Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to appear, usually between the ages of 16 and 21. As this is typically the age that most people begin to mature and gain wisdom, these teeth are known as wisdom teeth. In reality, these teeth have nothing to do with wisdom, of course. Instead, they signify a late teen/early adulthood milestone that is faced by the majority of people all over the world.
These teeth are the third and final molars on both sides of the upper and lower jaws. When the teeth are healthy and ideally positioned, they do not cause any issues. In the majority of cases, however, wisdom teeth remain trapped beneath the gum and bone, pushed against the teeth in front. This is known as impaction. Sometimes, the teeth may partially erupt when other teeth crowd the jaw. Partially erupted teeth often tilt to one side, causing damage to surrounding teeth. As you can imagine, impaction causes a number of issues, from oral disease to pain, swelling, tooth damage and more. Due to the fact that teeth that are removed before the age of 20 typically have underdeveloped roots, with reduced complications, most dental professionals will advise that patients between the ages of 16 and 19 require regular checkups to determine whether wisdom tooth removal is necessary.
What do you need to know about wisdom teeth, and what can you expect if your dentist recommends removal of one or more wisdoms for you or your child? Keep reading to find out.
A Guide to Wisdom Teeth
The best way to ensure that wisdom teeth do not cause any more havoc then they need to is to schedule regular appointments with us at Gateway Dental. This will help to spot problems before they worsen. Your dentist can determine whether any impaction has occurred and then make an informed decision after taking dental x-rays and doing an examination.
Impaction means that the tooth is trapped under the gums or within the jaw . Problems arise from impaction when there is insufficient space for wisdoms to erupt without causing damage to the adjacent teeth. Problems can also be caused when wisdoms erupt sideways in the wrong position. Some of the signs that your dentist will be noting include the following:
- Wisdoms that are in the wrong position, which can allow food to be trapped. This, in turn, increases the risk of cavities and bacteria.
- Wisdoms that are impacted, which make it difficult to floss and brush both the wisdoms and the adjacent teeth.
- Impacted wisdoms, which breed bacteria, increase infection and cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the jaw.
- Crowded wisdoms, which damage the adjacent teeth and cause skew or worn teeth.
- Impacted wisdoms that have caused cysts on or next to impacted tooth, which can damage roots and even destroy the bone of your jaw.
Wisdom tooth extraction is required if there is significant pain, infection, cysts, tumours, damage to adjacent teeth, gum disease or tooth decay. You may also be advised to consider extraction if you are getting braces or implants, too. Your dentist will first do a full examine and take x-rays before making any decisions. From there, you will be advised on the best course of treatment.
Tooth extraction is no longer an ordeal to fear, thanks to modern sedation. Your dentist will either give you a local anaesthetic if the teeth have already erupted or a general if the tooth is badly impacted. If the tooth is embedded in the bone, a small incision in the gum will be made to remove the tooth as it is or in sections on chair at the practice or in theatre under general anaesthesia. If the tooth has already erupted straight, it will be extracted like any other tooth. Some swelling, pain and tenderness is to be expected. Ice packs and pain medication will help to ease your discomfort, and you will need to keep the wound packed for a few hours. If post operative instructions are not followed patient may end up with complications such as dry socket. However, the majority of patients who have had wisdom tooth extraction report little to no issues.
To find out more about wisdom teeth treatment and removal in Durban and surrounds, contact Gateway Dental today.