An Introduction to Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that grow at the back of your gums. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each corner, but there are chances of having fewer or more. They are the last teeth to come through – usually between the ages of 16 and 25. By this time, the other teeth are already grown in place, thus giving very little room for a wisdom tooth to come out properly. Due to lack of space, they are misaligned or emerged partially. This situation can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone and nerves. Thus it is recommended to extract wisdom teeth before it is too late.

Impacted wisdom teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth are such that emerge at an angle or get stuck and emerge partially. Depending on the way they grow, they are divided into four types.

Vertical impaction – this situation persists when the tooth is grown straight, but cannot break through gums properly just because it is stuck against the adjacent tooth. Horizontal impaction – As the name suggests, 'horizontal impaction', is a type where the tooth is grown horizontally. Mesial impaction - If your dentist finds your tooth growing at an angle facing towards the front of the mouth, he will consider this type as a mesial impaction. Distal impaction – When your tooth is grown in such a way where it is blocked far away from the adjacent tooth, this type will be called as distal impaction.

Partial eruption or awkward positioning of wisdom teeth permits an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth causing an infection which then results in swelling, pain, jaw stiffness and general illness. To avoid such problems, it is always recommended to extract the tooth without giving it a second thought.

How are wisdom teeth extracted?

During the first consultation, your professional dentist will take an X-ray of your wisdom teeth in order to get an idea about its positioning as well as the length of eruption. Depending on your condition, he will then recommend appropriate medications and treatments.

The process of extracting wisdom tooth begins after giving local anaesthesia to the patient. This will numb the area and your oral surgeon will be able to remove tooth without any pain. He will first open up the gum tissue over the tooth and look out for any bone present covering the tooth. If it is there, it is essential to get it out. The next step is to separate tissue connecting the tooth to the bone and then wisdom tooth is removed. If it is difficult to eradicate the entire tooth, dentists might even cut them into pieces so that the process becomes simpler and easier. Once the tooth is removed successfully, it is now time for the stitches. Your dentist will let you know whether the stitches will dissolve naturally or will require next session to remove them. To prevent heavy bleeding, he will also place the folded cotton gauze pad over the wound.

Undeniably, this process is easy to perform on younger people because the roots are not completely developed, whereas, when it comes to adults, the recovery and healing time is much longer.

Possible hitches after surgery

Bleeding, facial swelling, aching sensation in your gum or jaw, bad smell or taste and dry socket are common problems found in patients after surgery. If any of these symptoms persists for over three days, visit the clinic immediately.

What to do after surgery?

Stay away from smoking for at least 24 hours. Using ice pack on the outside of your cheek is beneficial. Eating soft food is necessary such as gelatine, pudding or a thin soup. Do not rub the area with your tongue. Moreover, carefully brush and floss.

If you are planning to undergo wisdom teeth removal in Perth, WA, make sure to do your homework before taking the decision. This will keep you away from all the possible hitches after surgery. Click here for more information.