These are not extra teeth like most of us think. They are part of our normal set of teeth. Each one of us has 32 teeth. 28 would have erupted into the mouth by the time we are 13 years of age. The last four, one in each end of the upper and lower jaws are the wisdom teeth. There is a sequence of eruption and it just so happens that the wisdom teeth are the last ones to erupt at the age of 18 to 24 years of age. By then there is usually a lack of space for them to erupt properly and so most are always stuck(IMPACTED). So we always have this idea that they are extras!
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There criteria most Dental Surgeons will have to determine whether that wisdom tooth of yours need to be removed. These are:
- They have given you gum pains before. These pains will usually subside after some medications and then will recur at a later date. No one can predict the frequency and severity of these recurring pains. They may or may not be accompanied by swelling and pustulent products.
- They have caused cavities in the teeth in front of them due to food trapping or they themselves have cavities from food trappings. These are usually determined by the dental surgeons after a check up or through x-rays results.
- They interfere with the treatment you are having. Usually this will happen in those who seek braces treatment.
- They are constant causes of food trapping and irritation.
- They have given you gum pains before. These pains will usually subside after some medications and then will recur at a later date. No one can predict the frequency and severity of these recurring pains. They may or may not be accompanied by swelling and pustulent products.
- They have caused cavities in the teeth in front of them due to food trapping or they themselves have cavities from food trappings. These are usually determined by the dental surgeons after a check up or through x-rays results.
- They interfere with the treatment you are having. Usually this will happen in those who seek braces treatment.
- They are constant causes of food trapping and irritation.
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A tooth becomes impacted due to lack of space in the dental arch and its eruption is therefore prevented by gum, bone, another tooth or all three. Lack of space occurs because our jaws have become smaller (through evolution), we do not loose teeth through decay as frequently as in the past, and our diet is such that our teeth do not wear down as much.
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There are two methods of removing wisdom teeth. They can be by simple extraction or they are removed by simple minor surgical procedures. These are determined by their degree of impaction. Removing wisdom teeth either by extraction or surgery can be performed under local anaesthesia or under general anaesthesia.
Local anaesthesia means that they can be done in the clinic when you are fully awake or sedated.
General anaesthesia will mean removing them while you are asleep and is usually done in a hospital environment under Day Surgery. i.e, you go home about four hours after the procedure is performed. These can be carried out either in the private hospitals or restructured hospitals. The surgeons can be private practitioners or from government service.
The healing process begins immediately after surgery as your body sends blood to nourish the tooth socket. Simple pressure from a piece of gause is usually all that is needed to control the bleeding and to help a blood clot to form in the socket, which promotes healing. Within a day or two, soft tissue begins to fill in the socket, aided by the blood clot. Eventually, the bone surrounding the socket begins to grow, eventually filling in the socket completely, as illustrated here:
(note that there is a possibility of a swelling developing in the area which is normal and will reduce within a short time)
Local anaesthesia means that they can be done in the clinic when you are fully awake or sedated.
General anaesthesia will mean removing them while you are asleep and is usually done in a hospital environment under Day Surgery. i.e, you go home about four hours after the procedure is performed. These can be carried out either in the private hospitals or restructured hospitals. The surgeons can be private practitioners or from government service.
The healing process begins immediately after surgery as your body sends blood to nourish the tooth socket. Simple pressure from a piece of gause is usually all that is needed to control the bleeding and to help a blood clot to form in the socket, which promotes healing. Within a day or two, soft tissue begins to fill in the socket, aided by the blood clot. Eventually, the bone surrounding the socket begins to grow, eventually filling in the socket completely, as illustrated here:
(note that there is a possibility of a swelling developing in the area which is normal and will reduce within a short time)
Submit to DocTalk: