Best Pillows To Use After Wisdom Teeth Extraction
The right pillow after wisdom teeth extraction can make all the difference in the world for your comfort and could even speed up the recovery process. Medical experts at Mayo Clinic recommend that patients sleep on their back following wisdom tooth removal.
Back sleepers are best served by a pillow with anywhere from one to four inches of range when compressed. This keeps the head elevated and reduces neck strain by facing toward the ceiling rather than forward. The best pillow and mattress for back sleepers depends on a few factors, such as the material you choose. Pillows are available in several different materials, such as memory foam and latex foam, to meet your ideal comfort level. Your pillow and mattress firmness is another factor, with a medium firmness often working best for back sleepers.
An extra pillowcase is also a good idea to prevent any blood or fluid stains on your favorite keepsake pillowcase.
Sedation Options For Wisdom Teeth Extractions
For many patients, having their wisdom teeth extracted is necessary to alleviate pain, improve functionality, and prevent further damage to the jaw and surrounding teeth when the wisdom teeth start to grow out. However, just thinking about the procedure itself can make some people very nervous or anxious, leading to many patients waiting longer than they should when it comes to having their wisdom teeth removed. This can lead to further dental issues, including impacted teeth and infections. In cases where patients are particularly anxious or jumpy when it comes to having dental work done, its important to know the sedation options available that will ease some of this tension.
There Is No Room For Growth In The Jaw
Everyone generally has two molars by the age of 12. This makes it possible to determine whether or not wisdom teeth removal will be necessary, in the future.
With a mirror as a guide, insert your index finger into your mouth. Guide it towards the back of your mouth in the area behind your second molar. There are two possible outcomes here. If you feel a flat pad, your chances of undergoing the procedure are reduced. Increased probability arises in cases where little to no space is available, which is usually indicated by an immediate upward curve of soft tissue behind the second molar.
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Lay Down In The Most Suitable And Correct Position
Laying down in the most appropriate and suitable position is simply one of the best answers to sleeping after wisdom teeth removal.
The tooth removal area will likely be ooze after the surgery and during the healing and, therefore, it is important to choose the right position.
Sleeping on the side is the best option, at least for the first couple of nights. In addition, sleeping with your head elevated is essential to feel less pain, and this takes us to our following point.
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Here Are Some Factors That Your Doctor May Consider To Decide If Sedation May Be The Better Option
Your doctor must be specifically trained in sedation and must have special anesthesia equipment present in the office. The recovery from sedation usually takes less than a day. Sedation is a separate cost from the teeth removal procedure and often dental insurances often cover sedation.
A local anesthetic injection will only cause you to lose sensation in that one specific area where the tooth is located. This is usually recommended when only one or two wisdom teeth require removal and are fully exposed in the mouth on a compliant patient. This option is less expensive and has a shorter recovery time. You will remember the procedure but should not experience any during the procedure.
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Dental Anxiety Concerns By Being Awake
Dental anxiety is the most prominent reason for patients to request for a certain level of sedation. It could be that you had a horrible experience with the dentist before, and you are extremely anxious about any dentist appointment, let alone for surgical removal of wisdom teeth. Another factor that triggers dental anxiety is low pain tolerance. Despite the fact that local anesthesia will be given in all cases of wisdom teeth removal, the fear of the pain including the sting of the needle is enough reason for some patients to opt for IV deep sedation. As a general rule of thumb choose for nitrous oxide when you suffer from mild to moderate levels of dental anxiety. Patients suffering from severe dental anxiety and/or low pain tolerance levels are advised to choose for IV deep sedation. Additionally, take into consideration that the effect of nitrous oxide completely wears off in about 15-20 minutes. Allowing you to drive home by yourself after the operation. Patients who opt for IV deep sedation need to bring someone along for the surgery to drive you back home afterward.
Wisdom Teeth Removal While Under General Anesthetic
While many people are fine with the local anesthetic, a few need to have their wisdom teeth pulled while under general anesthesia. Those with low pain tolerance, high anxiety, or a previous bad experience may need to choose this option. Some patients struggle with the needle for local anesthesia. This may be resolved with oral sedation, but where it cannot, general anesthesia is the only option. With this anesthetic, patients will need someone to drive them home when done with the procedure.
One of the most important things to consider is a thorough discussion with Dr. Dhiraj Sharma. Ask all the questions you have, ask him to explain your X-ray, and discuss your options. If needed, let him know what areas of concern you have and what worries you the most. This communication can go a long way to making the entire procedure easier for you to process.
