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Is
It A Good Idea To Remove Wisdom Teeth:
If
there is not enough room to fully grow into one's mouth, and food may get
trapped under the gums that partially cover the tops of the wisdom
teeth. Unless one practices a rigorous, daily program of dental
hygiene that focuses on the wisdom teeth, the trapped food will produce
decay and gum infection.
In
addition to avoiding decay and infection, extraction is a good idea for
other reasons. If one is 18 years old, the roots of the wisdom teeth
may still be small and far from the large nerve that runs along the
jawbone. After the extractions, bone will more easily fill in the spaces left by the wisdom teeth. All
of this means that the extraction process should be easier and the healing
more rapid and complete.
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Extracting Wisdom Teeth:
Before
we explain precisely how wisdom teeth are removed, here are some
suggestions to make the procedure easier and more comfortable for you:
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You probably won't feel like
driving home after your surgery appointment, so arrange to have a
friend or family member come with you. |
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If you plan to have intravenous
sedation, remember not to eat or drink after midnight the night before
surgery. If you forget, you'll either have to be awake, or
reschedule the appointment |
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Schedule some time off from work
or school. You'll probably want to take it easy for several days after
your appointment. |
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If
you choose intravenous sedation, remember to wear comfortable,
loose-fitting clothes with sleeves that can roll up. |
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An
appointment to have all four wisdom teeth removed normally only takes an
hour or two. You will have gas or intravenous sedation to relax you, and
then your Dentist will numb the entire area around your teeth. The
procedure will not begin until you are completely numb.
Although
you will feel pressure when a tooth is removed, you should not feel any
pain. If you do, let your Dentist know. He will stop
immediately and give you more anesthetic.
Sometimes
it is easier for your Dentist to remove the tooth if he cuts it in half
before removal.
If
your tooth is below the gumline, it will be removed through a small
incision in the gums. A couple of stitches will close the incision.
Having
your wisdom teeth extracted will prevent many future problems, and with
modern dental techniques, the procedure should be completely comfortable.
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Alternatives to Extracting Wisdom
Teeth:
The
alternative to having wisdom teeth removed is to keep them.
A few
lucky people are able to keep their wisdom teeth, and care for them as
they would their other teeth. However, for most of us, this is not
possible, and a delay in their removal can cause serious problems.
In the
first illustration above shown is an impacted wisdom tooth that may push
on other teeth. It can be excruciatingly painful when a wisdom tooth
that has started to erupt becomes infected. This is a common dental
emergency that can cause pain for days, even after antibiotics are
started.
A
misaligned tooth can also cause cavities. In the second illustration
above, is shown an x-ray of a wisdom tooth coming in sideways and causing
a cavity in the second molar. Additionally, wisdom teeth are
nearly impossible to keep free of plaque.
Sown in the 3rd illustration, plaque
caused the cavity in this wisdom tooth. Plaque also causes periodontal
disease, which may start near the wisdom teeth and spread throughout the
mouth. Sometimes cysts form around impacted wisdom teeth; cysts can
destroy a tremendous amount of bone before they are even noticed.
The dark
area shown in the 4th illustration above is a cyst that will require
surgery to repair.
As
time passes, the roots of wisdom teeth may grow around a nerve in the
jaw. When this happens, the nerves entwined in the roots of the
wisdom teeth can be damaged during extraction. This could leave your
lip and chin permanently numb.
Because
of these many serious problems, it's usually better to remove wisdom teeth
early, even before they break through the gums.
Wisdom
teeth, or "third molars," are the last teeth to develop.
If there is room for them, they usually start to appear in the late teens
or early 20's, and that is when problems can begin.
An impacted wisdom tooth may push on other
teeth. It can be excruciatingly painful when a wisdom tooth that is
partially erupted becomes infected. This is a common dental
emergency, and can cause pain for days, even after antibiotics are
started.
There
are many advantages to removing wisdom teeth in the mid-teen years:
| The roots of the teeth are still short |
| There is still a space around them, making them easier to remove |
| There is less risk of nerve damage |
| Bone will fill in better behind the second molar |
All of this adds up to
less pain and faster, easier healing.
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Following A Tooth Extraction:
After
an extraction, it is important for a blood clot to form to stop the
bleeding and begin the healing process. That is why your dentist
will ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after an
extraction. If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the
gauze pad, place another gauze pad on the area and bite firmly for another
30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.
After
the blood clot forms, it is important to protect it, especially for the
next 24 hours. It's important to not:
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Smoke |
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Suck through a straw |
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Rinse your mouth vigorously |
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Clean the teeth next to the
extraction site |
These
activities would dislodge the clot and slow down healing.
Limit
yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours. This keeps your
blood pressure lower, reduces bleeding, and helps the healing process.
After
the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and have some swelling. You
can use an ice bag (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) to keep this to a
minimum. The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours.
To
control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. Don not
take medication on an empty stomach or nausea may result. If
antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length
of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. Also:
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Drink lots of fluids |
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Eat only soft, nutritious foods on
the day of the extraction |
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Do not use alcoholic beverages |
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Avoid hot and spicy foods |
You
can begin eating normally the next day, or if not by then, as soon as it
is comfortable. Gently rinse your mouth with warm saltwater three
times a day (put a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, gently
rinse-swish-spit). Also, rinse gently after meals. This helps
keep food out of the extraction site.
It's
very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This
should include brushing your teeth and tongue and flossing at least once a
day. This will speed healing and help keep your breath and mouth fresh.
Call your dental office immediately if you have:
| heavy
bleeding |
| severe
pain |
| continued
swelling after two or three days |
| a
reaction to the medication |
After
a few days, you wil be feeling fine and can resume your normal activities.
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