Wisdom teeth are the last and final set of teeth that begin eruption in your late teens and goes on till the end of the 20’s and sometimes even till the early 30’s. The eruptions are usually quite uncomfortable, causing pain and in the cases of many absolute agony. Wisdom teeth, known otherwise as third molars, are the final four teeth, two at the bottom, two at the top, one each on either ends.
Some studies into the causes for wisdom teeth eruptions has lead scientists to believe that although our jaws have narrowed, the number of teeth have not changed. Wisdom teeth dates back to our first ancestors who ate a lot of foliage, requiring a lot of grinding and chewing in the back of the mouth.
These days wisdom teeth eruptions are almost unnecessary, although some of us have room in our jaws to accommodate them. But for the rest of us, wisdom teeth leads to risk of infection, impacted wisdom teeth, in which case forward teeth become dislodged from its socket, and some eruptions can be so painful as the tooth itself is much bigger than the space allocated. This is why wisdom teeth must be removed to eliminate the risk of dental disease later on.
Why is Wisdom Tooth Extraction Necessary?
- Reduced space means high risk of adjacent teeth becoming infected as well
- To eliminate the risk of swelling and gum disease
- When damage can be caused to the surrounding bone and jaws
- Eliminate risk of teeth crowding
Wisdom Tooth Extraction Process
The Extraction of Wisdom Teeth is a similar process to general extraction but is approached with careful planning due to the location. The patient is giving anaesthetic via an injection to numb the area completely. Your dentist will make sure the anaesthesia has taken effect by tapping the region. Simple wisdom tooth extraction is when the tooth has erupted sufficiently well or has crowned. This extraction is pretty straightforward. In the case of an impacted tooth, in which case the tooth has angled itself against the adjacent tooth due to reduced space, the surgery will take longer than normal. In this case, a tiny incision is made to the gums just above the tooth. The dentist will break the tooth in to three or four small pieces and remove them one at a time to reduce the damage caused to the jaw, gums, and adjacent tooth. The incision is usually a small one, requiring no stitch at all; however your dental surgeon may have just one stick to help the gums heal.
