Wisdom teeth are the third molars at the back of your mouth. They usually erupt between the ages of 17 to 25  years. In some people, these come in without causing any trouble and sit behind the second molars. 

In some cases, there is not enough space in the jaw for these third molars to erupt and this causes several problems including pain and swelling. In such cases, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon for extraction.

CASES THAT REQUIRE WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL

• Impacted wisdom teeth – Since these erupt after all the other teeth in your jaws have erupted and settled in, the wisdom teeth may not come in normally. They can be stuck in the jawbone or restricted by the gums, which causes pain and swelling. 
• Small Jaw Size – Due to evolution and our changed eating habits, the average size of the human jaw has reduced and hence most problems of wisdom teeth eruption are since there just isn’t any space left for them to erupt! 
• Tooth Decay – Your wisdom teeth may have erupted normally but being far behind in your mouth, you may not be able to clean them using your toothbrush and floss which results in cavities. In such cases, the best dentist in Pune might have to advise you to get them extracted.

BEFORE SURGERY

Prior to scheduling your extraction with an oral surgeon, make sure you inform your dentist about 

• Any health issues 
• Any medications you take daily especially blood thinners or anticoagulants. 
• Clear all your doubts regarding the surgical procedure 
• Plan time off from college or work to rest after your surgery. 

DURING SURGERY

Wisdom tooth extraction surgery usually takes around 30 – 60 minutes. 

• You will be given local anesthesia to numb the area 
• Once complete numbness of the area has been achieved the surgeon will check to confirm and surgery will begin. 
• The oral surgeon may have to cut your gums or bone to extract the tooth 
• In such cases stitches will be given to aid in the healing of the extraction site. 
• You will be given a gauze pack to bite on for the next 30 minutes. 

POST SURGERY – Dos and Don’ts

Most people get back to their normal routine and activities a few days after surgery although it takes up to 6  weeks for your wound to heal completely. 

Dos:

• Throw the gauze pack after 30 minutes and have some plain ice cream. 
• Use an ice pack on the side of the face to prevent swelling 
• Eat soft, cold foods like khichdi, dal-rice, cold soup 
• Take the medications prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon as instructed. 
• Call your doctor if you have fever or if pain and swelling does not reduce after 3 days

Don’ts: 

• Don’t drink through a straw as the sucking action may loosen the blood clots and lead to complications in  healing. 
• Don’t rinse your mouth on the day your extraction has been done. 
• When you brush the next day Don’t brush against the extracted area to prevent dislodgement of clots 4. Don’t eat hard, crunchy or sticky foods for the next couple of days. 
• Don’t Smoke as it delays healing.