If you have more questions or would like to set up a consultation today, you can call our dentists in Lincoln Square today!
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Will I Need Mine Removed
Try this right now: get a mirror and look at your bottom teeth. First, count how many of the big teeth you have at the back of your mouththese are called molars. By age 12, you should see two molars in place. Wisdom teeth are your third molars.
To see if you have room for your wisdom teeth, put your finger behind either second molar. If you feel a flat pad of tissue, then you may have enough room! If you feel the tissue curving upwards, chances are you dont have room for your wisdom teeth. Of course, this is a rough estimation and youre going to need your oral surgeon to measure this space. This quick-and-dirty test is just to give you some idea of what your dentist is going to do to measure the space back there.
Which Anesthesia Should I Choose
Wisdom teeth removal can be a very painful procedure. In order to address this issue and prevent complications from arising during the procedure, dentists use anesthesia.
The kind of anesthesia your dentist will administer to you before your procedure will depend on your case. The following are some of the different kinds of anesthesia.
Local anesthesia
Patients who are given local anesthesia stay awake during the whole procedure. They do not experience any pain. The only sensation they have is a certain amount of pressure applied to the operation site.
Sedation anesthesia
Individuals who are given sedation anesthesia are not completely conscious during the operation, and do not experience any pain at all.
Another characteristic of sedation anesthesia is the impact it has on short-term memory. Individuals under this form of anesthesia usually have no recollection of the procedure.
Individuals who are sedated intravenously require a longer period for recovery. This is because the anesthesia is made up of elements that have a long half-life. Because of this, excretion of the elements from the body takes time.
This form of anesthesia is the most expensive on the list, and is also not covered by dental insurance. A very serious problem involving IV sedation is the precision and skill involved in administering it. Therefore, only professional and skilled individuals can undergo this manipulation.
General anesthesia
Nitrous and local anesthesia
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Risks Associated With Using Anaesthesia
Anaesthesia and surgery are safer today than ever before, but there is always some risk involved with using anaesthesia during wisdom teeth removal.
Here is a list of conditions that can make the use of anaesthesia riskier for a patient:
- History of bad reactions to anaesthesia or anaesthesia allergies
- Diabetes
- Seizures or other neurological disorders
- Smoking or drinking habits
- Shivering or feeling cold
- Bruising or soreness from IV drip
Ultimately, the decision is up to you whether or not you choose to go under for wisdom teeth surgery. It can depend on your anxiety levels, pain tolerance and the overall complexity of the surgery, which may vary from person to person.
Keeping You Comfortable During Wisdom Teeth Surgery
If youre afraid of wisdom tooth extractions, you ought to know that there are new pain control techniques such as local anaesthesia, oral sedation, IV sedation and general anaesthesia that can help you.
Unless you opt for general anaesthesia, you wont have to be entirely unconscious during wisdom tooth surgery. On the day of the procedure, you will simply be given a local anaesthetic to numb the surgery site, and you will be completely awake during the operation with no sensation in your mouth area.
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What To Avoid When Sleeping After Wisdom Teeth Removal
When healing from a wisdom tooth extraction, its important to take care not to dislodge the blood clots forming in your wounds, particularly in the first 24 hours. Dislodging or improper formation of a blood clot can cause a condition called dry socket. This is one of the most common complications of wisdom tooth surgery and may occur on days 3 to 5.
To minimize your risk of complications, its a good idea to avoid the following habits:
- Sleeping flat on your back. The RICE protocol of rest, ice, compression, and elevation is commonly recommended for promoting injury recovery. Use an extra pillow or two to elevate and support your head when sleeping.
- Brushing around your wounds. Its a good idea to avoid brushing around the surgery site for at least the first 24 hours to avoid dislodging your blood clot.
- Staying up late. Its important to get plenty of rest to give your body the time it needs to heal itself.
- Drinking alcohol or smoking. Alcohol and tobacco can both interfere with your bodys ability to heal itself. Its a good idea to avoid these activities for at least 24 hours after your surgery, and ideally until youre fully healed.
Is Sedation Necessary For Wisdom Teeth Extractions
Although sedation is mandatory in some cases due to a patients anxiety level or the complexity of the procedure, sedation is not always needed. For very basic wisdom teeth extractions, some patients will only require local anesthesia before the surgery. This is an injection used to numb the area of the mouth which will be affected by the procedure. However, a patient that is fully aware during the surgery runs a higher risk of experiencing anxiety or discomfort while the wisdom tooth is being removed.
