You can often hear 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 understandable. However, you can encounter problems related to these teeth more than once in your life, and sometimes these problems are so serious that you have to say goodbye to these teeth.
Wisdom teeth, also known as “eights” or third molars, were needed by our ancestors to chew hard food. Now they are more likely to cause problems for people, so often wisdom teeth removal is indicated. However, everything is individual, even how many wisdom teeth a person has can depend on his genetics.
There are many factors that affect whether or not a tooth extraction is appropriate, so understanding the person’s overall health is important for the procedure. Even 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 conditions that concern you, because in the future this may affect both the removal procedure itself and the recovery after the intervention.
In this article, we will talk about the features of the removal of “eights”, how the wisdom tooth removal procedure works in its typical and atypical variants, as well as what recommendations doctors give after the removal of third molars for oral care and pain relief.
Indications for wisdom tooth removal
Wisdom teeth are often removed precisely 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 qualitative diagnosis. There are certain indications for the removal of wisdom teeth. They include the following cases:
- When there is pain in or around the tooth.
- When there is a recurrent soft tissue infection behind the last lower teeth.
- When the patient has tumors.
- When gum disease is present.
- When there is extensive damage to the teeth.
- When 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 take into account general health and other aspects.
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 other cases, a surgeon may be involved. First, before the tooth extraction procedure, 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 in order to expand the tooth socket, but these feelings are completely 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 indicators.
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 these interventions are not significant. Most often, the procedure takes no more than 20 minutes. After removal, discomfort may remain for up to two weeks, but this 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, impacted wisdom teeth are often removed, that is, those that have not fully erupted. At the same time, among all the teeth, the “eights” are the most often retinized.
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, impacted wisdom teeth are often removed, that is, those that have not fully erupted. At the same time, among all the teeth, the “eights” are the most often retinized.
Since even a typical removal procedure is quite complicated and there is a possibility of problems, caution should be exercised. There are different types of tooth disorders that can lead to the need for an atypical extraction procedure, as well as their combinations. That is why it is important to apply for such an operation in time, because delaying it can be dangerous. The complexity of the wisdom tooth removal and the price of the procedure may depend on the complexity of the case.
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 in this case.
Complications may also occur after an atypical removal procedure, some of which appear later in time. It is important that if the temperature does not decrease for a long time after the removal of the wisdom tooth, it is necessary to immediately 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 be related to such factors as the duration of the intervention and the characteristics of the blood supply. It is important that if you notice discomfort or pathological manifestations, such as swelling after the removal of a wisdom tooth, at a time when they should no longer be there, consult a doctor.
Recommendations after wisdom tooth removal
In general, 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 a normal state of health, it is extremely important to take care of the teeth, oral cavity, and the whole body. There are special steps that help give adequate care to the teeth, but they can only be given 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 not to drink alcohol or smoke during the day.
- Avoid excessive physical activity for a few days.
After the removal of 8 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, pay attention to nutrition, and avoid bad habits. Your health needs special attention during this period.
Possible complications after wisdom tooth removal
Although the procedure itself is 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 the problem from becoming more serious.
Complications after wisdom teeth removal can 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 — this manifestation, as a rule, remains 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 you should pay attention to these symptoms. If there are any pathological manifestations, be sure to consult a dentist, because time is important for solving the problem. Tell your doctor about any symptoms you experience.
Contraindications to wisdom tooth removal
There are a number of cases when wisdom teeth should not be removed. Sometimes this intervention can even contain a certain threat, so it is worth knowing in which cases it is better not to remove teeth. They 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 has diabetes, his recovery after surgery can be seriously threatened.
- 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 with recovery.
If the question “How much does it cost to remove a wisdom tooth?”, “How many wisdom teeth are there?” and “Where is the wisdom tooth?” it is easier to find answers, then to the question of whether a tooth should be removed, it is sometimes difficult to find a clear answer due to the large number of pros and cons. The decision about whether to remove a tooth or leave it should be well thought out and take into account not only the main factors, but also the details. A person’s general health and non-dental diseases are also important in determining whether a wisdom tooth should be removed.
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 procedure for removing these teeth is just like any other medical procedure. Complications after the removal of a wisdom tooth are also likely, however, if you promptly 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 will help you get the necessary diagnosis, treatment, and recommendations, because dental treatment is a complex process that, depending on the individual nature of the case, can have many stages, and the 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 right for you, how much wisdom tooth removal costs, and how to take care of yourself after the procedure.
It is the level of doctors and their approach to patient care that will help you say goodbye to the problem, to forget about discomfort and possible complications. Choose high-level specialists, because you trust them with the health of your teeth.