 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Wisdom teeth removalPublished by BUPA's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, July 2006 This factsheet is for people who are considering having their wisdom teeth removed. Your care may differ from what is described here because it is adapted to meet your individual needs.
About wisdom teethWisdom teeth usually emerge from the gum between the ages of 17 and 24. They are the last of the molar teeth, which are the large grinding teeth at the back of the mouth. Some people never develop wisdom teeth and others have up to four - one in each corner of the mouth. Wisdom teeth usually cause no problems. They are described as impacted when there is not enough space for them at the back of the mouth. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, swelling, infection or damage to the teeth next to them. If the gum around the wisdom tooth is swollen the jaw may become stiff and sore. Infection at the back of the mouth can cause bad breath and a bad taste. The surgical removal (extraction) of one or more wisdom teeth can relieve these problems. However, removing the wisdom teeth does not usually improve crookedness or crowding of other teeth. If you have problems such as infection, cysts, tooth decay or gum disease around a wisdom tooth you may think about having it removed. If you have impacted wisdom teeth that are not causing problems, you don't need to have them removed.
What are the alternatives?Having wisdom teeth removed is often the only way to permanently relieve painful symptoms. Although antibiotics can provide temporary relief, pain tends to flare up again in the future. In some cases, where a wisdom tooth is causing pain because it is pressing into the surrounding gum, removal may not be necessary - an operation to cut back the gum may be all that is needed. However, this alternative is not suitable for everyone. The operationYou may have your wisdom teeth removed under local anaesthesia by a dentist or oral surgeon. This means you are awake, but the area around the wisdom tooth is completely numb. Sedative drugs can be given with a local anaesthetic to help you relax during the procedure. Sometimes wisdom teeth are removed under general anaesthesia. This means you are asleep during the procedure. This has to be done in hospital, usually as a day case. Typically, you will be asked not to eat or drink for about six hours before general anaesthesia. However, some anaesthetists allow a few sips of water until two hours beforehand. The operation will not start until the anaesthetic has taken effect. It is often necessary to make a small cut in the gum over the wisdom tooth, and to remove some bone so that the tooth can be lifted out. Stitches are usually put in to help the gum heal. What to expect afterwardsIt will be necessary to rest for a while after general anaesthesia or sedation. The jaw may feel stiff and sore, but painkillers will help to relieve discomfort. Most people can go home as soon as they have recovered from the anaesthetic. However, if you have general anaesthetic or sedation, you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours. General anaesthesia can temporarily affect your co-ordination and reasoning skills, so you should not drive, drink alcohol, operate machinery or sign legal documents for 48 hours afterwards. You may be given painkillers, antibiotics and mouthwash solutions to take home. After you return homeOnce home, the painkillers should be taken as advised by your surgeon. Any pain, swelling or stiffness is usually at its worst 2 or 3 days after the operation and then gradually improves. Do not vigorously rinse your mouth out during the first 24 hours because this disturbs the blood clots that are part of the healing process. After meals, rinse gently with warm salt water (one teaspoon of table salt to a glass of water). You should keep your toothbrush away from the area for the first couple of days, but brush the rest of your teeth as you normally would. At first, it may be possible to feel small fragments of bone with your tongue. These are the edges of the tooth socket and will soon disappear as the gum heals. Depending on the type of stitches used, they may need to be removed (arrangements will be made for this to be done). If dissolvable stitches have been used, they will disappear 7 to 10 days after the operation. Eating and drinkingTo begin with, you should eat soft foods, gradually returning to a normal diet once your jaw feels less stiff. Don't drink alcohol or hot fluids such as tea or coffee, and don't eat spicy food or smoke until the gum has fully healed. These can make the wound bleed and will delay healing. BleedingIf your gum bleeds, fold a clean handkerchief or piece of gauze, place it on the bleeding gum and bite on it for at least 20 minutes. Don't rinse your mouth out or lie down until the bleeding has stopped. Most people experience no problems after having their wisdom teeth removed. However, contact your dentist or your GP immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:
What are the risks?The extraction of wisdom teeth is a commonly performed and generally safe procedure. For most people, the benefits - treatment of pain, decay and infection - are greater than any disadvantages. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications. Side-effectsThese are the unwanted but mostly temporary effects of a successful procedure. Examples of side-effects include feeling sick as a result of a general anaesthetic and occasional bleeding from the gums, which can last 12 hours or more. You may have some facial swelling, pain and jaw stiffness for up to two weeks. ComplicationsComplications are when problems occur during or after the operation. Most people are not affected. The main possible complications of any surgery include excessive bleeding during or soon after the operation, infection, and an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic. Complications may require further treatment such as having another operation to stop bleeding, or antibiotics to treat an infection. Specific complications of having wisdom teeth extracted are uncommon but may include accidental damage to other teeth. It's possible to develop a condition called dry socket. This is when the blood clot breaks away from the wound exposing the bone and nerves to air, food and fluids. This can cause pain and delay healing. This usually occurs two days after surgery and can last about 5 to 7 days. Occasionally nerves in the jaw can be damaged, either by the surgery or by swelling afterwards. This can cause temporary numbness or "pins and needles" in the lower lip or tongue after having lower wisdom teeth removed. There's a small chance this altered sensation could be permanent. The risk of complications depends on the exact position of the wisdom teeth, the type of anaesthetic used and other factors such as your general health. This is one of the reasons why we have not included statistics here. Ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to you. Further information
Sources
Related topicsThis information was published by BUPA's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by BUPA doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. Publication date: July 2006. Expected review date: July 2008.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![Print-friendly version [opens in a new window]](/images/icons/icn_printer.gif){kind=icon}
|
|
|
||||
 |
 |
|||||
| ||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|