Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?

Wisdom teeth are the upper and lower third molars that are located at the very back of your mouth. They are deemed as ‘wisdom’ teeth because they come in when a person reaches the age of 18 and this is when some believe they have acquired wisdom. Often a person’s mouth is not big enough to accommodate these molars when the start to emerge. Instead of lining up straight, the tooth may fail to break through the gum and be ‘impacted’ or stuck down in the jaw. When this happens, it can cause the other teeth to crowd together and lead to a lot of pain. Wisdom teeth that have emerged may develop decay or gum disease and be difficult to clean, too. Oftentimes, the gum becomes inflamed and infected which leads to additional pain.
 
Most of the problems with these types of teeth occur when people are between the ages of 15 and 25. Few people over the age of 30 will have problems with these molars. Most dentists prefer people to have them evaluated around the ages of 16 to 20. They don’t want patients waiting until the bones around the teeth grow and harden because this makes extraction more difficult and the healing is slower at an older age, too.
 
Painful Wisdom Teeth – When wisdom teeth become painful they inflame the gum tissue and other soft tissue around them. Pain is the main reason teenagers and young adults want these molars out.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth – When the molars fail to fully break through the gum line, they become what dentists call ‘impacted’. The back teeth that emerge at odd angles cause pain, infection, and problems chewing.

Decayed Wisdom Teeth – Teeth that are located in areas where they can’t be brushed adequately, they develop decay or are susceptible to dental caries. If wisdom teeth do become decayed, they should be removed as opposed to filled because the decaying will continue and other problems may develop.

Overcrowded Wisdom Teeth – If a person’s jaw size and mouth shape causes crowding of other teeth that are close by, this leads to pain and damages the surrounding neighboring teeth.

What are the Risks Associated with Having Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Below you'll find a list of possible complications after having removed wisdom teeth:  

• pain and swelling of the gums in the area where the tooth was removed
• continuous bleeding that lasts for longer than 12 hours
• trismus or pain when opening the mouth
• slow-to-heal gums
• damage to the dental work of crowns, bridges, or nearby teeth
• dry socket  which is painful inflammation due to loss of the protective blood clot come out
• injury or inflammation to the jaw nerves that happens from anesthesia
• permanent numbness of the mouth and lips

More on Why Wisdom Teeth Should Come Out

There are many reasons not to have your wisdom teeth removed. You may never suffer any pain or problems due to these molars. There are many risk involved with removing the wisdom teeth to consider. If you have reached the age of 30, you may not have any more problems with your teeth. These large molars that are located at the back of the mouth can be irritating to many people. In some cases, the wisdom teeth cause pain that goes down to the jaw and the neck regions. In rare instances, the pain causes headaches. Whatever your decision is, make sure you get informed by your dentists up front of the costs, the downtime requirements, and the risks that are associated with the extraction process.
   

Tips on Preparing for Wisdom Teeth Surgery

• Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing with sleeves that are easily rolled up.
• Don’t wear any jewelry to the appointment or remove watches, bracelets, and rings before it.
• Bring someone to drive you home. Some surgeries take up to 60 minutes and recovering lasts around 20 minutes. An escort is mandatory as you will be under the influence of pain medication and unable to drive.
• Do not eat or drink for at least six hours prior to the surgery.
• Take all your prescribed medications before the surgery related to diabetes, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, and heart conditions. Be sure the dentist is aware of the fact that you take any blood thinners, however. Be sure you take your medicine with small sips of water or juice.

What Can I Eat After the Surgery?

The first two days following wisdom teeth extraction, you will need to be on a soft diet and drink lots of fluids. This will include ice cream, mashed potatoes, soups, and bananas.

What Can I Expect After the Surgery?

After you have had your wisdom teeth pulled, a 48 to 72 hour recovery period is expected. Patients are reevaluated after this time to check the healing and assess for any complications that may arise. Bleeding is expected postoperatively (after the operation) and may continue for up to ten hours. Just a little blood when mixed with saliva looks like a lot of blood. Pressure to the surgical site will help for bleeding control. Sometimes, sutures are placed in the gum during surgery. Some dentists ask that you use a tea bag soaked in warm water and then wrapped in gauze. The tannic acid from tea will constrict the blood vessels and allow blood to clot easier.

One complication is edema or swelling. To cut down on swelling, ice is often used. Elevating the patient’s head sometimes helps. One concerning event that could happen is that some patients experience what may be known as rebound swelling from the medications used during surgery. Some dentists recommend that if you have serious swelling, not to panic and apply ice for it. Another complication that often occurs following wisdom teeth removal is that pain occurs in the muscles around the jaws. This is a postoperative problem that may need treatment using steroids and muscle relaxants.

Probably the worst impediment that could occur after the extraction of wisdom molars is an infection. The natural immune mechanisms protect the surgical site in 90% of cases. Dentists will prescribe some oral antibiotics to help the problem, too. This is called ‘prophylatic’ support treatment. Should infection occur, the patient is at risk for a ‘dry socket’. It is not dry, the name comes from the clinical appearance of the healing tissue that develops localized inflammation and infection. If this occurs, the dentist may use a local anesthetic ointment and stronger antibacterial agents.