San Antonio dentist, Dentist in San Antonio, TX

Extractions

Before removing a wisdom tooth(or any other tooth), Dr. Knight will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. Conscience sedation may be used, especially if several or all of your wisdom teeth will be removed at the same time. Dr. Knight will ask that you don't eat or drink after midnight on the night before surgery, so you are prepared for the conscience sedation medication.

To remove the wisdom tooth, Dr. Knight will open up the gum tissue over the tooth and take out any bone that is covering the tooth. Dr. Knight will separate the tissue connecting the tooth to the bone and then remove the tooth. Sometimes he will cut the tooth into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove.

After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches...especially if bone grafting is done immediately after the extraction. Some stitches dissolve over time and some have to be removed after a few days. Dr. Knight will tell you whether your stitches need to be removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed over the wound will help stop the bleeding.

What To Expect After Surgery
In most cases, the recovery period lasts only a few days. Take painkillers as prescribed by Dr. Knight. The following tips will help speed your recovery. Detailed, written post-operative instructions will be reviewed before and after surgery.