Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars and third that grow when people are in their late teens or in their early twenties. Wisdom teeth are located at the back corners of your mouth on the top and bottom. Wisdom teeth can have different complications which can lead to extraction.
Possible Reasons Why Wisdom Teeth Can Be Extracted
When healthy and properly positioned in the mouth, wisdom teeth can be valuable to anybody. However, we have some cases where these teeth need to undergo extraction.
Overcrowding
Sometimes, wisdom teeth grow in areas that have already covered with other teeth. As a result, the neighbouring teeth are pushed aside. This pushing away of the neighbouring teeth then leads to misalignment which calls for extraction.
Inflammation and infection
Inflammation and infection is another reason that will force you to extract your wisdom teeth. Inflammation is brought about by impactions and the limited space in between the teeth leading to pain in the gums. Painful gums can easily attract other disease-causing pathogens. Therefore, the tooth needs to be extracted to avoid the spread of the infection to the other teeth and the gums.
Tumours
When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it can lead to a tumour in the jawbone, which causes extreme pain in the jaw joint. In this case, the tooth should be checked out by a specialist to determine the depth of the tumour, before being extracted. Also, the development of a fluid-filled sac (cyst) around the wisdom tooth can be a result of tumours.
Poor dental hygiene
If you are unable to keep up with the required dental hygiene like brushing, chances of getting cavities are high. Cavities can be handled through fillings or extractions based on your preferences. Furthermore, cavities are a result of poor eating habits.
Damage to the other teeth like the molars. Damage in most cases is caused by the existence of an extra set of molars that push the other teeth and therefore causing one to have problems with biting.
The Process of Wisdom Teeth Extraction
DO NOT Eat 12 Hours Before Wisdom Tooth Extraction
On the day of the wisdom tooth extraction, It is best for the patient to not eat or drink for at least 12 hours before the process.
X-Ray Before Before Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Before the process takes place the dentist takes an x-ray of the mouth to be able to know if the process of extraction is necessary. After the dentist has identified the damage then he or she makes it clear that the affected wisdom tooth has to be extracted.
Anaesthesia Administration
The dentist will administer an injection with anaesthesia to the gums. This numbs the area around the tooth and the tooth. In some cases, the patients are given sedatives to help them relax. The teeth should come out through the gum. Once the local anaesthesia has taken effect the dentist loosens the connective tissues using special dental tools. Then he or she further use other dental tools to remove the teeth. A lot of pressure is felt during the process but no pain is experienced due to the anaesthesia.
When extracting wisdom teeth, some patients may need to undergo a surgical operation. Surgery is necessary in cases where the tooth has not emerged from the jawbone. The teeth might also be broken and therefore, it can’t be removed without leaving a single piece of it in the gums.
An incision in the gums
The dentist makes a small incision in the gum to expose the teeth. Sometimes during the extraction of the tooth, it might be impacted and it is covered by a bone. In this case, the dentist uses a drill to clear the bone around the tooth.
Caution in case of a broken wisdom tooth
If a wisdom tooth breaks in the process of extraction then all the broken pieces should be removed using special equipment. The tooth is then popped out if not broken from the tissues and thereafter the dentist might put gauze over the holes to promote clotting that will help with healing.
Recovery After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
After the process of tooth extraction, it’s normal for one to have swelling and feel pain. In some cases, dissolvable stitches can be used to increase enhance the healing process. Sometimes one might feel groggy after the process has just happened. After the extraction, you are advised to observe some practices to aid the healing process like eating soft foods, do exercise by opening your mouth gently and closing it, in case of swelling you can use ice cubes to reduce the, take the drugs prescribed by the doctor and drink a lot of fluids and water.
After extraction of the teeth avoid the following;
- Stop using a straw while drinking. In the process of using a straw, you suck the drink and that might loosen the blood clots that aid in the healing of the mouth.
- Do not eat hard and sticky foods that might scratch your wounds in return complicating the healing process.
- It is advisable to rinse your mouth, or use mouthwash during the first 24 hours after surgery. One can resume brushing of teeth gently the next day after the process of extraction.
- Use warm salt water to rinse your mouth after every two hours and after eating. Repeat this process for almost a week.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco after the extraction as it can derail the process of healing of the wound.
After the process of tooth extraction you can call the doctor only if you experience the following complications which can be due to infection or possible nerve damage:
- The swelling around the gums does not get any better after the extraction process. Your dentist will advise you on further treatment or guidance.
- Additionally, if you have excessive bleeding that does not seem to reduce when you experience fever, difficulty in swallowing of food, persistent numbness and loss of feeling around the area of the mouth you will reach out to a specialist.
Probably there will be no need to contact your dentist if, you don’t experience pain when there were no complications that arose during the process of extraction.
