This article looks at the procedure of and reasons for wisdom teeth extraction. Unfortunately - although possibly not for me - I have managed to reach the ripe old age of 40 without my wisdom teeth being extracted, so cannot include a personal testimony. Interestingly, there is also contradictory evidence as to the need for and prevalence of wisdom teeth extraction - during my research, I discovered that 85% of people ‘NEED’ to undergo the procedure of wisdom teeth extraction whilst elsewhere, 85% of people DO NOT NEED to!
Nevertheless, the four wisdom teeth usually start to grow through the gums during a person’s late teens or early twenties. Because the other 28 adult teeth are usually in place by this time, the growth of a further four teeth is likely to lead to problems - such as the wisdom teeth displacing the other teeth, partially emerging or growing at an angle - hence the need for wisdom teeth extraction.
Wisdom teeth that do not emerge properly are known as impacted wisdom teeth.
There are four different types of impaction:
Distal: When the wisdom tooth grows away from the tooth next to it and becomes lodged
Horizontal: When the tooth grows horizontally
Mesial: When the wisdom tooth grows at an angle facing the front of the mouth
Vertical: When the wisdom tooth is growing straight but cannot break through the gums properly.
Wisdom teeth that are impacted or have not fully broken through the surface of the gums may cause food and bacteria to get trapped. This can lead to dental caries (tooth decay), cellulitis (infection), gingivitis or periodontal disease (gum disease), pericoronitis (plaque infecting the soft tissue around the tooth), abscesses, cysts or osteomvelitis (an infection inside the bone of your jaw).
Clearly then, the lesson to be learnt here is that if you are experiencing any pain or discomfort due to your wisdom teeth: Go and see your dentist! Your wisdom teeth may not actually need to be extracted - any disease may, in the first instance, be treatable with antiseptic mouthwash or antibiotics.
If you are experiencing problems with your wisdom teeth, do not wait until your next check up. Instead, make an appointment with your dentist whereby they will X-ray your teeth to determine the best course of action - treatment with antibiotics, wisdom teeth extraction by a dentist or by an oral surgeon if the procedure is likely to be more specialist or complicated.
The cost and method of payment should be discussed before the procedure begins. Before surgery, you will be given a local anaesthetic by injection and possibly a sedative if you are especially anxious. General anaesthetics are rarely used - and will be done in a hospital if this is the case.
A small incision will be made in the gum if the wisdom tooth has not broken through. The tooth may also be broken into smaller parts if that makes it easier to extract through the opening. You may also feel some pressure before the tooth is removed because the dentist may need to rock the tooth back and forth in order to widen the socket.
Stitches to seal the gum after an incision has been made may also be necessary. These will dissolve after 7 to 10 days. After extraction, gauze will be placed over the empty tooth socket and you will be required to bite on the gauze for up to an hour in order for a blood clot to form. This is a very important part of the healing process as ‘dry socket’ may occur if a blood clot becomes dislodged or does not form properly. So, if you do need your wisdom teeth extracted - good luck, and let me know how it goes!