When I had a badly decayed tooth extracted, I got a partial denture to fill in the gap. I didn't mind it at first, because I was just so happy to have my painful tooth out of my mouth. Over time, I began to get tired of taking it out at night. I asked my dentist if I was could get a dental implant, and he said that my gum disease did not make me a good candidate, but a fixed bridge may be a good option for me. I went with his suggestion, and I have no regrets. I love feeling like I have a real tooth again that I don't have to remove at night. I created this blog to remind other people with a missing tooth that they have many replacement options, and if one is not for you, then try another that may be right.
If one or more of your wisdom teeth are impacted, your dentist will likely recommend you go under general anesthetic to have them removed, since it will be a surgical process. This is a rather common procedure, and most patients sail right through it with no complications. Still, it's nice to know what to expect. Here's a general overview of what will happen on the day of your procedure.
When you arrive at the dental surgeon's office…
Generally, impacted wisdom teeth are removed by a dental surgeon, rather than a general dentist. When you arrive at his or her office, you'll be asked for basic medical information to ensure you're healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia. Your surgeon or an assistant will likely discuss after-care instructions with you, since you'll be too groggy to understand them right after surgery. Then, you'll be taken into the surgery room, where you'll be placed in a dental chair. A nurse or surgical assistant will hook you up to an IV and heart rate monitor.
When your surgeon is ready to begin…
You'll be asked to count backwards from 10, and the anesthetic will be added to your IV. You probably won't even remember dozing off when you wake up a little later with your mouth packed full of gauze. Your surgeon will have removed your wisdom teeth. You might be asked a couple of questions to make sure you're recovering from the anesthetic properly, and then the person you are driving home with will be given some after-care instructions and you'll be allowed to leave.
When you get home…
You may still feel a bit groggy from the anesthesia when you arrive home, but this should wear off soon. Make sure you relax and sit or lie with your head elevated, as this will help slow the bleeding. You will want to change your gauze pads as they become blood-soaked. You can expect the bleeding to stop within a few hours; call your dentist or surgeon if you're still bleeding 24 hours after surgery.
Follow any after-care instructions your surgeon gave you. Likely, you were instructed to avoid smoking and drinking from a straw. You were probably told to rinse your mouth with salt water and stick to soft foods, too. Sticking to your surgeon's instructions will ensure you heal properly.
Having your wisdom teeth extracted under general anesthesia is pretty straightforward, since you're asleep for the procedure. If you have any other questions as to what to expect, talk to a dentist like Howley & Basara Family Dentistry PC.
Share24 August 2015
