WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN PLANNING A WISDOM TEETH OPERATION
in General, Wisdom Teeth
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO REMOVE WISDOM TEETH?
BEFORE THE ROOTS ARE FULLY OCCURED.
If the roots of the wisdom tooth are fully developed, the removal of the tooth becomes much more difficult. Teeth develop from top to bottom. For this reason, if it is done before the roots develop, the operation becomes much easier and the recovery time is shortened. Visualize. Is it more difficult to pull out a ball or a table buried in the sand? You can easily pull the ball out. But to get the table out, you must first dig out the sand. That is why, the best time to remove wisdom teeth is before root development.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER HOLIDAY.
We recommend that the wisdom tooth operation be performed when you are in good health, low stress, less busy, and there is someone who can take care of you. The beginning of the summer holiday period meets these conditions for most people. Of course, for some people, the winter period may be a more suitable time to spare time.
Remember! It is very important not to postpone the wisdom tooth operation. Otherwise, you may have to deal with a much more difficult surgical procedure or have surgery when you are not available at all.
HOW LONG CAN YOU WAIT BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR TEETH REMOVED?
When wisdom teeth become impacted, it becomes difficult to remove. Therefore, we recommend that you consider your dentist’s professional opinion as to whether it is a good idea to wait.
IS IT NECESSARY TO WAIT BEFORE WISDOM TEETH RECOVERY?
This is a bit complicated. If you wait for a while before your wisdom teeth are removed, your wisdom teeth may come out properly and they may not need to be removed. On the other hand, waiting can cause damage in the mouth and make it difficult to remove the wisdom tooth. Therefore, we recommend that you rely on the professional opinion of your maxillofacial surgeon on whether a wisdom tooth operation is necessary for you.
HOW LONG DOES THE HEALING PERIOD AFTER WISDOM TEETH RECOVERY?
Recovery usually takes 1 week. In some surgeries, recovery time can be shortened to 4 days.
Your recovery time depends on:
Type of anesthesia used: If local anesthesia is used instead of general anesthesia, it will take less time to recover yourself.
Your diet during the recovery period: People who only eat junk food and ice cream recover more slowly.
Your success in avoiding tooth extraction areas that do not heal: Since many people do not follow the necessary steps after the surgery (such as not smoking, not using straws, keeping the head up, not brushing the teeth for a short time after the surgery), they extend the healing process for a few weeks.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS AFTER OPERATION?
Thinning of the face: When wisdom teeth that support the cheeks and muscles are removed, the face becomes thinner. In addition, rearrangement of the muscles can create changes in facial expression. These changes are suddenly noticed.
Cold sensitivity in the second molars: This sensitivity to cold drinks and foods such as ice cream on the root surfaces of the second molars, which are adjacent to the extracted wisdom, disappears over time with the structural reshaping of the tooth root surface. However, this process can take several months. Throughout the process, we recommend using a fluoride toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth.
You may feel small folds in your gum line: This is because the bones are restructured and straightened as part of the healing process. This situation can last for up to 1 year.
Do not worry if you feel a small sharp thing starting to come out 5-10 years after the operation: These are bone fragments that are spilled. Your body may try to expel small bone fragments from the surgery that took place years ago over time. If you feel anything like this, see your dentist to have the piece removed.
Occasional mild bone pain: Although the cause is not known for sure, these pains are thought to be caused by the restructuring of the bones.
Jaw Joint (Temporomandibular Joint) Disorder: You may feel pain when opening your mouth. There may be noise in your chin or it may be difficult to keep your mouth open. This is usually caused by the mouth opening for a long time or too wide during the operation. Put ice on your chin and rest your chin.
WHO SHOULD PERFORM A WISDOM TEETH OPERATION?
We recommend that the operation be carried out by experts. As the experts have significant experience on the subject, they are also prepared for unexpected situations. On the other hand, there are dentists who regularly perform wisdom tooth extraction and are very successful in this regard. The most important criterion is that the person who will perform the operation is constantly performing such surgical operations. The rate of problems in wisdom tooth operations that are not performed by the experts of the subject is quite high.
Make sure your dentist uses special rotating instruments designed specifically for maxillofacial surgery. Rotary instruments used in dental fillings and similar processes and whose sound reminds of jet engine cause air embolism, which is a serious problem, when used in wisdom tooth operations. Ask your dentist if the tool he will use is a tool specifically designed for maxillofacial surgery.
PREPARING FOR A WISDOM TEETH OPERATION
After the wisdom tooth operation, the patient returns home. Ask your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon the questions listed below before the operation:
Is it necessary for someone to drive me home?: This depends on the type of anesthesia used. Having someone to drive you home after the operation is recommended in most cases.
How many hours before the operation should I stop eating?: If local anesthesia is going to be applied, you should have a light meal a few hours before the surgery to prevent your blood sugar from falling. With other types of anesthesia, it is best not to go into the operation with a full stomach.
Can I take my prescription medications before the operation?
Are there any medications that I should avoid before the operation?
TYPES OF ANESTHESIA
Below, you can find the types of anesthesia that can be applied in wisdom tooth surgery, in order from mild to heavy:
Local Anesthesia: You will be awake during the operation. When under the influence of local anesthesia, you will feel no pain, just a slight pressure. Anesthesia is applied by injecting the areas near the wisdom teeth to be removed. The fastest recovery is seen with local anesthesia.
Sedation: Your consciousness is suppressed. You will not feel any pain during the operation and you will either remember nothing or very little about the surgery. In sedation, local anesthesia is also used to numb the areas around the wisdom teeth to be removed. Anesthesia required for sedation is given intravenously.
General Anesthesia: Your consciousness will be completely unconscious. You will not feel any pain, you will not remember anything about the operation. Local anesthesia is also applied to the areas where the teeth will be removed. General anesthesia is usually applied only in difficult operations and in cases where all wisdom teeth must be extracted at the same time.
INTRAVENOUS SEDATION
Talk to your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon about this. The advantages and disadvantages listed below are usually taken into considiration in the decision-making phase:
Advantages:
You don’t remember anything.
Unconsciousness can enable your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon to perform the operation more comfortably. This is particularly advantageous in difficult operations.
Disadvantages:
It takes a lot longer to recover. Intravenous sedation can cause malaise even after 10 hours.
If there is no one to take you after the operation, you cannot choose intravenous sedation.
The cost of intravenous sedation is also higher.
Intravenous sedation is a matter that requires expertise and experience. If you choose this option, be sure that an experienced general anesthesiologist will perform the sedation procedure.
Do not worry. Even if you do not prefer intravenous sedation, it is possible to perform the operation painlessly.