The best way to determine which sedation option is recommended for you is to speak to your dentist or oral surgeon. They will be able to assess how complicated your surgery will be, as well as your personal coping levels when having dental work done. Using this knowledge and their professional experience, they can determine which sedation level is necessary. Its important to keep in mind that not all insurance plans cover sedatives and it could end up costing you more. Also, your dentist may not offer the sedation option you prefer, so be sure to ask about sedation methods before scheduling your wisdom tooth extraction.
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How Should I Sleep After My Wisdom Teeth Are Taken Out
Having your wisdom teeth taken out can sometimes result in mild pain, temporary numbness, soreness, tenderness, or tiredness. Because wisdom teeth extraction is often done while the patient is heavily medicated or under anesthesia, youre likely going to be tired and in need of sleep after the surgery.
Your oral surgeon or dentist should fill you in on all of the after-care instructions once your wisdom teeth have been extracted, but if you are wondering how to sleep after wisdom teeth removal, you are not alone.
Do I Need To Be Put To Sleep For My Wisdom Teeth Removal
You do not necessarily have to be put to sleep for your wisdom teeth extraction. Wisdom teeth extraction can be done while the patient is fully awake with the mouth Numbed with local anesthesia. Wisdom teeth are the molars that come through last, usually in your late teens or early 20s. There are normally four wisdom teeth two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw but some people have more, fewer, or even none at all.
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How To Sleep After Wisdom Tooth Removal
If youre wondering how to sleep after wisdom tooth removal, weve got you covered.
All of us have heard the horror stories associated with the removal of wisdom teeth.
It is common knowledge that the road to recovery following a wisdom tooth extraction is a long and painful one.
So what are wisdom teeth and why exactly is the recovery process something that is feared?
Wisdom teeth are also known as the third molars.
They are the last molar teeth to develop which usually grow at the very back of the upper and lower jaw bones, one at each back corner of the mouth.
They usually grow between the age of 18 and 25.
When wisdom teeth erupt, there are two possibilities.
Either they grow out completely and nothing eventful happens or wisdom teeth are unable to completely erupt and become impacted.
When such a situation occurs, surgical intervention becomes a must.
Why?
When a wisdom tooth is impacted and tries to erupt into the mouth, the flap of gum on top of it can become infected and swollen.
This can cause it to become sore and painful. If this is not treated on time it can cause a huge infection.
Rinse With Salt Water
It is crucial to keep the mouth clean after surgery. To speed up the healing process after surgery, rinse the mouth with salt water after eating to minimize the swelling and pain. Do not brush your teeth until directed by your oral surgeon as the surgical area can be irritated and blood clotting can be disrupted.
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Are The Wisdom Teeth Impacted
Every wisdom tooth extraction is unique. Some procedures may take as little as a few minutes to get the tooth out, while other cases can take hours. If a wisdom tooth is impacted, this means that it is buried in bone. An impacted wisdom tooth can be completely bony, which means it is buried fully in bone. A partially bony wisdom tooth means that it is only buried partially. The tooth may also just have a bit of gum around it. The more bone involved in the extraction, the longer the procedure will take. Therefore, there is a higher chance of needing general anesthesia.
Your dentist should recommend complete X-rays to evaluate what needs to be done with your wisdom teeth. Dr. Sharma will evaluate the X-rays and then suggest either local or general anesthetic.
What Are Wisdom Teeth
Your wisdom teeth are the last molars to form in the back of your mouth. The onset of your wisdom teeth is commonly between the age of 17 to 25. Of course, your wisdom teeth dont make you any smarter. You are already older and wiser by the time your wisdom teeth appear, hence the name wisdom teeth. Normally, you will get 4 wisdom teeth to complete your adult set of 32 teeth, nevertheless it is quite common for adults to lack some of these 4 wisdom teeth. The wisdom teeth are the strongest and widest of all teeth, suited to grind all types of food. This sounds like a useful tool for adults. Then why is it so common to remove the wisdom teeth from peoples jaws? The most frequent reason is the lack of enough space to develop in a healthy way. The wisdom teeth are in the far back of the mouth making it hard to brush and floss them properly, especially if there is not much space, risking cavities or infections. This is often another reason to remove your wisdom teeth. The extraction of your wisdom teeth has to be done surgically and is an expensive procedure. Is there an option to reduce the cost of surgery?
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