How Do Oral Surgeons Remove Wisdom Teeth?

I know you are not a stranger to watching some funny wisdom teeth extraction videos of other people on YouTube. They are extremely funny because the people who have undergone wisdom teeth extraction are disoriented and they are acting very dazed and tipsy. This is the effect of the anesthesia and other medication that the oral surgeons had sedated them with.

We may laugh at them after their surgery, but what exactly was done to them, and is it really intense to the point where while recovering from the surgery, they would look like the Minecraft character, Steve?

What Does a Patient Do Before the Surgery or the Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

If you think that a patient just walks into a dental clinic without doing any preparation before their dreaded wisdom tooth or teeth extraction? Well, you are wrong.

In this segment of the article, you will find out about what happens before the wisdom teeth extraction or how do patients prepare for their scheduled extraction.

1. When the scheduled wisdom teeth extraction is nearing by the day, it is best to believe that a patient should start enjoying all the food before their wisdom teeth extraction process. Because before the operation begins, the patients are highly advised to not eat or drink anything, 8 hours before their appointment. Because having food or any liquid in the patient’s stomach while they are heavily under anesthesia or painkillers could actually cause life-threatening complications to the patient.

It is also highly advisable to not smoke or be under the influence of alcoholic beverages for

2. The next step for preparation is for patients to brush their teeth because it will reduce any bacteria in the mount that could possibly infect the mouth while in surgery.

3. Next is to bring a companion to assist the patient on their wisdom tooth or teeth removal so that they can have someone drive them home and assist the patient once the surgery is over. The patient would be unable to drive themselves home due to the effect of the anesthesia in the surgery.

4. The patient will be really sensitive after the surgery so it is ideal to have them wear loose-fitting clothing so they will feel comfortable. Plus, loose-fitting clothing enables the blood to flow easily and the oral surgeons will check the vital signs of the patient through checking their blood pressure.

5. A patient must be responsible regarding any financial agreements to avoid getting scammed. They will be extremely groggy and they would not remember most things after their surgery.

The Process of the Wisdom Teeth Extraction

In this segment, you will find out the process of wisdom teeth extraction and it is quite graphic so read at your own discretion.

1. The oral surgeon will sedate the patient or also known as giving anesthesia to the patient in order to make their mouth numb and not feel any pain during the surgery and to put the patient to sleep because oral surgeons will find it easier to have the patient unconscious while they are performing the surgery on them.

2. The first step in a wisdom tooth or teeth surgery is for an oral surgeon to make an incision by the gum of where the wisdom tooth or teeth will be extracted from so that the tooth will be loosened and be easier to move.
3. After making the incision, the oral surgeon will further widen it in order to remove the bone that has a firm latch or block on the roots of the tooth.
4. Once the tooth is completely loosened, in order for the oral surgeon to remove it easily, they divide the tooth into sections because removing it by parts or by small sections is actually easier.
5. After the sections of the wisdom tooth are removed, the root of the tooth will be removed as well until the whole tooth is completely extracted.
6. Since there is too much blood and saliva that accumulated in the site of the extracted wisdom tooth, the oral surgeon can proceed with cleaning the site in order to prepare for the stitching since it needs a clean base for it and it also reduces the risk of any infections. Added to this, cleaning the site also ensures that there is no tooth debris that is left in the mouth that could possibly cause more complications like minor scratches in the gums.
7. Once the whole wisdom teeth extraction procedure is over, the surgeons will place gauze rolls over the site of extraction to control excessive bleeding and it can help in forming the blood clot. The patient will have to continuously change their gauze after their surgery because the bleeding does not stop immediately.

What Should a Patient Expect In the Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

Pain and Swelling:

Well, it is of basic knowledge that wisdom teeth extraction is extremely painful which is why oral surgeons sedate the patient, first. But how about after the wisdom teeth extraction? Well, the patient should expect the pain after surgery to arise in 6 hours.

Normally, most people recover from the pain for about 3 up to 4 days. But if a patient had more teeth extracted from their gums, it might typically go from 7 up to 10 days. Along the healing process, the patient will experience swelling all over their jaw area which gives them the appearance of a square face or a more plump face.

Activity, Food, and Drinks:

After the surgery, the patient must not do any extensive activities as they are still weak and fatigued from the surgery and the pain after the surgery could easily wear them out.

As for foods, for the first 24 hours after the surgery, patients are not allowed to eat anything that is hard to chew so they can only eat soft foods such as porridge because it is easier to swallow while hard and crunchy food can increase the risk of wounding the healing site of extraction.

For drink, the patient is advised to not drink any caffeinated drinks or alcoholic beverages as well as carbonated and hot drinks. They are also not allowed to drink from the straw because the suction that takes place when a person drinks from a straw has a huge force and pressure that could remove the forming clot on the site of extraction.

Cleaning the Mouth:

Since the mouth is still sensitive and tender from the surgery, the patient must not brush their teeth but rinse them instead or use mouthwash for the first 24 hours of their surgery.

They can resume brushing just as long as they only use soft and gentle pressure and movements near the site of extraction.

Sources:

Pain After Wisdom Tooth Extraction – How Bad Should It Be?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/wisdom-tooth-extraction/about/pac-20395268