Wisdom tooth extraction is often a recommended procedure. Since this often requires enough time for recovery post-operation, and benefits for the patient are not always visible, people would often ask if this is really needed. “First do no harm is a core principle in medicine. So procedures, that are unneeded is recommended to be avoided
When should a wisdom tooth be kept in mouth?
In many cases the patients should not extract their wisdom teeth. When their wisdom teeth are in a proper position, and have good contact with the teeth on the other jaw, they should be kept. If we care properly for these teeth and they are healthy, the patient can keep them. The patient should care for them just like all the other teeth. Visit your dentist every six months, so you can fix any problems on time. Call us for a regular check-up appointment.
Wisdom teeth – what could possibly go wrong?
The wisdom tooth is in malposition (abnormal position)
Sometimes the tooth has grown out, but due to its position, it is practically unusable. The wisdom tooth makes no contact with the opposing teeth. In a nutshell, it is not chewing, hence not providing the function it is supposed to. This is not a problem per se, but on teeth like that food would stick easily. Also, for the patient it would be hard to properly clean these places. The final result would be a cavity. Due to the abnormal position, it would be hard for the dentist to fix these teeth. Besides that, cheeks are also often traumatized by these wisdom teeth which results in ulcers and wounds
X-rays are a must before wisdom teeth extraction
Patially impacted wisdom tooth
This happens more often to lower wisdom teeth. Because there is not enough space for the whole tooth, only a part of the tooth has erupted. And ucosa covers the other part. Patients have hard time brushing the wisdom tooth, and dentists can’t properly fix it. Long term, this could result in two distinctive problems.
Constantly repeating chronic inflammation of the soft tissues around the wisdom tooth
Due to the fact that the wisdom tooth is partially covered with mucosa, food sticks easily there. And for the patient it is hard to properly clean it. The end result is inflammation of the soft tissues. Sometimes the symptoms of it are just dull pain and discomfort in the region. Sometimes the inflammation spreads into a larger region, and the jaw muscles are affected. The patient cannot properly open his or her mouth, and the pain is unbearable.
Tooth decay
Besides inflammation of the soft tissues, food causes cavities as well. This is destruction of the enamel and the dentist of the wisdom tooth. At the beginning, the patient feels pain and discomfort at first from cold, sour and sweet. The abnormal position of the tooth makes it harder for the dentist to treat it. At the end, the cavity would lead to pulp inflammation – a really painful diagnose, that can go on for weeks, and can be hardly subdued by painkillers.
The wisdom tooth is fully impacted and causes damage to the neighbouring teeth
Unfortunately, even when wisdom teeth are completely impacted, they cause problems. Being in off position – for example horizontal to what they should be – they slowly but surely damage the neighbouring tooth. Or the reason for cyst development. They are like a ticking time bomb, that at the end not only the wisdom, but the molars next to it will be extracted.
Orthodontic reasons for wisdom tooth extraction
Sometimes the space for wisdom teeth is just not enough. While erupting, they push their neighbours in different directions. The end result is often crowding and a smile that makes you unhappy. The process is irreversible. And the only way back is orthodontic treatment. The wisdom teeth space must be freed and used for the forthcoming treatment. Do you want to know what the orthodontic treatment with Invisalign aligners can do for you? Click here!
We are also smiling when the recovery of our patients after wisdom tooth extraction was fast
This is a short list of the reasons behind a wisdom tooth extraction. Medicine deals with prognosis, and you can be lucky and get away with it. And the forecasted bad outcome could just pass you away. If you don’t want to play dice with your dental health, then call us. And our specialist d-r Dacheva would be more than happy to help.