As humans reach puberty, they develop the last four molars at the back of their mouths. These molars are commonly referred to as wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, there’s enough space at the back of your mouth to accommodate and allow free and full development of the four extra molars. So, they’ll likely emerge at wrong angles or get stuck beneath your gums.
That’s why dentists recommend the removal of wisdom teeth immediately after they erupt. Continue reading to understand the whole process of removing wisdom teeth.
Why You Should Remove Your Wisdom Teeth
Why some people don’t experience any problems when their wisdom teeth erupt, others go through hell. As noted above, it’s normal for your wisdom teeth not to emerge fully or get stuck underneath your gum. This is what dentists refer to as impacted wisdom teeth. This condition can lead to other serious oral complications if it’s not treated immediately. The most effective treatment for an impacted wisdom tooth is to remove it.
If you delay extracting your impacted wisdom teeth, they’ll cause gum infections around the affected areas. These infections will eventually spread to neighboring teeth and gums, causing bad breath and potential tooth loss. The open sockets in your gum also become hiding spots for bacteria, increasing the risk of infections and cavities. So, make sure your impacted wisdom teeth are removed immediately. Even if your wisdom teeth don’t cause problems immediately, they are likely to develop complications in the future. So, the best choice is to remove them before they become firmly attached to your jawbone.
How to Remove Wisdom Teeth
The first step in extracting your wisdom teeth is preparation. Your dentist will advise you on what you need to do before the extraction procedure. Since this is a surgical procedure, you shouldn’t take aspirin or other blood-thinning drugs at least 24 hours before the procedure to avoid excess bleeding. Also, don’t smoke or take alcohol immediately before the wisdom teeth extraction procedure.
Most wisdom teeth extraction procedures are done in the dentist’s office, but if your teeth are severely impacted, they will be extracted by an oral surgeon. In most cases, you’ll be given local anesthesia to numb the surgical site. But some extractions require an extensive surgical approach, which demands general anesthesia.
During the extraction, your dentist will make a small incision in your gum to expose the impacted wisdom tooth. Sometimes they’ll remove the part of your jawbone preventing the tooth from emerging. Then they’ll extract the tooth. The open wound will be stitched or taped to promote healing. Gauze will be placed on the extraction site to prevent excess bleeding. Finally, you will be given antibiotics and advice on how to take care of the extraction site.
