In general, these teeth have no specific function to perform since our diet mostly consists of soft foods, unlike our ancestors who had to chew that were often raw and hard. However,  they can cause pain and discomfort when they become impacted, and this can be relieved only through wisdom teeth extraction.

Do you have a troublesome molar at the back corner of your mouth?Often, these third molars, called wisdom teeth, exist quietly and rarely cause any harm. They are the latecomers, erupting in your mouth, usually between the ages of 17 to 25 years. Around 53% of people have at least one wisdom tooth, according to a research study. 

Already, questions may be forming in your mind, such as ‘What are the risks of removing wisdom teeth?’ and ‘Why is wisdom tooth extraction necessary? To understand all these, you need to read the next section where we will explain why dentists recommend wisdom tooth removal and the wisdom teeth removal pros and cons.

Understanding Wisdom teeth impaction

Wisdom tooth impaction happens when one or more wisdom teeth don’t have the space to fully emerge, often because of alignment issues or limited space in the jaw. Instead of growing naturally, impacted wisdom teeth may push against neighboring teeth or grow at odd angles, causing discomfort. This impaction can sometimes lead to infections, gum swelling, and even damage to surrounding teeth.

There are several types of impaction:

• Mesial Impaction: The tooth is angled forward, pressing on the next tooth.
• Distal Impaction: The tooth tilts toward the back of the mouth. 
• Vertical Impaction: The molar is properly positioned but trapped below the gums.
• Horizontal Impaction: The tooth is sideways, pressing directly against neighboring teeth.
• Soft Tissue Impaction: Partially emerged, with gum tissue covering part of the tooth.

Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Below are the common signs, but you also need to know that some people may have impacted teeth without symptoms.

• Swollen or bleeding gums
• Pain and discomfort at the back of the mouth
• Jaw pain or stiffness
• Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
• Difficulty opening the mouth
• Headaches or earaches
• Crowding of nearby teeth 

Noticing these signs early can aid in preventing further issues and make the wisdom teeth extraction process smoother.

Dentists usually recommend wisdom teeth extraction if these symptoms arise to prevent wisdom teeth complications, such as damage to nearby teeth or surrounding bone, development of cysts around the wisdom tooth or the development of gum diseases like periodontitis.

Sometimes dentists may recommend dental surgery for wisdom teeth extraction even when the impacted teeth are not causing problems. They suggest this for people in their early 20s or teenage since the risk of complications is low and the patients can tolerate the procedure well at this age. 

Benefits of wisdom tooth extraction

Now that you are familiar with the signs you need wisdom teeth removed let us explore the benefits you stand to gain from wisdom teeth extraction:

1.Pain Relief

Impacted wisdom teeth often cause significant discomfort, especially when pressing on other teeth or leading to infections. Oral surgery for wisdom teeth provides immediate wisdom tooth pain relief and helps prevent future pain as well.

2.Easier Oral Hygiene

Wisdom teeth are challenging to clean because they are located at the back of the mouth. Removing them makes it easier to maintain a clean mouth and prevents cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.

3.Protects Neighboring Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth can create pressure on nearby teeth, leading to shifting, damage, or bacterial buildup. Extraction helps protect surrounding teeth from potential harm.

4.Helps Avoid Orthodontic Treatment

By removing wisdom teeth before they can crowd other teeth, you can often prevent the need to spend on braces or other corrective dental treatments and avoid the discomfort associated with them.

5.Saves Money and Time

Proactively removing wisdom teeth means you won’t need frequent monitoring or extra X-rays. Wisdom teeth can also lead to issues like infections or cysts that may require expensive treatment if left unchecked. Addressing them early can spare you both the financial burden and the inconvenience of multiple follow-up visits.

Risks of removing wisdom teeth

Most people recover smoothly from wisdom tooth removal, but, as with any other surgery, there can be some risks involved, such as Wisdom tooth infection, especially with impacted teeth that require more invasive procedures. During removal, anesthesia is used to ensure comfort. 

While complications are rare, a few potential risks include:

• Dry socket: When the blood clot at the site of surgery dislodges, exposing the bone and nerves, it can lead to a painful condition known as dry socket. While it heals naturally, medication can help ease the discomfort.
• Nerve damage: Rarely, the surgery may cause damage to nearby nerves or blood vessels.
• Infection: Occasionally, bacteria or food particles can cause an infection in the socket, typically a couple of weeks post-surgery.
• Damage to surrounding areas: Nearby teeth, jawbone, or sinuses may be affected, though this is uncommon.

Most of the wisdom teeth extraction is done as an outpatient procedure, letting you go home the same day. The oral surgeon determines suitable anesthesia for you, such as local, sedation, or general anesthesia, based on your general health condition at the time and your preferences. By following the guidelines on How to prepare for wisdom tooth extraction and post-surgery care for wisdom teeth removal, you can recover quickly without complications.

Post-surgery Care and Recovery

After wisdom teeth extraction, following proper care instructions can make a big difference in your recovery. Most people are able to return to regular activities within three to five days, though full healing can take a week or two. Here’s a simple guide for post-surgery care:

• Pain Management: Some discomfort is normal. Use prescribed pain relief or over-the-counter medication as directed by your dentist.
• Reduce Swelling: Apply an ice pack to your face for 20 minutes on and off during the first day to ease swelling.
• Soft Food Diet: For the first few days, stick to soft foods like yoghurt, khichdi, soups, and smoothies. Avoid hard or chewy foods until your mouth feels ready.

• Skip the Straw: Drinking through a straw can disturb healing and cause a painful dry socket. Use a spoon for liquids instead.
• Oral Hygiene: Avoid brushing, rinsing, or spitting in the first 24 hours. After that, gently brush around the surgical area and rinse with warm salt water every few hours.

Following these steps will help ensure a smoother recovery from wisdom tooth removal, better pain management after wisdom tooth removal and help prevent Wisdom teeth complications.

Conclusion

By now, you have a fair idea of wisdom teeth extraction and wisdom tooth removal benefits. Ensure that you get your tooth removed through an experienced oral surgeon. Enquire about Wisdom teeth removal cost before undergoing the procedure.

Our surgeons at Gnathos Dental have years of experience in wisdom teeth extraction, and we follow the highest hygiene practices and use the most advanced equipment and techniques to provide a pain-free experience. For compassionate and personalised care and hospital-based dentistry services, schedule an appointment with us for a complete evaluation and treatment plan. 

FAQs

1.Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed?

All your wisdom teeth do not need to be extracted. Dentists usually suggest wisdom teeth extraction when your third molar is impacted or if it is affecting the health of the neighbouring teeth,

2.What is the Wisdom teeth removal recovery timeline?

Most people can resume their normal routines in about three to five days after wisdom teeth extraction, provided they follow the oral surgeon’s after care guidelines correctly.

3.What are the common wisdom tooth issues?

Some wisdom teeth can lead to dental issues like crowding, where they push against other teeth, or impaction, where they press into the gums or neighboring teeth. This can result in decay, infections, and symptoms such as pain, trouble chewing, and persistent bad breath.

4.What is the right age for wisdom tooth removal?

The correct wisdom tooth removal age is typically between 17 and 25 when the teeth are still forming, and the roots have not developed. The benefits of removing wisdom teeth early at this age are that it becomes easier to remove the tooth and recovery is quicker. However, your dentist can help determine the ideal time based on your dental health and any symptoms.