When you lie on the dental treatment chair, after the wisdom tooth extraction surgery, and walk out of the consultation room, you might be full of curiosity: What exactly does the wisdom tooth that has been taken out of your mouth look like? What form will it take after leaving your body? Understanding the appearance of wisdom teeth after surgery can not only satisfy your curiosity, but also help you determine whether the surgery was successful and whether the postoperative recovery is normal. Next, we will reveal the “mysterious veil” behind wisdom tooth surgery in detail for you.
Wisdom teeth during Surgery
Before we start to understand what wisdom teeth look like after surgery, let’s briefly review the wisdom teeth during the surgery. In most cases, wisdom teeth are located at the innermost part of the mouth, that is, at the end of the alveolar bone. Due to the gradual degeneration of modern people’s jawbones, the space left for the growth of wisdom teeth is often insufficient. This leads to various growth directions of wisdom teeth, such as vertical growth, horizontal growth, near-middle inclined growth, far-middle inclined growth, and even inverted growth.
During the operation, the dentist will first administer local anesthesia to ensure that you won’t feel any pain. Then, professional dental instruments such as braces and forceps are used to separate and remove the wisdom teeth from the alveolar socket. If the wisdom tooth grows deep or is impacted, it may be necessary to perform operations such as gingival incision and bone removal to successfully extract it. During this process, wisdom teeth will gradually loosen and separate from their original firmly rooted position in the alveolar bone until they are completely detached from the oral cavity.
The appearance of the wisdom tooth just removed
The appearance of wisdom teeth just removed from the mouth may vary due to individual differences and the growth condition of the wisdom teeth. Generally speaking, wisdom teeth are shaped like molars, with multiple cusps and complex occlusal surfaces.
Crown part
Normal shape: If wisdom teeth emerge normally and are not affected by too many external factors, the crown part usually has a structure similar to a square or rectangle, with a hard layer of enamel covering the surface, and the color is mostly light yellow or milky white. Enamel is smooth and lustrous. It is the hardest tissue in the human body and can protect the dentin and pulp inside the teeth. On the occlusal surface of the tooth crown, obvious pits and fissures as well as the cusps can be seen. These structures are helpful for chewing food.
Abnormal morphology: However, the growth of wisdom teeth in many people is not normal. If wisdom teeth decay, black or brown cavities may appear on the surface of the tooth crown. The enamel around the cavities will become rough, fragile, and may even disintegrate and fall off. Some wisdom teeth, due to long-term accumulation of food debris and bacteria, will have a layer of yellow or black tartar adhering to their surface. Tartar is hard in texture and difficult to remove by brushing. In addition, the crown shape of impacted wisdom teeth can also vary. For instance, in horizontally impacted wisdom teeth, the crown may be partially or completely covered by the gums, preventing the crown from being properly exposed and forming a blind pocket with the surrounding tissues, which can easily lead to dirt accumulation and inflammation.
Root part of the tooth
The number and shape of the roots of wisdom teeth also vary. Under normal circumstances, wisdom teeth have 1 to 4 roots, with 2 to 3 being the most common. The shape of the tooth root is mostly conical, extending from the bottom of the tooth crown into the alveolar bone. Some wisdom teeth have relatively thick and straight roots, and such wisdom teeth are relatively easier to extract. However, the roots of some wisdom teeth are relatively slender and curved, and may even have many forks, which increases the difficulty of extraction. During the extraction process, the curved tooth root may require special methods and techniques to prevent the root from breaking and remaining in the alveolar bone.
The Association between Postoperative Wounds and Wisdom Teeth
After the wisdom tooth is extracted, there will be a wound left in the oral cavity, and this wound is closely related to the wisdom tooth that has been removed. The size and depth of the wound depend on the size of the wisdom tooth, its growth location, and the operation during the extraction process. Generally speaking, the larger the wisdom tooth is, the larger the wound left after extraction will be. Impacted wisdom teeth require operations such as incising the gums and removing bones, resulting in relatively deeper and more complex wounds.
After the operation, the wound will be filled with blood. In a short period of time, the blood will gradually coagulate to form a blood clot. Blood clots are crucial for wound healing. They can protect the wound, prevent infection and promote tissue repair. Visually, the blood clot is dark red, soft in texture, and covers the surface of the wound. At this point, if you can see the wisdom tooth that has been removed, you will find that the alveolar socket where it was originally located is occupied by a blood clot, and the wisdom tooth has already left this “home”.
Relevant conditions of wisdom teeth at Different postoperative stages
1 to 3 days after the operation
In the first three days after the operation, the wound is in the acute inflammatory stage. At this time, the gums around the wound will show obvious swelling and pain, and may even be accompanied by swelling on the cheek. Due to the presence of blood clots, there will be a bloody smell in the mouth, and occasionally a small amount of blood streaks may seep out. At this stage, although the wisdom tooth itself is not visible, the condition of the wound it leaves behind indirectly reflects the outcome of the surgery. If the swelling and pain are severe, it may indicate that the surgical trauma is large or there is a risk of postoperative infection. At the same time, it is necessary to protect the blood clot. Avoid rinsing the mouth or brushing teeth too hard, as well as eating hard and irritating foods to prevent the blood clot from falling off, which may cause bleeding and infection at the wound site.
