There are frequent complaints: “Wisdom teeth hurt, this pain is absolutely unbearable.” and for many people, the problem of pain during the eruption of these teeth is relevant and obvious. Moreover, problems related to these teeth can arise more than once in your life, and sometimes they are so serious that you may have to get rid of these teeth.
Wisdom teeth, also known as “the eights” or third molars, were needed by our ancestors to chew solid food. Now they are more likely to cause problems for people, so often wisdom teeth removal is a necessity. Individually, the number of wisdom teeth can depend on a person’s genetics.
There are a lot of factors affecting the necessity of tooth extraction, so understanding the person’s overall health is essential for the procedure. Aspects such as chronic diseases or the condition of other teeth can affect the safety and success of the procedure.
That is why it is important to inform the doctors about any health peculiarities, as it may affect both the removal procedure itself and the recovery after the intervention.
This article tells you about the specifics of the removal of “eights”, how the wisdom tooth removal procedure is performed in its typical and atypical variants, as well as what recommendations are given by doctors for oral care and pain relief after the procedure.
Indications for wisdom tooth removal
Wisdom teeth are often removed because they pose a problem for a person. Since the third molars do not perform any particularly important function, there are many indications for removal, although this requires preliminary thorough diagnosis. There are certain indications for the removal of wisdom teeth. They include the following:
- Pain in or around the tooth.
- Recurrent soft tissue infection behind the last lower teeth.
- If the patient has tumors.
- Existence of gum disease.
- Extensive damage to the teeth.
- The teeth close to the wisdom teeth are damaged.
When can a wisdom tooth not be removed?
Sometimes a wisdom tooth may not be removed. If the tooth is generally healthy and there are no complaints about it, it is worth considering whether it is necessary to remove the wisdom teeth. Be sure to discuss this with your dentist, as the decision should be weighted and general health or other aspects, taken into account.
Here are some common cases in which a wisdom tooth extraction is not necessary:
- The tooth is in good condition and there are no problems with it.
- It grew completely and it did not cause complications.
- If there are no problems with the direction of growth and the location of the tooth.
- If it is easy to clean. Maintaining daily hygiene is an important component of wisdom teeth health.
It is important to avoid risky steps, because, depending on the condition of the wisdom tooth, removal may be contraindicated. Check out the list of conditions that make this procedure dangerous.
How is a wisdom tooth removed?
How is a wisdom tooth removed? As a rule, this procedure is carried out by a dentist, however, in some cases, a surgeon may be involved. First, before the tooth extraction, the patient is instructed in preparation for the intervention, and a local anesthetic injection is made to numb the entire area around the tooth. This may be accompanied by feelings of pressure because the tooth is slightly pushed in different directions to expand the tooth socket, but these sensations are quite normal. The procedure is generally simple and does not take much time, but the duration and price of wisdom tooth removal may depend on individual factors.
Sometimes a small incision in the gums is required or the tooth itself must be divided into several parts, but this is more the exception than the rule, and such interventions are not significant. The procedure usually takes no more than 20 minutes. After the removal, discomfort may remain up to two weeks, which is normal.
Atypical wisdom tooth removal
What is an atypical tooth extraction? Atypical removal of wisdom teeth is necessary when the tooth has grown incorrectly, or the angle of its growth has deviated significantly from the norm. For example, retained wisdom teeth which haven’t fully erupted, are often removed. Among all the teeth, the “eights” are the most often retained.
Since even a typical removal procedure is quite complicated and there is a possibility of problems, caution should be provided. There are different types of tooth disorders that can lead to atypical extraction procedure, as well as their combinations. That is why it is important to apply for such an operation in time, because delaying can be dangerous. The complexity of the wisdom tooth removal and the price of the procedure may be individual.
Cases when a wisdom tooth erupts incorrectly are quite common, defects can be inaccessible in localization and wide in degree, so conservative removal will not help herein.
