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If you’re experiencing a toothache in the back of your mouth, jaw stiffness, inflamed gums, and headaches, your wisdom teeth may be the culprit. With wisdom teeth extractions in Flower Mound, TX, from Dr. Brett Titensor at Titensor Dental, you can remove your painful teeth, get relief, and prevent further complications, too.
However, we know that wisdom teeth removal can be intimidating. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the procedure. We’ll go over the basics of why wisdom teeth sometimes need to be pulled, explain the process, outline the recovery timeline, and much more. Read on to learn everything you need to know about wisdom tooth extractions.
Why Would I Need A Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Wisdom teeth extractions may be necessary if your wisdom teeth are not growing into your mouth properly. Wisdom teeth are a natural part of the mouth. But many people don’t have enough space to handle this set of “third molars,” which can lead to serious complications.
For example, your wisdom teeth may fail to erupt completely, leaving a flap of gum tissue that may be prone to infection. Or, they may even start to grow into your mouth sideways, which can cause serious pain and damage to your healthy teeth.
However, it’s important to note that wisdom teeth removal is not always necessary. If your wisdom teeth are healthy and aren’t causing you any problems, there’s no need to pull them. Plenty of people keep their wisdom teeth for their whole lives with no issues.
Understanding The Extraction Procedure
Preparation and sedation
First, Dr. Brett Titensor will clean and numb the treatment area. We also offer a wide variety of dental sedation options at our office, including laughing gas (nitrous oxide), pill-based oral sedation, and deep IV sedation. We understand that tooth extractions can be intimidating, so we always do our best to keep you feeling safe and comfortable throughout your entire visit to Titensor Dental. That being said, Dr. Titensor usually recommends IV sedation with him and his anesthesiologist as the best experience and preferred method!
Simple extractions for erupted teeth
If your wisdom tooth has fully emerged from your gums, Dr. Brett will perform a “simple” extraction. He will use a tool called a dental elevator to loosen your tooth. Then, when it has come loose from the socket, he will pull it out with a pair of forceps. He’ll clean up the area and stitch it to prevent infection, then repeat this process if other wisdom teeth need to be extracted.
Surgical extractions for impacted teeth
This type of wisdom tooth surgery is only necessary if your wisdom teeth have not fully erupted from your gums and are “impacted.” In a surgical extraction, Dr. Brett will make a small opening in your gums near the tooth that needs to be removed.
Then, through this opening, he will use dental tools to cut the tooth into small pieces. Dr. Brett will extract each piece from your mouth and then suture up the area once the entire tooth has been removed.
Finishing up
Once you’re all finished, Dr. Brett will place gauze packs on the extraction sites to absorb blood. Then, he will send you home with a set of recovery instructions to follow as you heal. You’ll need to make sure you follow them closely to reduce pain and eliminate your risk of complications as you recover. It’s best to take things easy for the rest of the day as you begin the recovery process.
The Wisdom Tooth Extraction Recovery Timeline
Wisdom tooth extraction recovery is pretty straightforward. As long as you follow Dr. Brett’s post-surgery care instructions closely, you can expect a relatively smooth recovery. Wondering what to expect? Here’s a quick overview of the recovery timeline.
The first 24 hours – Managing bleeding and discomfort
Once your numbing wears off, you may start to feel some pain. You can take any medicine prescribed by Dr. Brett to help with discomfort, or use over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol). Icing the outside of your mouth near the affected area can also help.
You will be sent home with a gauze pack over the extraction site. If this becomes soaked with blood, replace it with another one. Heavy bleeding should stop within a few hours of your extraction.
You can start eating right away after treatment, but you need to stick to very soft foods like applesauce, ice cream, and smoothies. You should not eat anything that requires chewing. It’s also important to stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water or sports drinks with electrolytes as you heal.
As far as oral hygiene goes, you should continue brushing normally, but avoid the extraction site for at least three days. Just clean your other teeth and your gums. Don’t spit forcefully after brushing, either, since this can damage your blood clot.
Days 2-3 – Initial recovery period
By now, your extraction site should not be bleeding much, if at all. Usually, the most intense pain will start to subside after day 3. Knowing everyone is different, Dr. Titensor finds the patients with the quickest recoveries are those who kept Advil and ice going around the clock to avoid swelling. You will be in less pain, but swelling and bruising are common. You can continue to take medication and ice the treatment area to help with discomfort.
You should continue eating liquid foods for the first few days after your treatment. After about day three, you can introduce firmer foods like soft macaroni, mashed potatoes, and soft scrambled eggs into your diet.
After three days, you can also start gently brushing around the extraction site while you brush your other teeth.
Week 1-2 – Continued healing and recovery
After about a week, you should feel much better. There should be no bleeding at all, and you should also notice much less swelling, bruising, and discomfort. You can get back to your normal routine, and this includes exercise.
During this time, you can also introduce most foods back into your diet, such as tender chicken and fish, cooked vegetables, soft bread and rolls, and so on. It’s still best to avoid really hard, crunchy, tough, or spicy foods, though.
