Since they are the final molars to emerge at the back of your mouth, wisdom teeth are likely to be jammed and get trapped inside the gum because they don’t have enough space to emerge fully. Unfortunately, impacted wisdom teeth can cause severe oral complications like a bacterial infection, tooth decay, jaw pain, discomfort, and many more.
That’s why medical experts advise people to have their wisdom teeth removed as soon as they emerge. This article will tell you everything you need to know about the wisdom tooth removal procedure.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last set of four molars that erupt at the back of your mouth. They are flatter than other molars. These molars erupt between the ages of 17 and 25.
Why Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Necessary?
You Don’t Need Them
In the medical field, wisdom teeth are commonly referred to as the mouth’s appendix because they do not serve any purpose in your mouth. This means that you can continue to live everyday life without wisdom teeth. That’s why medical experts advise people to get rid of their wisdom teeth as soon as they erupt.
They are Impacted
If your wisdom teeth get trapped under the gum or erupt at the wrong angle, you will experience constant pain and discomfort in your jaw. So, the only effective way to fix this problem is to remove the impacted wisdom teeth immediately.
They’ve Caused Gum Disease
You should also consider removing your wisdom teeth if they’ve already developed cavities or gum disease. If you don’t remove them, they will soon affect the neighboring teeth or cause other severe oral complications.
How Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Done?
Since wisdom tooth removal is an invasive surgical procedure, you will be given anesthesia to ease the pain and make you comfortable. There are three types of anesthesia used in this procedure: local, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. Local anesthesia is for the less complicated extraction procedures, while IV sedation and general anesthesia are for the more invasive procedures.
If the wisdom tooth is trapped under the gum or comes in at the wrong angle, your doctor has to cut your gum or jawbone to get it out. Once the tooth has been removed, the doctor will stitch the wound and probably stuff gauze pads in your mouth to help soak up the blood. They will also advise you on how to take care of the wounds for faster healing. Make sure you follow the doctor’s guidelines.