Complications after an atypical removal procedure are possible, some of which appear later in time. If the temperature does not decrease for a long time after the removal of the wisdom tooth, it is urgent to consult a doctor. Also, bone tissue is often injured during surgery. Some patients may experience gradual bone loss after tooth extraction and the rehabilitation period.
During the procedure of atypical removal of wisdom teeth, problems may arise, such as trauma to the mucosa or skin of the corner of the oral cavity, alveolitis, or hematomas. The occurrence of problems may result from the duration of the intervention and the characteristics of the blood supply. If you notice discomfort or pathological manifestations, such as swelling after the removal of a wisdom tooth, lasting longer than indicated, be prompt to consult a doctor
Recommendations after wisdom tooth removal
Generally, the recovery period after the removal of wisdom teeth can take about 2 weeks depending on the individual case. However, for successful rehabilitation and maintaining good health, it is extremely important to take care of the teeth, oral cavity, and the whole body. There are special measures to ensure adequate teeth care, advised by doctors.
Some general recommendations include:
- Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (but read the instructions carefully before use).
- Use an extra pillow to ease the pain.
- Try to avoid alcohol or smoking for a few days.
- Avoid excessive physical activity for a few days.
After the removal of wisdom teeth, it is important not only to follow the above-mentioned recommendations, but also to monitor the general state of health of the oral cavity and the whole body, drink enough water, provide desent nutrition, and avoid bad habits. Your health needs special attention during this period.
Possible complications after wisdom tooth removal
Although the procedure itself is quite simple and does not take much time, there are certain complications that can be individual in nature. Timely help can be extremely important to prevent further serious problems.
Complications after wisdom teeth removal may include:
- Swelling of the cheeks and the entire oral cavity.
- Slight bruises on the inner surface of the cheeks up to two weeks after the operation.
- Unpleasant taste sensations in the mouth.
- Swelling of the jaw, which may last up to ten days after the operation.
- Pain, especially if the operation was complicated.
- There may be tingling or numbness of the face, lips, or tongue.
Symptoms that last longer than two weeks after surgery are suspicious and shouldn’t stay unattended. If there are any pathological manifestations, be sure to consult a dentist, because time is important for solving the problem. Inform your doctor about any symptoms you experience.
Contraindications to wisdom tooth removal
There are cases when wisdom teeth should not be removed. Sometimes this intervention can be threatening, so you should be aware of the risks to avoid. They may include:
- Certain health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease. This can create serious difficulties during the recovery period after surgery. For example, if the patient suffers from diabetes, the recovery after surgery can be under threat.
- Local infections, such as active oral infections, can complicate tooth extraction and lead to severe systemic infections. It is important to treat infections before tooth extraction, otherwise they can seriously harm you.
- Excessive bone loss. In this case, the tooth extraction procedure itself can cause problems to recovery.
The questions like “How much does it cost to remove a wisdom tooth?”, “How many wisdom teeth are there?” and “Where is the wisdom tooth?” are easy to answer. However, the question on whether a tooth should be removed, is sometimes difficult to find a clear answer to because of its pros and cons. The decision on whether to remove a tooth or leave it, as well as main factors or details should be well considered. A person’s general health and non-dental diseases should be taken into account while making the decision.
It is important to remember that high-quality diagnosis and correctly selected treatment are extremely important to eliminate the problem. Wisdom teeth and surgical removal are often uncomfortable, but the process of removing these teeth is just like any other medical procedure. Complications after the removal of a wisdom tooth are also likely. However, if you timely consult a doctor, your health will quickly return to normal.
That is why you should turn to qualified doctors, such as Yarema Dental dental specialists. They are sure to help you get the professional diagnosis, treatment, and recommendations. As a dental treatment is a complex process, requiring individual approach, containing several stages, a proper care and qualifications of doctors create the foundation for success. If you need to have a tooth removed, doctors will tell you whether the procedure is appropriate for you, how much wisdom tooth removal costs, and how to ensure fast recovery.
The professionalism of doctors and their approach to a patient’s care will help you get rid of the problem, forget about discomfort, and avoid complications. Choose high-level specialists who you can entrust the health of your teeth.