Trouble with your Wisdom Teeth?

Most people need to have their wisdom teeth extracted, but the reasons why vary from person to person. You should remove you wisdom tooth if you have one of the following conditions:

  • They are trapped below your gum line, or impacted, due to lack of space in the jawline.
  • They are erupting into an abnormal position, either, tilted, sideways or twisted.
  • An infection has developed around your wisdom tooth from trapped food, plaque and bacteria.
  • The bite of your teeth has changed, causing malocclusion and misalignment of the teeth.
  • The erupted wisdom tooth is hard to reach and lacks proper hygiene, resulting in tooth decay.

The extraction of wisdom tooth is a simple procedure. The dentist will ask you to take x-rays of your teeth and jawline to analyze the positions of your teeth and plan extraction. They will remove the wisdom tooth with a selection of surgical instruments. Your dentist will give you advice on how to ease any pain and help recovery of the area after wisdom tooth removal.

What Happens During Surgery?

Before surgery, your surgeon will discuss with you what to expect. This is a good time to ask questions or express your concerns. It is especially important to let the doctor know about any illness you have and medications you are taking. The relative ease with which a wisdom tooth may be removed depends on several conditions, including the position of the tooth and root development. Impacted wisdom teeth may require a more involved surgical procedure.

What is an Impacted Tooth?

Complications such as infection (fig. a) , damage to adjacent teeth (fig. b) and the formation of cysts (fig. c) may arise from impacted teeth.

A tooth becomes impacted when there is a lack of space in the dental arch and its growth and eruption are prevented by overlying gum, bone or another tooth.

How Serious is an Impacted Tooth?

Impacted teeth can be painful and lead to infection.They may also crowd or damage adjacent teeth or roots. More serious problems may occur if the sac surrounding the impacted tooth becomes filled with fluid and enlarges to form a cyst. As the cyst grows it may hollow out the jaw and permanently damage adjacent teeth, the surrounding bone and nerves. Rarely, if a cyst is not treated, a tumor may develop from its walls and a more serious surgical procedure may be required to remove it. Despite the considerable concern regarding impacted third molars, a recent study sponsored by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation finds that third molars which have broken through the tissue and erupted into the mouth in a normal, upright position may be as prone to disease as those third molars that remain impacted.

Must the Tooth Come Out if it Hasn’t Caused Any Problems Yet?

Not all problems related to third molars are painful or visible. Damage can occur without your being aware of it. As wisdom teeth grow, their roots become longer, the teeth become more difficult to remove and complications become more likely. In addition, impacted wisdom teeth are more likely to cause problems as patients age. No one can predict when third molar complications will occur, but when they do, the circumstances can be much more painful and the teeth more difficult to treat. It is estimated that about 85% of third molars will eventually need to be removed.

When Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Wisdom teeth are easier to remove when the patient is younger, since their roots are not completely formed, the surrounding bone is softer, and there is less chance of damaging nearby nerves or other structures. Removal of wisdom teeth at a later age becomes more complicated as the roots have fully developed (may involve the nerve), and the jawbone is denser.

It isn’t wise to wait until your wisdom teeth start to bother you. In general, earlier removal of wisdom teeth results in a less complicated healing process. The AAOMS/OMSF study strongly recommends that wisdom teeth be removed by the time the patient is a young adult in order to prevent future problems and to ensure optimal healing. The researchers found that older patients may be at greater risk for disease, including periodontists, in the tissues surrounding the third molars and adjacent teeth. Periodontal infections, such as those observed in this study, may affect your general health.