Entrusting a dentist with tooth extraction can be a frightening ordeal especially for patients in their teens and early twenties. With obstacles like education and careers, having aching gums and jawbones is not quite what patients had in mind during these developing years.
For many patients, choosing to delay the wisdom teeth removal procedure because of anxiety concerns and costs can lead to further detrimental factors down the track. The following article with Mona Goodarzi DDS in Irvine discusses wisdom teeth and why patients need to consider the need for extraction to avoid more extensive and costly treatments.
Understanding wisdom teeth
There are four wisdom teeth which are more specifically named third molars. They are located at the back of the mouth; where each tooth is individually grown from the ends of both jaws.
Not all patients will have fully grown wisdom teeth. For some these teeth will only stay below the surface and for others wisdom teeth may never develop, but generally most patients will develop wisdom teeth and when pain and other problems arise, eventually they may need to be removed.
The need for wisdom tooth extraction
Sometimes when wisdom teeth grow but don’t break through the gums, the tooth becomes ‘impacted’. This type of issue can cause long-term oral health problems like gum disease (periodontal disease), crowding of the teeth, and could even lead to abscesses or tumours if left untreated.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you may need extraction:
- The wisdom teeth may be growing in an angled direction – damaging or crowding the adjacent teeth
- Just a generally feeling of sickness that is wisdom tooth related
- Experiencing excessive pain from the growth or to provide an alternative to avoid the pain all together
- Continuous headaches
- Avoid impaction where the tooth has not got enough room to break through the gums and fit comfortably
- Infected, inflamed or swollen gums
- There is presence of tooth decay or rot due to difficulty cleaning
Do they have to be removed?
You may find that you don’t actually need you wisdom teeth removed. In this case your teeth would have grown out with infection-free gums, no tooth overlay, all teeth are neatly aligned and uncrowded and proper cleaning is possible.
Preventative reasons for extraction
If a patient has undergone orthodontic treatment at a young age, we will advise the removal of their wisdom teeth because delaying the extraction could mean that their other natural teeth could move.
This would probably mean that the patient needs more orthodontic treatment, around the ages of teen to early twenties – is definitely not ideal. Likewise, if a patient wishes to straighten their teeth with orthodontic treatment, we would advise the removal of wisdom teeth.
After the removal
When it comes to wisdom tooth removal, it is essential for the patient to ensure they stick to the instructions given by our dental professionals.
During the first 24 hours after the treatment, the patient may experience some bleeding of the gums, a bit of pain and a few other symptoms but not to worry! Our dentist will ensue that you are fully informed and mentally prepared for the post-treatment care.