Wisdom tooth surgery is an action to remove wisdom teeth that grow in the back corner of the upper and lower mouth. This surgery is usually done when the growth of wisdom teeth has the potential to cause problems, such as infection, cavities, or damage to the teeth and surrounding bone.
They are called wisdom teeth because they are the last teeth to appear. Wisdom teeth usually grow around the age of 17-25 years. As wisdom teeth grow, some people may experience unbearable pain and difficulty chewing food.
Health Problems That Can Appear Due to Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are also known as third molars. If wisdom teeth grow normally and without interference, usually this does not need to be treated with surgery, but rather by maintaining good oral hygiene.
Unfortunately, not everyone experiences normal wisdom teeth growth. Wisdom teeth also sometimes grow only partially, tilt forward or backward, crosswise, or become stuck with other teeth. Wisdom teeth that grow abnormally are called impacted teeth.
When wisdom tooth impaction occurs, you may be advised to undergo wisdom tooth surgery. Even so, not all cases of impacted wisdom teeth require immediate surgery.
Impacted wisdom teeth need to be checked by a dentist first. If the impacted tooth doesn't bother you, usually you only need to have your teeth checked regularly so that the doctor can continue to monitor the condition of the impacted tooth.
However, if the impacted tooth causes pain that does not go away and is judged to be causing health problems, such as tooth decay, gum disease, soft tissue infection of the tooth, bacterial infection around the mouth, abscess, or dental cyst, your doctor may recommend surgery. wisdom teeth.
There are several symptoms that can indicate that wisdom teeth have an infection or other health problems, including swollen gums, bad breath, toothache, and in certain cases, pus discharge from the gums or wisdom teeth that are problematic.
To overcome this condition, the dentist may give antibiotics or antibacterial mouthwash before the wisdom tooth surgery is performed.
Wisdom Tooth Removal Surgery
Wisdom teeth surgery can be performed by a dentist or an oral surgeon. This operation usually takes 20 minutes or more. Before the procedure begins, the patient will be given an anesthetic or local anesthetic around the tooth.
To remove wisdom teeth, the doctor will wiggle the teeth back and forth to expand the gum space. The patient may feel pressure around the wisdom tooth.
In certain cases, before the wisdom teeth are extracted, additional measures will usually be taken in the form of breaking the teeth into smaller ones or gum incisions, so that the wisdom teeth are easier to remove.
Tips for Overcoming Pain After Wisdom Tooth Surgery
After wisdom tooth surgery is complete, there will usually be swelling and pain around the mouth which lasts about 3–14 days. To relieve pain, you can use pain relievers, such as paracetamol or pain medication prescribed by your doctor.
If the cheek looks swollen or bruised, you can use an ice pack or take special treatment according to the doctor's instructions. Don't forget to replace the gauze where the tooth was extracted as recommended by the doctor.
After wisdom tooth surgery, there are also several things that usually need to be done, including:
- Rest at least one day
- Avoid strenuous activities, at least 1 week, so that the blood clot that covers the surgical wound does not come off
- Not brushing your teeth and not using mouthwash for the first 24 hours after wisdom tooth surgery
- Eat only soft textured foods, avoid hot or spicy foods, drink lots of water, don't drink through a straw, and avoid alcoholic, caffeinated, and carbonated drinks for the first 24 hours after wisdom tooth surgery
- No smoking, at least 3 days after wisdom tooth surgery
If you feel the need to remove the stitches after wisdom tooth surgery, consult your doctor again according to the predetermined schedule.
As scary as it sounds, wisdom tooth surgery is usually painless and doesn't take long. If you experience symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth that are disturbing and do not improve, don't hesitate to consult a dentist, OK?