4 to 7 days after the operation
Four to seven days after the operation, the wound begins to enter the initial healing stage. Swelling and pain will gradually subside, and gingival tissue begins to grow, covering the edge of the wound. At this point, the blood clot will gradually organize and transform into granulation tissue. Granulation tissue is bright red and soft in texture. It is an important basis for wound healing. At this stage, if you have saved the extracted wisdom tooth before, you may notice some subtle changes on its surface. Because they are away from the oral environment, the moisture on the surface of wisdom teeth will gradually evaporate. The originally moist enamel and dentin will become relatively dry, and the color may become slightly darker. At the same time, cavities or tartar deposits on the tooth crown may become more obvious in dry conditions.
One to two weeks after the operation
One to two weeks after the operation, the wound healing further accelerates. Granulation tissue is gradually replaced by fibrous connective tissue, and gingival tissue basically covers the wound. A thin layer of epithelial tissue begins to form on the surface of the wound. At this point, the discomfort in your mouth has significantly lessened, and you can gradually resume your normal diet and oral hygiene. For the wisdom tooth that has been removed, over time, it will become drier and harder, and the details on its surface will also become clearer. If you observe carefully, you can see the pits and fissures on the tooth crown, the wear of the tooth tip, as well as the degree of bifurcation and curvature of the tooth root, etc.
1 to 3 months after the operation
One to three months after the operation, the wound was basically healed. The alveolar bone begins to undergo remodeling and gradually returns to a relatively stable state. At this point, it is very difficult to spot any signs of wisdom tooth extraction in the mouth (except for a possible slight gum recession). The extracted wisdom teeth, after being completely dried, will present a texture and appearance similar to that of fossils. It can serve as a special “souvenir”, allowing you to have a direct understanding of the structure and growth of your teeth.
Possible Abnormal Conditions of wisdom teeth after Surgery
Residual tooth roots
During the process of extracting wisdom teeth, if the tooth root is overly curved, slender, or adheres tightly to the alveolar bone, there may be a situation where the tooth root remains. After the operation, by taking X-rays, residual root images in the alveolar socket can be found. Residual tooth roots may lead to problems such as slow wound healing, repeated infections and pain. Once a residual tooth root is found, another operation is usually required to remove the remaining tooth root.
Dry trough syndrome
Dry socket syndrome is one of the more common complications after wisdom tooth extraction, mostly occurring 2 to 3 days after the operation. The main manifestations are severe pain at the wound site, which radiates to the temporal region of the ear, the submandibular area or the top of the head. During the examination, it will be found that the blood clot in the wound has fallen off, the alveolar bone is exposed, the bone surface is grayish-white, and there is a distinct putrid smell. The occurrence of dry slot syndrome is related to factors such as wound infection and the shedding of blood clots. Once dry socket syndrome is diagnosed, timely treatment is necessary. Under local anesthesia, the doctor will thoroughly debridement the wound, rinse it with medication, and then fill it with materials such as iodoform gauze strips to promote healing, in order to relieve pain, control infection and promote wound healing.
Damage to adjacent teeth
During the process of extracting wisdom teeth, if the operation is not proper, it may cause damage to adjacent teeth. After the operation, it may be found that the adjacent teeth become loose, painful, or even have tissue defects in the teeth. Adjacent tooth damage requires corresponding treatment based on specific circumstances, such as fixing loose teeth and repairing tooth defects, etc.
How to Properly deal with extracted wisdom Teeth
Some patients may want to keep the extracted wisdom teeth as a memento. If you have such an idea, you can bring it up to the dentist after the operation. The dentist will clean your wisdom teeth and then hand them over to you. When preserving wisdom teeth, it is important to keep them dry. You can place them in a clean and dry container, avoiding contact with damp environments to prevent bacterial growth and tooth deterioration.
However, there are also some patients who believe that wisdom teeth have no value to be retained and choose to discard them. Whether you choose to save or discard, it should be on the premise that it does not affect your own health and life. At the same time, it is more important to pay attention to the healing of the postoperative wound and follow the doctor’s instructions to do a good job in oral care and rehabilitation.
Conclusion
Understanding the appearance of wisdom teeth after surgery and the changes in the postoperative wound can help you better cope with the recovery stage after wisdom tooth extraction. If any abnormal conditions are detected during the postoperative recovery process, such as persistent severe pain, swelling that does not subside, or continuous bleeding, it is essential to contact your dentist promptly to receive timely and effective treatment. With proper care and attention, we believe you can smoothly get through the recovery period after wisdom tooth extraction and have a healthy mouth.
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