Oral hygiene should go back to normal, too. You should be able to brush your teeth and the extraction site normally, and without any pain or discomfort.
Week 2 and beyond – Life gets back to normal
After two weeks, the extraction site will be almost completely healed. It will take a little bit longer to heal completely, but this is mostly below the surface. You should be able to get back to your normal diet, oral hygiene routine, and activities without any changes.
Depending on your situation, you may need to come in for a visit with Dr. Brett within 2-3 weeks after your surgery. Make sure to come in as scheduled so that he can check on your healing and recovery. However, the team at Titensor Dental is just a phone call or visit away if you need to be seen sooner.
Tooth Extraction Complications
Complications from wisdom tooth removal are pretty rare, especially if you follow Dr. Brett’s recovery instructions closely. Still, it’s important to understand what could happen after your treatment, and to know when you should schedule a follow-up visit at Titensor Dental.
Dry socket
As soon as your tooth is extracted, a blood clot starts to form in the empty socket. You can think of it as a “scaffold” that bone and gum tissue start to grow around as you heal. But if this blood clot is dislodged by brushing, eating, spitting, or using a straw, this disrupts the healing process.
Symptoms of dry socket include serious pain a few days after tooth loss and an extraction site that looks “empty.” You may even be able to see bone below the extraction site.
Dr. Titensor goes to great lengths to prevent this. He cleans the site thoroughly and sutures the gums tightly closed, therefore almost eliminating the chance for a dry socket.
Infection
Dry socket leads to a much higher risk of infection, but bacteria can also enter the site in other ways. If this happens, you’ll notice serious pain and discomfort, as well as visible gum swelling and discoloration near the extraction site. In severe cases, pus may even begin to form in the socket, and you may notice a foul taste in your mouth. If Dr. Titensor or you suspect this, he will normally prescribe a round of antibiotics and possibly a steroid to help your body heal.
Nerve injury
This is rare thanks to modern X-ray and imaging technology. But in some cases, extracting a tooth can damage the underlying nerve, leading to pain and eventual loss of sensation in the affected area. At Titensor Dental, we have the latest technology in a Cone Beam CT Scan that allows Dr. Titensor to see exactly where the nerve is in relation to the tooth, to give everyone peace of mind that the procedure will be able to be performed safely.
Caring For Your Mouth After Surgery – Our Top Tips
Dr. Brett will provide you with a full set of instructions to follow as you recover from wisdom tooth extraction in Flower Mound, TX. Want a sneak peek? Here are a few tips on general care and oral hygiene after wisdom teeth extraction.
- Use a manual toothbrush – Electric toothbrushes are great, but during the initial healing period, it’s best to switch to a manual toothbrush to avoid vibrations that may cause pain and discomfort.
- Don’t use a straw or spit forcefully for 2-3 days. Spitting or using a straw puts a lot of pressure on your extraction site and could dislodge the still-forming blood clot. This can lead to dry socket, as mentioned in the previous section of this guide.
- Be gentle around your extraction site – You want to avoid brushing your extraction site directly for at least 3 days. You also should not poke at it with your tongue or fingers, and should avoid chewing on that side of your mouth, if possible.
- Avoid smoking, vaping, or smokeless tobacco/nicotine – Smoking and vaping can dislodge the blood clot, similar to spitting or using a straw. Nicotine and tobacco also impair the natural healing process. We recommend ceasing use for at least 1-2 weeks. Ideally, you should quit permanently for both your overall and oral health.
Answering FAQs About Wisdom Tooth Extraction
- How long does wisdom tooth recovery usually take? Complete recovery from wisdom teeth removal usually takes two or more weeks. However, you can usually get back to your normal routine within a day or two.
- What are the signs of complications after wisdom tooth removal? If your extraction site is still bleeding after 2-3 days, you have severe pain that’s getting worse, or you notice swelling and inflammation near the extraction site, you may be experiencing a complication like dry socket or an infection.
- When can I resume normal eating after wisdom teeth surgery? You can start eating soft foods right away, and you’ll add tougher and harder foods back into your diet gradually. However, we recommend holding off on super crunchy and hard foods until at least 2-3 weeks after extraction.
- Is wisdom tooth extraction painful? No. The surgery itself is painless, and we offer multiple sedation options to help you feel more comfortable. You may experience some discomfort as you heal, but Dr. Brett Titensor will provide the care instructions you need to minimize any pain during the recovery period.
- How should I clean my mouth after surgery? Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush very gently, and avoid brushing the extraction site directly for at least 3 days after surgery. This gives the blood clot plenty of time to form and stabilize, which is important for proper healing.
Got Wisdom Tooth Pain? Contact Titensor Dental Today!
If you’re experiencing oral pain and discomfort and think that you may need wisdom teeth extractions in Flower Mound, TX, Dr. Brett Titensor is here to help. We offer expert care in a comfortable, patient-focused environment.
So don’t wait. Give us a call at (972) 332-0878 to book your first visit today, or contact us online to schedule your first visit with the Titensor Dental team. We’re always accepting new patients. And if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, we’ll do our best to fit you in for an appointment ASAP.