Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Wisdom teeth also known as third molars usually emerge somewhere between 17-25 years old. Anthropological research has shown that wisdom teeth appear so that you can compensate for the substantial wear and forward shifting of teeth due to the rough diet of earlier humans. Modern diet is soft and highly processed and extreme wear and tear of teeth is not observed. Consequently there isn’t room for wisdom teeth to occupy the mouth. This will cause the wisdom teeth to get impacted.

What is an impacted tooth?

A tooth becomes impacted when there’s an absence of space in the dental arch and its growth and eruption are prevented by overlying gum, bone or another tooth. A tooth may be partially impacted, which means a portion of it has broken through the gum, or totally impacted when it is unable to break through the gum at all.

Exactly what are the problems connected with impacted wisdom teeth?

Erupted Tooth (Maxillary)

You can find problems according to the kind of impaction. Partially impacted wisdom teeth result in the overlying gum tissue to get swollen and inflammed. You will see food lodgment in the location that can eventually result in decay for both the wisdom tooth as well as the tooth beside it .Failure to take out the wisdom tooth promptly will necessitate root canal treatment on the tooth adjacent to it. Even the area might get infected together with the infections can spread into the muscle tissues that assist to open and close the mouth ultimately causing restricted opening of the mouth, tightness and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom tooth may move other teeth and disrupt the alignment of teeth.

Once the wisdom tooth is completely impacted the developmental sac that surrounds your tooth becomes filled up with fluid and enlarges to create a cyst. While the cyst grows it could possibly hollow out the jaw and permanently damage adjacent teeth, the surrounding bone and nerves. Rarely, if a cyst is not treated, a tumor may develop from its walls and a more serious surgical procedure may be required to remove it. Sometimes the wisdom teeth make their way through the gum tissue but due to lack of space may erupt more buccally (towards your cheek) or ligually (towards your tongue). This causes cheek biting, food lodgment, subsequent decay and infection.

Early removal is advised to avoid such problems and to reduce the surgical risks associated with the surgery.

How early should wisdom teeth be removed?

Wisdom teeth are simpler to extract when the patient is younger, since their roots are usually not completely formed,the encompassing bone is softer, and there is less chance of damaging nearby nerves or other structures. Removal of wisdom teeth at a later age becomes more complicated as the roots have fully developed (may involve the nerve), and the jawbone is denser. Also early removal will ensure optimal and less complicated healing. For some patients the wisdom teeth may erupt normally and will be properly aligned in the arch. When this happens the wisdom teeth can be retained with proper home care.

Steps involved in removal of wisdom teeth

Most wisdom tooth extractions are performed in the oral and maxillofacial surgery office under local anesthesia, intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will discuss the anesthetic option that is right for you.

The extent of the procedure depends on the tooth position, degree of impaction and root development. Once adequate anesthesia is achieved an incision is made in your gums adjacent to the probable location of the wisdom tooth to be removed. The gum tissue overlying the impacted tooth is reflected. Removal of some bone around the tooth may be necessary to free the tooth and aid in a non-traumatic extraction. Resorbable sutures may be placed.