Wisdom Teeth Extraction – Procedure and Recovery

Houston wisdom teeth extraction is a medical procedure for eliminating one or more wisdom teeth. If they don’t have room to grow properly which can lead to infection, pain or other dental issues, they need to be removed. Extraction can be carried out by an oral surgeon or a dentist and the process usually lasts for about 45 minutes.  

Getting Prepared

Houston wisdom teeth extraction is an outpatient procedure which means that you will return home on the same day. You will be given special instructions on what you should do and avoid before, during and after the surgery. You may need to make arrangement for someone to drive you back home after the procedure because of the effect of anesthesia.  

During The Procedure

There are three types of anesthesia that may be used by your surgeon for Houston wisdom teeth extraction and an ideal choice depends on the intricacies of the extraction as well as your level of comfort. The three options are local, sedation and general anesthesia.  

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia may be used for your Houston wisdom teeth extraction with one or more injections at areas close to the extraction site. Before the administration of the injection, your gums will be deadened so that you don’t feel any pain during the procedure but you will be awake.  

Sedation Anesthesia

Sedation anesthesia is usually administered with the aid of an intravenous (IV) line in order to repress your awareness during the surgery. You will not feel any pain with little memory of the whole process. Local anesthesia will also be given in order to deaden your gums.  

General Anesthesia

The administration of general anesthesia for your Houston wisdom teeth extraction will lead to total loss of consciousness during the procedure but this is used in special cases. Your breathing, temperature, blood pressure, etc., will be monitored by your surgical team. You will not feel any pain and there won’t be any memory of the entire process in your brain.  

After The Procedure

You will be taken to a recovery room if you receive sedation or general anesthesia. However, your recovery will usually be brief on the dental chair if a local anesthesia is administered on you. It is very important for you to follow your surgeon’s instructions as regards the following.  

Bleeding

On the first day after the extraction, you may experience bleeding at the treatment area. You should stay away from spitting excessively so that the blood clot in the socket is not dislodged. The gauze on the extrication site should be replaced in accordance with the instruction of your doctor.  

Pain Management

There are some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that can be used for pain management like acetaminophen and your dentist may prescribe a medication that will help in managing your pain. A cold pack can also be held against your jaw to assuage pain.  

Swelling and Bruising

You can also use an ice pack to reduce swelling as well as bruising and it should be used in accordance with your surgeon’s direction. Swelling will usually abate after about three days but bruising may take some more days before subsiding.  

Activity

You should try to rest for the remaining part of the day after your surgery. You can resume your normal activity the following day but you should avoid strenuous activities within one week so that you don’t lose blood clot coming out of the socket.  

Beverages

You should take a lot of water after the procedure but you should stay away from alcohol, hot beverages as well as carbonated and caffeinated drinks after 24 hours. You should not use a straw to drink for about a week so that you don’t dislodge the socket blood clot with the suction.  

Food

Soft foods, like applesauce or yogurt, should be taken within the first 24 hours. You can advance to semi-soft foods as soon as you feel that you can tolerate them. It is very essential to avoid foods that are hard, spicy or chewy so that they don’t get stuck in your socket to cause irritation of the wound.  

Cleaning Your Mouth

Within the first 24 hours, you should not brush your teeth. You can rinse your mouth with a mouthwash during this period. And after 24 hours, you can resume your normal brushing. When you start your normal brushing, you should be gentle with the treatment site. And rinsing should be done with warm salt water at two hours interval and after meals for one week.  

Tobacco Use

If you are a smoker, you should stay away from smoking 72 hours or more after your operation. If your choice is chewing tobacco, you should avoid doing so for one week or more. Because tobacco use can delay recovery and raise complication risk.  

Stitches

Your stitches should be handled in accordance with the instruction of your dentist. Your stitches may dissolve within some weeks and you may not have any stitch. You should fix an appointment with your doctor if your stitches require professional removal.  

When To Call Your Dentist

You should get in touch with your dentist if you discover that you are experiencing difficulty in breathing or swallowing. As this may indicate an infection or any other severe complications. It is also important to call your doctor if you are witnessing fever, excessive bleeding, severe pain that does abate after the use of pain medications, pus in the socket, incessant numbness, pus or blood in nasal discharge, just to mention a few. If you are generally not feeling cool with your mouth, it’s time to see your dentist for a follow-up treatment.  

Results

Usually, you won’t need to go for a follow-up treatment after your Houston wisdom teeth extraction if your stitches do not require removal. Furthermore, if there are no complications after the procedure. And there is no feeling of pain, numbness, bleeding or swelling. You may not need a follow-up treatment. It is very essential for you to discuss many options with your dentist. So that the result will be actualized.