Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars or wisdom teeth, usually emerge from the gums between the ages of 17 and 24. They are the last of the large molars in the back of your mouth; you may have as many as four: one in each corner of your mouth. Some people never develop these molars.
When do wisdom teeth need to be removed?
For some people, wisdom teeth do not cause any problems and do not need to be removed. However, if there is not enough room for them to erupt and position themselves properly in the mouth, they become what are known as impacted or impacted wisdom teeth and can cause pain, swelling and infection. In other cases, third molars erupt in a correct and well positioned way, but accumulate food, plaque or tartar, because tooth brushing can be very complicated in the area in case there is not a good mouth opening or space to be able to position the brush in the back of the mouth and perform an ideal technique.
There are different degrees of difficulty for third molar extractions, ranging from a simple extraction (just like any other tooth), a semi-impacted molar extraction consisting of removal of tissue around the molar in order to extract it, sometimes combined with slight bone removal, to a surgical extraction with bone removal in order to access the impacted third molar.
Symptoms of impacted or impacted wisdom teeth:
Impacted wisdom teeth do not always cause symptoms. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other oral problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms in the third molar area:
-Reddened, tender, swollen or bleeding gums.
-Pain and/or swelling around the jawbone
-Bad breath
-Unpleasant taste in the mouth
-Difficulty opening the mouth
You may need to have your wisdom teeth extracted, whether they are erupted, impacted or impacted, if they cause the following problems:
- Pain
- Accumulation of food or debris in the form of plaque or tartar around them.
- Gum infection
- Cavities
- Damage to neighboring teeth or surrounding bone
- Periodontal pocket formation
- Complications with orthodontic treatment to straighten other teeth.
Risks of not extracting a third molar when necessary:
- Recurrent gum infections.
- Bone loss around the second molar due to the presence of bacteria in the area, which leads to its mobility and even its loss.
- Caries at the root level or reabsorption of the roots of the second molar caused by the pressure of a third molar impacted against the second molar, sometimes it can even represent the loss of this piece.
- Severe infections at the bone level due to the presence of bacteria.
Preparing for a surgical extraction
A special diet will be recommended to help an optimal healing, so have at home: chicken broth, vegetables or soft noodles, coconut, almond or soy milk and small seedless fruits. Avoid consumption of fatty foods, irritants, dairy products (milk, cheeses, yogurt, creams, etc.) or raw seafood, among others.
Have at hand material to make hot and cold compresses, as well as a soft bristle brush with a small head (a children’s brush is suggested), which will be very useful if the opening of the mouth is compromised by inflammation and pain.
Attend the day of the procedure having eaten your daily diet and not consuming caffeine.
Preferably schedule your appointment on a day close to the weekend or rest days, since you will be asked to rest for a few days, depending on each case.
Post-surgical risks
Most wisdom tooth extractions do not cause complications, as long as you follow the home care recommended by the specialist, take your prescribed medication and have a good hygiene after consuming the recommended food. However, the extraction of third molars as well as any other dental extraction can lead to these complications:
- Dry socket causing pain due to bone exposure when the post-surgical blood clot is lost from the wound site (socket) this can occur either due to: not following post-operative indications and care or poor clotting or healing.
- Infection of the alveolus caused by bacteria or trapped food particles, usually caused by poor hygiene.
- In very rare cases, anatomical structures, adjacent teeth, nearby nerves or sinuses may be compromised.
After surgery When is it important to call the dentist?
If you have any of the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate an infection:
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
- Excessive bleeding
- Fever
- Severe pain that is not relieved by prescription pain medications
- Swelling that gets worse after two or three days
- An unpleasant taste in the mouth that does not go away after rinsing with salt water
- Pus or oozing in the socket
- Persistent numbness or loss of sensation
- Blood or pus in the nasal discharge
Full recovery from the surgical removal of a third molar occurs after 2 to 3 weeks, depending on each case. After the intervention, in addition to feeling pain, it is normal that the wound may bleed for at least 24 hours.
It does not have to be complicated, at Makeover we will guide you with all the important recommendations and aftercare to make the procedure a success. We know how to treat these conditions with total knowledge and efficiency.
We invite you to schedule an appointment for an assessment with us at makeoverdentalstudio@hotmail.com or call us at MX (664)634-2023 / EU (619) 202-0423.
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