Wisdom Teeth Removal: Things You Should Know
Wisdom tooth removal is considered to be one of the most common types of dental extractions performed all over the world. This is because people don’t want to wait for their wisdom teeth to erupt and cause them pain. In general, people in their twenties start to experience their wisdom tooth erupting, but it may also come out at any age.
In layman’s terms, wisdom teeth are also referred to as our third molars. Once all the wisdom teeth emerge, 2 each on the upper and lower part, there might not be enough room for the third molars to grow. Commonly, the teeth start to get impacted, and for this reason alone, the wisdom teeth are then removed.
Wisdom Teeth Removal: Is It Really Needed?
Did you know that not all people get wisdom teeth? Unfortunately, most of the time, when people get it, it causes a series of problems, and the best solution for this is to get rid of it. A lot of people experience anxiety when it comes to dental extractions, but one also has to understand that keeping the teeth may cause more serious problems in the future.
As soon as the wisdom tooth starts to erupt, it will try to make way so it can grow, which in turn then pushes away other parts of your teeth. This may cause issues with the teeth’s organization. Sometimes, the wisdom tooth may not even make its way out, and the impaction alone is painful. When this happens, this can just stick near to the molars which may also lead to tooth decay and cavities. If the wisdom tooth hasn’t been removed, there’s a possibility that it may form an abscess or a tumor cavity in the jawline, causing further complications and health issues.
Wisdom Teeth Removal: The Process
A dental x-ray is the first step to determine where the wisdom tooth is. This will also reveal the possible hidden damages there are, if any, allowing room for the dentist to have a specific plan of action on how to properly remove them. Once these things have been checked, they can then be removed. Depending on the condition of your wisdom tooth, it can be either removed through simple extractions, or through a surgical process. The simple extraction is similar to taking out a tooth – it can then be easily taken out with a few tugs. However, the surgical extraction requires an incision on the gums to be able to remove the wisdom tooth.
While all of these things may seem painful, the dental professional will make sure that anesthesia will be given to ensure that you’re comfortable during the procedure. The process itself is painful, although once the anesthesia wears off, you might be in a bit of pain, wherein pain relievers are prescribed to address that. There will be a bit of swelling after the extraction which can then be addressed by applying ice. The swelling usually only takes a week for it to heal. You may also notice some mild bleeding after the extraction, but rest assured that your dentist will give you instructions in case this happens. One of the things that you should remember is to avoid using straws or similar things that could help take the clot out from the extraction. The clot avoids the bleeding, which you want to stay there until your gums start to heal. During this time, you will also be advised to get cold drinks and avoid hot ones temporarily.
Can Wisdom Tooth Be Replaced?
Wisdom teeth are considered to be accessory teeth. This means that they are not necessarily needed, which means that you don’t need to replace them after the removal. In some rare cases where we find that the wisdom teeth is needed, it’ll be preserved, but until it does harm than good, then it’s better to keep it that way. 2nd molars seem to have more importance than the wisdom teeth, which is why we ensure that we keep their integrity and make sure that it’s out of harm’s way. If you’ve been advised you needed wisdom teeth removal, it’s completely understandable if you feel anxious and stressed about it. The good thing is that it’s a common procedure and there’s typically nothing you should worry about.
