wisdom teeth Archives | Centurion Day Hospital

Wisdom Teeth Removal: Plan For The School Holidays

Wisdom teeth removal is a surgical procedure that is commonly performed on patients in their late teenage years or early twenties. The procedure involves extracting one or more wisdom teeth, the last set of molars to develop in the mouth. If not removed, wisdom teeth can cause various dental problems including crowding and infection. It is often the case that there is not enough space in the mouth for the wisdom teeth which can lead to a fair amount of discomfort and pain if left untreated.

Plan for the School Holidays

Many patients choose to have their wisdom teeth removed during the school holidays to take advantage of this time away from class. The school holidays are an ideal time to schedule wisdom teeth removal surgery for several reasons. Most importantly, students have a break from their academic responsibilities, allowing them to rest and recover from the procedure without missing classes. Scheduling surgery during school holidays ensures that students do not miss any academic or extracurricular activities.

Students can also use their holiday time to schedule follow-up appointments with their dentist or oral surgeon to ensure that they are healing properly. If any complications arise, there should be enough time to correct these issues before the patient has to return to class.

Wisdom teeth removal is often characterised by swelling in the face and mouth, and patients will experience this to varying degrees. Severe swelling can make it difficult for patients to eat and speak. By booking the surgery during the school holidays you ensure that there is enough time for swelling to subside before the patient has to return to school.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure

Wisdom teeth removal surgery is relatively quick and typically takes between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the number of teeth being extracted and the complexity of the procedure. The dentist or oral surgeon will administer local or general anesthesia to ensure that the patient cannot feel any pain throughout the procedure.

The surgeon will then make an incision in the gum tissue to expose the tooth and bone, after which they remove any bone blocking the tooth and separate it from the ligament holding it in place. After the tooth is removed the surgeon will close the incision with dissolvable stitches.

Recovery After Surgery

After the procedure, patients may experience some discomfort, swelling and bleeding for a few days. The surgeon may prescribe pain medication and recommend the use of ice packs to reduce swelling. Patients should avoid smoking, sipping drinks through a straw and spitting for at least 24 hours after the procedure, as this can increase pressure in the mouth and interfere with the healing process.

Patients are advised to stick to a soft food diet for the first few days after surgery. Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential to stave off infections and patients should rinse their mouths with salt water regularly and avoid applying too much pressure when brushing their teeth. Remember to book follow-up appointments with your surgeon to ensure that there are no complications.

Planning ahead is often the key to success! Book your appointment for wisdom teeth removal at Centurion Day Hospital today to ensure that you get a spot during the school holidays. Feel free to browse our website for more information on any of the procedures performed at our facility.

Taking Care Of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt from someone’s jaw and usually present themselves during our teenage years. Also referred to as the third molars, these teeth are quite unique in that they appear such a long time after the other teeth have formed.

It is this unique characteristic that unfortunately leads to so many complications associated with wisdom teeth and the reason that most people will have to have them removed to avoid complications.

Why are Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

If a person’s wisdom teeth are aligned in a way that they do not disturb the other teeth and the gum tissue remains healthy as the teeth erupt, it should not be necessary to have them extracted. In most instances however, this is unfortunately not the case. Oftentimes, the third molar will erupt at an angle and be partially revealed. This opening in the gums can allow bacteria in and cause food particles to become trapped. This leads to an infection in the gums that causes swelling and pain if left untreated. In severe cases, these infections can lead to cysts and tumors which is why preventative care is so important.

If the wisdom teeth erupt sideways and remain compacted beneath the gums it could cause severe pressure on the other teeth, moving them and disrupting a person’s orthodontic alignment. A third molar that is partially impacted and not fully visible can cause the gum tissue overlying the impacted tooth to become inflamed and swollen. This inflammation is called Pericoronitis, which causes a lot of pain and discomfort in the mouth and could also lead to an infection.

When Should Wisdom Teeth be Extracted?

Wisdom teeth will erupt at different ages for different patients. A dentist should be able to identify them between the ages of 12 and 17 and make recommendations according to the position of the third molar before it reaches the gums. If the wisdom teeth are poorly positioned, the dentist will recommend that the patient have them surgically removed. It is important to extract wisdom teeth as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary complications. A younger patients’ teeth are not fully formed and the jawbone is more forgiving to surgical procedures, which decreases the surgical risks and greatly improves recovery. Removing wisdom teeth before they start to emerge will also effectively eliminate the risk of infection and gum inflammation.

The Procedure

The surgical extraction of wisdom teeth is quite a straight-forward procedure that can be completed relatively quickly under local anesthesia. An incision is made in the gums in order to expose the jawbone and reach the impacted tooth. The third molar is then uncovered, sectioned and removed. If necessary, the bone will be filled in with bone grafting material, after which the wound is sealed with sutures. The patient may experience some discomfort and swelling in the days after the procedure and will be unable to eat certain food for a few days.

The dedicated team at Centurion Day Hospital will provide patients with everything they need to make a speedy recovery and will be on hand for any questions that might arise. Our team of surgeons are available to provide world-class care in our state-of-the-art facilities. Visit www.centuriondayhospital.co.za to book an appointment today!