What Would Cause Emergency Wisdom Tooth Removal?

What Is a Wisdom Tooth? 

It is a molar that erupts last in an adult’s mouth. Wisdom teeth feature four molars growing at the mouth’s furthest corners. They start erupting between ages 16 and 25 years.

Many adults experience problems with wisdom teeth because of the circumstances surrounding their growth. When wisdom teeth erupt, you have the rest of your natural teeth intact. Often, patients have little to no space in their jawbones for extra teeth. Therefore, when wisdom teeth erupt, they can cause complications.

Understanding Wisdom Tooth Extraction 

Dentists at Bellaire extract wisdom teeth when they are problematic. Some of the factors that necessitate wisdom tooth removal are:

1. Overcrowding in the mouth
2. Wisdom teeth pressing on adjacent teeth
3. Impacted teeth – when the tooth refuses to erupt above the gums or remains partially stuck underneath.
4. Infected wisdom teeth
5. Abscessed teeth
6. Cracked or broken wisdom teeth

Emergency Tooth Removal 

Not all tooth removal procedures require urgent care. Usually, you can take your time to decide to remove your natural tooth, understanding that it is a permanent decision. However, now and then, dentists in Bellaire have to perform emergency treatments to extract problematic teeth. For such cases, immediate dental care is necessary to promote good oral health. Some factors that prompt emergency treatments are:

1. Excruciating pain
2. Prolonged bleeding
3. Swelling that worsens and spreads to other places
4. Broken, damaged, or missing features
5. Increased risk of compromising the rest of your oral health

Causes of Emergency Wisdom Tooth Removal

Generally, any of the factors necessitating the removal of a tooth can be a reason to remove your wisdom tooth. However, for emergency tooth extractions, the following reasons apply:

1. Severe decay – wisdom teeth are prone to cavities and the decay process because of their location and appearance. Ideally, wisdom teeth are situated at the far back corners of the mouth, which might make it difficult to clean them properly. Besides, most wisdom teeth have deep fissures and depressions that might make cleaning harder.
2. Deep fracture – a crack or break can necessitate tooth removal. Stakes are higher if you have an under-the-gum-line fracture.
3. Severe dental pain – various factors can cause your wisdom tooth to ache, including an underlying infection. Sometimes the pain regards an impacted tooth, causing gums to swell and be tender. If you are experiencing significant pain around your wisdom tooth, you should consider tooth extraction near you.
4. Risk of infection – dentists in Bellaire must remove wisdom teeth if they risk infection to the adjacent teeth and surrounding tissues.

What Happens During Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Whether you undergo an emergency tooth extraction or a typical one, removing wisdom teeth entails similar protocols. First, the dentist must numb your mouth with local anesthesia. It ensures you don’t experience any pain or discomfort during your treatment. Further, your dentist employs sedation dentistry, which helps you remain calm, treats dental anxiety, and helps you forget the events of your extraction procedure. Besides, the dentist needs sedation dentistry for better precision when working in tight quarters.

The dentist proceeds with your surgery by cutting open the gums for better access to the tooth. Sometimes, (s)he may break the tooth into small portions for easy extraction.

Aftercare Tips After Emergency Wisdom Tooth Removal 

At Tara Dental Group, we remind our patients that aftercare measures are just as important as the treatment process. If anything, the better care you accord your mouth post-surgery, the higher the likelihood of successful treatment. Some tips for proper oral care after wisdom tooth extraction are:

1. Keep the gauze in place until bleeding stops – you may need to replace the gauze with a clean one to prevent infection on the surgical site.
2. Avoid eating while your mouth is still numb – the numbness may stay for a few more hours before the medication completely removes your system.
3. Eat soft foods only – hard and crunchy foods are too abrasive for your tender mouth.
4. Avoid overly salty or spicy foods – they will irritate your surgical wound.
5. Don’t drink through straws – they invite dry air into your mouth that can cause a dry socket, featuring severe dental pain.
6. Take your prescribed medication to alleviate pain and swelling and decrease the risk of infection.