According to the American Journal of Public Health, dentists perform wisdom tooth extractions about five million times yearly. Also known as the third set of molars, wisdom teeth are the only teeth not necessary for the mouth. Instead, they are a relic of evolution from when humans consumed harder foods, serving as a set of extra molars.
Wisdom teeth typically appear between your late teens to early 30s, and they are the most likely set of teeth to develop issues, like tooth decay, due to their location at the back of the mouth. Therefore, patients are typically evaluated individually to determine if they need a wisdom tooth extraction. The dentist’s recommendation usually depends on how likely the tooth will cause future problems.
Various factors determine if a person needs to have one or more wisdom teeth extracted. Reasons that a dentist might recommend extracting a wisdom tooth include the following.
Wisdom teeth in the back of the mouth make them harder to clean than other teeth. As a result, bacteria and food particles can accumulate on them, leading to decay. A dentist might choose to treat a minor cavity with fillings, but they might recommend extraction if the tooth is severely decayed, damaged, or infected.
Extraction is often recommended if a severe issue like an infection develops on a wisdom tooth because it is hard to justify the costs of fixing it. The tooth still has a high chance of developing other issues that require expensive treatments. Extracting the tooth provides the best solution because wisdom teeth are not needed for good oral health.
A tooth is impacted when it fails to erupt above the gumline, typically due to being stuck in bone and gum tissues. An impacted tooth will likely become infected, and its growth can negatively impact adjacent teeth. Therefore, dentists typically recommend extracting impacted wisdom teeth before they cause serious damage to the mouth.
Some people do not have enough space on their jaw to accommodate all four wisdom teeth. That can lead to issues like crowded teeth as wisdom teeth start to emerge. A dentist can help prevent this by extracting wisdom teeth to make more space for the rest of the patient’s teeth.
Dentists often recommend removing wisdom teeth to avoid dealing with bigger issues in the future. One of the most common concerns being wisdom teeth are harder to clean, which makes them more vulnerable to decay. Many people who opt not to have their wisdom teeth removed often end up doing so in their senior years. The problem is that the risk of complications from oral surgery goes up as a person ages.
Wisdom tooth extraction may require a surgical approach to open the gum tissue and remove the bone. This procedure carries some risks, just as any surgery does. However, these risks are small and do not usually result in long-term complications. Some possible complications include the following:
Dry socket: This occurs when the blood clot over the extraction site gets dislodged. A dry socket leaves the nerve under the gums exposed to air and food debris. Patients should contact us about any sharp, throbbing pain so we can clean the site and cover it.
Excessive Bleeding: Bleeding for the first eight to 12 hours after extraction is normal. We recommend refraining from smoking and eating soft foods to minimize bleeding. Patients can also rinse with salt water while waiting for a blood clot to form over the extraction area.
Limited Mouth Opening: Patients may experience difficulty opening their mouths after this lengthy procedure. This restriction and discomfort should disappear after a short period. We may recommend heat therapy, pain medication, or a jaw-opening device if it remains.
Following all care instructions and notifying the patient’s supervising dental provider about any issues can help prevent or reduce these complications.
After the procedure, it is important to follow the post-operative instructions to ensure a smooth healing process. Some blood oozing is normal after the procedure, but avoid excessive spitting, which can cause the blood clot to dislodge from the socket. Patients can also apply an ice pack to reduce bruising and swelling. We recommend drinking plenty of water and sticking to soft foods for the first 24 hours.
Patients should notify their dental provider immediately about any abnormal symptoms after the procedure, such as excessive bleeding and fever. These signs can indicate an infection or other complications.
Our dentist can evaluate your mouth to determine if you need to have your wisdom teeth extracted. Give us a call or stop by our Bethesda clinic to learn more about how wisdom tooth extraction and its benefits.
Please request an appointment here: https://www.villadental.com or call Villa Dental at (301) 409-3583 for an appointment in our Bethesda office.
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