Have you been suffering from painful, impacted, or partially erupted wisdom teeth for months? If so, you might need to see a dental surgeon. If you have been too afraid or worried about the cost of dental surgery, Blue Tooth Dental is here for a friendly conversation where we can talk about the options available to you.

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth or third molars, are the four last teeth to erupt, generally coming in during the late teen years or early twenties. Because the jawbone has fully grown to its adult size during the late teen years, the jaw is often too small to accommodate the new wisdom teeth comfortably. Therefore, the development of wisdom teeth commonly causes pain and discomfort and can lead to more serious issues that require wisdom teeth removal.

How do I know if I need my wisdom teeth removed?

Problems usually start when wisdom teeth partially come through and get stuck to the adjacent tooth due to lack of space. Infection and inflammation can develop in and around the tissue covering the wisdom tooth. You may notice swollen red gums, pain, jaw stiffness, and a general feeling of being unwell. Blue Tooth Dental offers a wisdom tooth consultation.

IV/Twilight Sedation

Many of us can feel nervous and anxious when it comes to surgery.
At Blue Tooth Dental, we are able to offer an effective way to overcome this fear by offering patients conscious sedation during dental surgery. Sedation provides anxiety relief and pain control during surgery, especially during complex and long procedures.

Intravenous Sedation is administered via an injection, like a General Anaesthetic. The drugs used are given intravenously, usually into a vein on the top of the hand or forearm. You will still require a local anaesthetic to exclude pain. During sedation, the patient’s breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, heart rhythms and amount of Oxygen in the blood are monitored carefully and recorded. This adds to the safety of the procedure.

The level of sedation still allows for a limited verbal response or verbal requests. You may have very little or no memory of the procedure whilst under the sedation. We aim for our patients to feel confident, relaxed, and really delighted with the experience and results of the surgery.

What to expect after wisdom teeth removal surgery

Immediately after surgery

Once the surgery is complete and you may find that recovering from twilight sedation will be rather fast. You may feel momentarily sluggish or heavy as the effects of the sedation is wearing off. As your reflexes are generally slower than usual, it is advised that you have a family member or friend that is able to take you home. In some cases, you may need to stay for a short period (roughly up to an hour) while the dentist monitors your vitals to ensure you are back to normal before discharging you.

The dentist will also advise you not to engage in intense physical activity. In particular, those that require precision as you may be feeling some of the symptoms for the rest of the day. These symptoms may include headaches, nausea and drowsiness. You can also expect a lot of swelling in your cheek and jaw. Ice packs are recommended to aid in reducing the swelling.

 We will also provide a detailed list of instructions for your continued recovery. This will include foods and drinks you will be able to consume as well as some things to avoid, such as drinking through a straw. You will also be prescribed medication, usually pain killers, to aid with the recovery.

Long Term Recovery

Depending on the severity of your surgery, you may find that you will fully recover within a few days or up to two weeks. The jawbone itself will take roughly six weeks to recover. However, you will be able to eat and drink comfortably once the initial wound heals.

Warning Signs & When you should contact your dentist or surgeon

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, we strongly suggest seeking professional help by contacting our dentist/surgeon.

• Pain that becomes excessively and severely worse over the course of a few days.
• Swelling that becomes excessively and severely worse over the course of a few days.
• Fever
• Pain is not relieved by medication.
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
• Continued numbness after a number of days.

Dry Socket – What is it and how can you minimise the risk

Dry socket is most prevalent in patients who have undergone wisdom teeth removal however, it is rare in numbers (less than 1-5% of patients). Dry socket occurs when a blood clot has not formed or is dislodged over the hole in the gums, leaving nerve endings exposed. If a dry socket is left ignored, it can lead to an infection and severe pain.

In most cases, dry socket occurs out of our control but may be triggered by alcohol or tobacco. It is best that you avoid these during your recovery period.

Talk to one of our friendly dentists about wisdom teeth removal

We are your dental solution for all areas of the Inner West of Sydney, with a convenient location in Newtown. Call our friendly team today to arrange a consultation if you’re experiencing the pain or discomfort associated with impacted or inflamed wisdom teeth. Alternatively, you can book an appointment online now, and we will contact you as soon as one of our team members is available.