What is wisdom tooth surgery?
Wisdom tooth surgery is an attempt to remove wisdom teeth that have not yet erupted as painlessly as possible. If a wisdom tooth is fully erupted, it can be extracted like any other tooth.
Wisdom teeth
The healthy, permanent dentition consists of two incisors, one canine, two premolars and up to three molars (grinders) on the top and bottom of each side. The last molar is the wisdom tooth. In tooth development, it is the last to be formed and, if there is insufficient space in the jaw, it may remain fully or partially enclosed (retained).
Whether (partially) erupted or not, wisdom teeth sometimes cause problems. For example, the gums may become inflamed or the wisdom tooth may damage or displace adjacent teeth as it erupts.
When do you do wisdom tooth surgery?
- Inflammations during eruption of the wisdom tooth (difficult tooth eruption = Dentitio difficilis)
- caries or root inflammation of the wisdom tooth
- Endangerment of other teeth and tooth roots due to lack of space
- malpositioning of teeth due to the additional tooth
- Cysts
What do you do during wisdom tooth surgery?
First, the dentist will go over your medical history with you (anamnesis). Tell him if you are known to have a bleeding tendency or if you are taking anticoagulant medication. This will help him or her better assess how likely bleeding is to occur after wisdom tooth surgery.
Preparation for possible wisdom tooth surgery also includes the dentist carefully examining your dentition and taking an x-ray of it. Based on the results, he will then decide whether you should have your wisdom teeth extracted or not.
The anesthesia
- With a general anesthetic, you will not notice the procedure at all. However, this comprehensive anesthesia is significantly more stressful for the organism than a local anesthesia.
- In the case of twilight sleep anesthesia, in addition to the local anesthetic, you will be injected with a drug that relaxes the muscles and dampens anxiety.
- Laughing gas is administered continuously through a nasal mask and has a similar effect to twilight sleep anesthesia.
The procedure
The surgeon first uses a scalpel to remove the mucosa over the impacted wisdom tooth and the surrounding gums. If the wisdom tooth is still firmly anchored in the jawbone, the bone must be slightly removed. Then the dentist loosens the wisdom tooth with the help of special levers and forceps and removes it. If necessary, the wisdom tooth – for example in the case of an unfavorable position – must also be dissected during wisdom tooth surgery and then removed in pieces.
Since the tissue of the lower jaw is much more compact than that of the upper jaw, tooth removal is more complicated here.
After the surgery
If the wisdom tooth surgery was performed under general anesthesia, you will remain in the clinic for several hours afterwards for observation. After local anesthesia, twilight sleep anesthesia or treatment with nitrous oxide, on the other hand, you may go home immediately after the procedure.
To keep pain and swelling to a minimum, you will be given pain medication and should cool the operated area (e.g. with ice cubes wrapped in a cloth on your cheek).
If you have to have all four wisdom teeth extracted, it is recommended to allow enough time between the treatments of the right and left side. This way, while one side is healing, you can use the other side for chewing.
What are the risks of wisdom tooth surgery?
- Infections
- Bleeding
- Injury to nerves, muscles or bones
- jaw fracture in damaged jaws
- Opening of the maxillary sinus
- Damage to other teeth
Wisdom tooth surgery in the upper jaw
Sometimes the roots of the teeth protrude into the maxillary sinus, which is located above the upper jaw. If it is accidentally opened during wisdom tooth surgery, it must be surgically closed again.
Wisdom tooth surgery in the lower jaw
Because the distance between the mandibular nerve (inferior alveolar nerve) and the roots of the teeth can be very small, in rare cases it is irritated during surgery. This can lead to tingling or numbness in the area of the lower lip and chin, but this subsides after some time.
What do I need to keep in mind after wisdom tooth surgery?
What else you need to pay attention to after the procedure, read the text After wisdom tooth surgery.
Eating after wisdom tooth surgery
Special recommendations apply to eating after wisdom tooth surgery. For example, you should not eat yogurt or cheese immediately after the procedure.
You can read why this is so and what else you should consider in terms of nutrition in the text Eating after wisdom tooth surgery.
