Your dentist just let you know that you have to get rid of your wisdom teeth. But you’re baffled, they don’t hurt, so why take them out? Nowadays, oral surgery for the removal of wisdom teeth is a standard procedure – almost an unveiling passage for adults. Not always a requirement, however.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
According to anthropologists, wisdom teeth once were fundamental for chewing and grinding raw and tough foods that comprised the diet of our ancestors. Fire’s invention slowly enabled us to cook these foods and eat them softly.
At long last, we started depending less and less on wisdom teeth to chew food, shifting our need to count on a third set of molars. Nevertheless, we carry genes for wisdom teeth, similar to how we pass on genes for the development of a tailbone or appendix. Which basically implies that the majority of us will at least have one wisdom tooth.
When Dental X-Rays Show Wisdom Teeth That Haven’t Erupted
Having wisdom teeth embedded beneath the gumline doesn’t necessarily mean they will erupt. Oral X-rays can let a dentist know whether unerupted wisdom teeth need to be removed or not. The reason for the extraction of wisdom teeth is their position below the gumline.
In most scenarios, wisdom teeth fail to emerge because they are either lying sideways or they are stuck in a space restriction. The clinical term used by dental practitioners for the description of such abnormally positioned wisdom teeth is “impacted”. Needless to say, almost all cases of wisdom teeth removal happen because of impaction.
Impacted Wisdom Tooth Symptoms
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause extreme pain. What’s even worse is that with time they can become infected. Some indications of the infection of impacted wisdom teeth, known also as pericoronitis include swollen lymph nodes and low-grade fever, pus discharge or even bleeding the affected region, swollen and painful gums, bad breath you just cannot get rid of with brushing, and rinsing, and ultimately, the inability to chew using your molar because you feel severe pain.
Prior to the removal of your wisdom teeth, dental practitioners might prescribe an antibiotic to diminish the infection. The extraction of impacted wisdom teeth when there is still an infection present can lead to the infection spreading into other regions of the body.
As per the American Dental Association, in case wisdom teeth become infected, show indications of decay, or harm to the adjacent teeth, they should be removed. The neglect of impacted wisdom teeth can lead to much more severe oral infections.
Should So-Called “Healthy” Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
Even in case your wisdom teeth erupt normally or they have been detected by X-rays and don’t seem to be an issue, wisdom teeth removal should still be taken into account, to prevent future dental problems. Wisdom teeth can easily reposition themselves at any time while being embedded in gums, which can swiftly cause wisdom teeth impaction and infection.
Furthermore, wisdom teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities in comparison to other teeth. The fact that they sit very far back in the mouth and are hard to reach isn’t helpful either, seeing as many individuals have trouble brushing and flossing the region appropriately, so wisdom teeth have the tendency to develop cavities much faster than other teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal: What Adults Should Expect
Again, your dentist lets you know that your wisdom teeth need to be removed. They might direct you to an oral surgeon, who will be conducting the procedure in their office. To heal and go back to your normality should only take a few days.
Before Surgery
Before surgery, you will have a meeting with your oral surgeon to have a discussion about the process. During this appointment make sure to talk about any health issue you currently have, mention all the drugs you take on a regular basis, and ask any questions you might have about the surgery. Do make sure to discuss which type of anesthesia you’ll have- you have the option to either be numb or asleep throughout the surgery. And, when all is said and done, start planning time off from your work or school to have the surgery and rest at home afterward.
During Surgery
The whole procedure will take approximately 45 minutes or even less. There are several types of anesthesia you can choose from so you do not feel any sort of pain during the removal.
- Local: Your mouth will be numbed with a shot of local anesthesia like novocaine, mepivacaine, or lidocaine. Another option might be breathing nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, for relaxation and dozing during the surgery. Shortly afterward, you should feel alert.
- IV sedation: Your mouth will be numbed and you will be given drugs via an injection in your arm in order to make you drowsy. You might spend the whole procedure sleeping.
- General: You will be given drugs either via an injection into a vein or by breathing gas through a mask. Such anesthesia will keep you asleep the whole procedure and you might only wake up an hour or so after it is fully completed.
For the teeth to get out, you might need to get your gums or bone cut. If yes, the surgeon will stitch the wounds shut so they can heal swiftly These sutures normally dissolve after a couple of days. The dental practitioner might also stuff gauze pads in the mouth to soak up the blood.
After Surgery
Everybody has a different response to anesthesia. If you have been administered a local anesthetic and feel quite alert, you are capable of driving home to start your recovery process. You might even be capable of going back to work or your routine activities. If you have been administered general anesthesia, however, and you feel drowsy, you will need someone to accompany you and drive you home.
The majority of individuals have little to no pain following the surgery. There is a high chance of experiencing mild discomfort or swelling for a couple of days and your mouth might require several weeks to fully heal.
Wisdom Teeth Removal: What Teens Should Expect
When you are in your mid-teens, wisdom teeth show up on the dental X-rays. You might even start feeling your third set of molars while they push against the back gums. Sometimes, they might lead to pain, cavities, gum disease, or swelling. But when it’s time to come out it is usually because they are impacted- meaning they are sitting so far back in the mouth they have gotten trapped in your jawbone or gums and this can be quite painful. Often, wisdom teeth might come in at the wrong angle pressing against other teeth. There are even cases when the mouth isn’t big enough, meaning that the jaw has no room for some extra set of molars. And ultimately, wisdom teeth come out when you have gum disease or cavities- normally, because you are unable to reach the wisdom teeth with your dental floss or toothbrush.
Numerous people have their wisdom teeth removed by the time they reach 17 years old until they are 25 years old. They go frequently to a dental practitioner, namely an oral surgeon, who conducts the removal in their office.
Wisdom teeth removal is generally a swift and quick process. The mouth should heal in a few days and you should be ready to get back to work or school the very next day.
Before Surgery
Prior to the surgery, you’ll be meeting with an oral surgeon to have a discussion about the removal. To go over the procedure, you can always bring a parent or caregiver with you. Use this time to ask any questions you might have, talk about the type of anesthesia that will be administered, mention all the medication you are currently taking, and talk about any health issue you might suffer from.
During Surgery
Similar to the surgery for adults, wisdom teeth removal takes about 45 minutes or less, for teens too. The doctor will administer one of the following types of anesthesia so you won’t be able to feel anything throughout the surgery.
- Local: The mouth will be numbed with a shot of lidocaine in the gums. Nitrous oxide is always available, or laughing gas, in order to relax or often even doze during the procedure. Shortly afterward, you should feel alert.
- IV sedation: The mouth will be numbed and you will be given drugs via a vein injection in the arm to make you feel drowsy. During the whole procedure, you might sleep.
- General: There are two options: either get drugs via a vein injection or breathe gas through a mask. You will be sleeping the whole surgery, and maybe even an hour after it.
In the event that the surgeon has to make an incision on your gums or bone to pull the teeth out, he or she will be closing the wound with a couple of sutures. After a few days, these sutures will dissolve. Furthermore, he or she might stuff gauze pads in your mouth to soak up the blood.
After Surgery
To have your surgery, make sure to plan time off from camp, work, or school. The recommendation is to take it easy for the rest of the day. Company is always suggested, especially so if you have been administered general anesthesia or pain drugs.
Afterward, there is little to no pain. To feel back to normal it might take a couple of days, but you are able to go back to camp, school, or work the following day.
When leaving the office, the dental practitioner will give you a list of guidelines to adhere to. These recommendations will aid you in healing quickly, having less swelling and pain, and fighting infection.
Call Dr. Roland Zhuka today to set an examination appointment or to find out more about the removal of wisdom teeth.
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