So, what’s so special about wisdom teeth? What you may hear about them is that they have to be removed and it is painful. However, this is not a regular occurrence; most people don’t need dental surgery for wisdom teeth.

There are several ways wisdom teeth can cause problems. Some of the main ones are outlined here:

Impaction: An impacted wisdom tooth is jammed sideways under the gums, i.e. it has not emerged out of the gums. That means it is wedged sideways against a barrier, such as the root of another tooth; therefore, it is not able to cut through the gums. This may happen in one of these ways (with the most common listed first):

1. The tooth is angled toward the front of the mouth.
2. The tooth is angled toward the back of the mouth.
3. The tooth is at a ninety-degree angle, bumping sideways into the molar next door.

Partial Eruption: This means that a molar emerges only partly through the gums. The main problem with this is that the gums are firmly attached only at the base of the tooth. The upper part of the tooth is covered by loose gum tissue, which acts like a flap, also known as an “operculum.” Food gets stuck in there, but it’s hard to get to the pocket with a toothbrush, so cavities or infection (or both) may be the result.

Infection: Infected tissue, which may or may not be abscessed, is usually marked by swollen gums and redness around the wisdom tooth, difficulty in opening the mouth, a bad odor or taste in the mouth, or jaw pain, which can also run down the neck.

Even if a difficulty like one of the above occurs with any of your wisdom teeth, it does not necessarily constitute a reason to remove them. Your dentist or dental surgeon will make that determination, depending on whether he believes it is going to cause more harm than good to keep them. The loose gum (operculum) could be surgically cut off, but this operation is usually not recommended, due to possible nerve damage in the cheek or tongue.

Removing Wisdom Teeth: Some reasons to extract wisdom teeth are:

* They can cause pain from friction against cheeks or tongue.
* They can be liable to infection, resulting in extreme discomfort or worse.
* They can push your teeth out of place, causing crowding.
* They can cause severe pain and medical problems.

Surgery to extract wisdom teeth is very problematic. Since a wisdom tooth is a large molar, usually embedded deeply in the gums and sometimes still stuck to the bone of the jaw, extreme care is taken to ensure the complete tooth is removed. Also, near the wisdom teeth, there are several nerves that serve tongue and cheeks. It is important not to disturb these at all, because permanent injury could result.

Post-Operative Care:

Following surgery, after-care instructions are given and must be followed in order to prevent future problems. An appointment some time after the operation with your surgeon is necessary and usually recommended about seven to ten days after the extraction. The surgeon will want to ensure that the healing of the wound is going well with no complications.

Usually the bleeding doesn’t end completely for two to three days, but the amount of blood is less after the first day. It is usually best not to rinse the mouth, as this might hinder healing and clotting. Your dentist will probably give you a supply of gauze pads, but if you run out, you can substitute wet tea bags; tea contains tannins, which staunch blood flow. If the bleeding continues heavily after the first day, the dental surgeon should be notified right away.

You may also notice an unpleasant odor coming from the surgical site for a week or two. This is normal and should disappear.

A sockets can get clogged with dirt or food. The surgeon can clean out the socket so it won’t get infected.

A “dry socket” is an inflammation of the bone next to the socket. It is not completely known why this occurs, but the condition might be brought on by pressure (such as suction or blowing) on the empty socket. Ibuprofen, or another anti-inflammatory, reduces the inflammation and pain, normally within a few weeks.

You can expect some swelling. However, it should not last more than a week or so. If the area swells up again later, your surgeon should be informed as soon as it happens.

Provided by Greenway Dental Group, MA

To find out more about Wisdom Teeth, visit Dentist in Greenbelt Maryland.

The major danger with wisdom teeth is they have the risk of becoming impacted and need to be extracted. Sometimes they can be pulled, although in most cases they need to be chipped out by a qualified surgeon. When the time comes to have your wisdom teeth extracted, you will need to go to an oral surgeon and have a consultation first.

The consultation generally involved taking a sets of x-rays that will let the surgeon know about the severity your wisdom teeth are. He will reviews the results with you, take a look in your mouth, then tell you what options you have. If he is going to pull or cut out your teeth, you will have the option of using local anaesthesia or going with intravenous sedation. An IV sedation is the preferred way to have wisdom teeth extracted, as you will be so relaxed you will not know what is going on. If you decide to just use local anaesthesia, which is numbing, you will be fully aware of the procedure. You will also hear the popping and cracking involved, which can make you feel quite uncomfortable. Refer to Dentistry Sandton for further information.

The ease of the extraction process is guided by the shape, size, and the formation of the wisdom teeth. If the root tips have managed to wrap themselves around the bone, the removal process can be very time consuming and quite painful. Once the extractions have been completed, there is normally little to no swelling involved. Your dentist will prescribe you some pain medicine, which you should use as soon as you arrive home. If you are going to use IV sedation, you will need to someone to accompany you, as you will not be able to drive home.

Once the removal of your wisdom teeth is done, your dentist will advise you on what you need to do to ensure the proper healing of your gums and mouth. Normally, he will give you information to go over, to make sure that you experience no problems in the healing process. Someone will need to be with you for the first 24 hours, to make sure that you ok. You will not be able to eat certain foods for the first 48 hours, which is to be expected. Once you get your wisdom teeth removed through – you will notice a big improvement in your mouth – and your health. Visit Dentistry Johannesburg for more information.