Overview:
A person may be required to remove their wisdom tooth if it causes, pain, or discomfort, grows in a crooked direction, and leads to oral health conditions. The dentist may recommend removing the tooth sometimes before it creates issues within the oral cavity. The procedure takes an hour to complete and the person recovers within two weeks
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are also known as third molars and are located at the back of a person’s mouth. They usually emerge between the age of 17 to 25 years. Some people possess four wisdom teeth that are present in the lower left, lower right, upper left, and upper right areas of the mouth . The presence or absence of wisdom teeth doesn’t indicate any complications. Scientifically the wisdom teeth are vestigial parts in the human body, meaning they are no longer required. In present times the food consumed is cooked and there are objects like forks and knives to cut the food into smaller portions diminishing the need for wisdom teeth.
Why Should The Wisdom Tooth Be Extracted
The main reason to remove a wisdom tooth is if it is impacted. An impacted wisdom tooth doesn’t have sufficient place to grow in the mouth and emerges in the following abnormal ways:
- The tooth grows at an angle in the direction of the adjacent tooth which is the second molar.
- The tooth grows toward the back of the mouth.
- It grows at a right angle toward the other teeth and appears horizontal.
- Grows straight like the other teeth but remains stuck within the jaw bone
The issues caused by an impacted wisdom tooth are:
- Pain and discomfort.
- Food getting stuck behind the tooth
- Infection in the gums causing periodontal disease
- Decay in the tooth that spreads in the gums
- Damage to the adjoining tooth or the surrounding bone.
- Forming of a fluid sac around the tooth called a cyst
Doctors are divided in their opinions to carry out the extraction of the wisdom tooth if there are no painful symptoms. Some doctors recommend the removal of the tooth in the late teens or early twenties to avoid major complications that can emerge at a later stage
The procedure Details:
The doctor begins with checking the health of the wisdom tooth and if required takes dental X-rays to find out their proper location. At this time the doctor should be informed about any medications, allergies, and health conditions faced by the person.
The person may be required to be given sedation depending on their condition and preference. Sedation includes local or general anesthesia, nitrous oxide known as laughing gas, and intravenous sedation.
The doctor also gives instructions if certain medications need to be stopped before a few days. The person shouldn’t stop or start any medication before consulting the doctor.
After anesthesia is administered, incisions are made in the gums to expose the tooth trapped beneath the gums or the jawbone.
The tooth is loosened and pulled out from the socket. Sometimes the tooth may be required to be split into portions to make the removal easier.
The area is disinfected to prevent any infections and stitched.
A gauze is placed covering the socket to reduce the bleeding.
The entire process is completed within an hour. However, the person may feel little discomfort and bleeding or swelling after the procedure.
The Dos
- The person must keep the gauze on the socket for at least 30 minutes after the surgery. If it needs to be changed, the person can replace it with a clean one and remove it only when the bleeding stops. The doctor should be consulted if there is excessive bleeding.
The person should not exert themselves and rest for around three to five days at home before resuming work.
An ice pack can be used throughout the day for approximately 20 minutes to help decrease the swelling and usage of mouthwash is recommended
The other teeth should be brushed every day to prevent infection. The extraction site should be avoided.
The medications advised should be taken regularly to avoid complications.
The Don’ts
- The person should avoid using straws to drink liquids to prevent dislodging the blood clots.
They shouldn’t exercise or lift heavy things for up to 48 to 72 hours to avoid increasing the heart rate which can lead to pain, bleeding, and swelling.
Crunchy and chewy foods should be avoided to prevent damage to the gums.
The person cannot have hot and spicy foods until the pain subsides or swelling subsides,
Conclusion:
Wisdom tooth extraction may not be a mandatory procedure but some doctors recommend it to avoid certain complications like gum problems and disease at a later stage
