum, pain in your jaw, and swelling in your jaw, you may have an impacted wisdom tooth.

The test to verify this diagnosis is a panoramic x-ray. With this exam, the dentist can see the location of your tooth below the gum line.

2. Surgical Procedure

The wisdom tooth extraction is performed under local anesthesia. The dentist lifts the gum in the area where the wisdom tooth is growing and frees it.

After the tooth is removed, a suture is made on the gum with absorbable sutures.

In one session, several wisdom teeth can be removed. However, it is also possible to remove them in two sessions, each spaced 3 weeks apart.

3. How Long Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Take

Although the expected time for the removal of a wisdom tooth is close to an hour, usually the removal itself takes less than 30 minutes.

In about 30 minutes, 4 wisdom teeth can be extracted. The scheduled time includes the anesthesia and the time for the procedure.

4. What Can Be Done About the Pain After the Extraction?

There are ways to ease the pain after wisdom teeth removal. You can put an ice pack on your cheek in the area of your painful jaw. Do this, every hour for 15 minutes for 12 hours.

Normally, your dentist will prescribe post-operative pain medication. These can be painkillers such as Tylenol, or anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen.

V. Possible Complications After the Extraction

1. Wound Infection

One of the likely complications following a wisdom tooth extraction is infection. Infection can occur at the sutures despite antibiotics.

Infection can occur several days after the extraction or even weeks later. One of the signs of infection in this type of case is that the swelling and pain last longer than expected.

2. Continuous Bleeding

Bleeding is common after a wisdom tooth extraction. The tooth extraction leaves a hollow cavity in the jaw, which fills with blood. Later on, this blood will turn into a clot. This may take 2 to 3 days, but the bleeding may not stop.

3. Alveolitis

A dry socket is the most common complication of tooth extraction. When a wisdom tooth is extracted, the healing process involves the cavity filling with blood.

This blood then forms a clot. When this clot is lost, it is called alveolitis.

The jawbone is exposed and the entire area becomes tender.

4. Swelling of the Cheek

A swollen cheek is perfectly normal after tooth extraction. The area is tender and painful. The swelling usually does not last more than a week.

Applying cold or ice to your cheek will help it to swell more quickly. If the cheek remains swollen for more than a week, it may be an infection.

5. Loss of Sensitivity

Anesthesia can cause a temporary loss of sensitivity. However, it is possible to lose sensitivity because one or more nerves were affected during the tooth extraction. This is called paresthesia.

This is not a complication to be taken lightly. Do not hesitate to consult your dentist if you are affected.

6. Acute Pain

Pain is common and normal following a tooth extraction. You are likely to experience some twinges in your jaw, and these twinges may continue for several days.

Once the anesthesia of the operation has worn off, the pain will remain. Follow your dentist’s prescription.

7. Inflammation of the Nerve of the Tooth

The extraction process itself carries a risk. A nerve may be irritated during the operation. Inflammation of the nerve is possible during the extraction of your wisdom tooth.

This can lead to severe dental pain.

8. Joint Difficulties

After tooth extraction, you may have joint problems. For example, you may have difficulty opening your mouth.

This may be due to the amount of swelling, somehow blocking the mouth opening.

It is also possible that the temporomandibular joint has undergone some stress, causing this joint concern.

VI. Other Questions Regarding the Removal of the Impacted Wisdom Tooth

1. At what Age Can Wisdom Teeth Be Extracted?

To minimize the after-effects of dental surgery, it is best to perform the extraction between the ages of 18 and 20.

It is after the age of 30 that the extraction of wisdom teeth can become tricky.

2. Is there a Risk of Leaving Wisdom Teeth?

The removal of wisdom teeth is not automatic. But the risks are infections and oral diseases.

The position of the wisdom teeth makes dental hygiene more delicate. This increases the risk of having a rotten wisdom tooth and a cavity.

3. How Do I Know if I Need to Have My Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

The decision to extract wisdom teeth is made after a dental diagnosis. It is necessary to evaluate if the tooth can grow without problems, or if it can lead to infections.

It is important to act before you have a rotten wisdom tooth, which can cause dental infection.

4. How Much Does a Wisdom Tooth Extraction Cost?

The cost of a wisdom tooth extraction is approximately $500. This price is approximate, as there are several other factors involved.

One of the factors to consider is the condition of the wisdom tooth. The location of the operation can also affect the price.

The cost of extracting an impacted and complicated wisdom tooth can be up to $1000.

5. Can I Smoke After an Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

It is not recommended to smoke after tooth extraction. Three to four days without smoking is the minimum for healing.

Cigarettes and smoke are the primary causes of dry sockets. Smoking prevents healing.

6. What Foods Should I Eat After an Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Eat foods such as fresh fruit compotes. Yogurt or long boiled soups are another food choice after a wisdom tooth extraction.

7. How Can I Avoid Swelling After an Extraction?

It is normal to have some swelling after tooth extraction. You can apply something cold to your cheek for about 10 minutes every hour for 12 hours.

8. How long does it take to heal after a wisdom tooth extraction?

Healing time may vary from person to person. However, the minimum recovery time is 3 days.

After this time, you can resume your physical activities smoothly.

9. Does It Hurt to Have a Wisdom Tooth Pulled?

Having a wisdom tooth pulled is not painful as such. This is because the extraction is done under anesthesia.

It is after the extraction that the pain occurs.

10. What to Do After an Extraction?

After an extraction, you should follow the dentist’s instructions. Avoid spitting once the cotton is removed from your mouth.

Do not engage in sports activities to avoid blood flowing into your gums.

Useful Links:

Still little evidence for removal of symptom-free wisdom teeth

Surgical removal versus retention for the management of asymptomatic disease‐free impacted wisdom teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth, prevalence, pattern of impaction, complications and indication for extraction: A pilot clinic study in Iraqi population

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Permanent Tooth Growing Behind a Baby Tooth, what to Do?

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