Impacted wisdom teeth can grow sideways, break only partway through the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone — bothersome conditions all.
Extraction of wisdom teeth is a fairly routine procedure in which the dentist numbs the area of the mouth with a local anesthetic or, as needed, IV sedation so the patient is asleep during the procedure. After removal of the tooth or teeth, the dentist gives the patient a wad of gauze to bite down on; this will mitigate bleeding in the immediate post-operative period. Some pain and swelling are likely, but these will usually go away after a few days. If you experience lingering pain, severe pain, swelling, bleeding or fever after your procedure, please contact us at once.