About 5 million Americans have had their wisdom teeth pulled, resulting in a yearly cost of $3 billion.
You might be one of the people who has received this routine surgery. If so, the dentist more than likely pulled them because they were interrupting the wellness of the rest of your teeth. Our wisdom teeth are the last of our grown-up teeth to form, and they are typically extracted during our teens and early twenties. For some people, their wisdom teeth surface without any complications or discomfort. For others, painful symptoms and dental problems come with the emergence of these teeth.
It’s common for wisdom teeth may be partially or fully impacted. A fully impacted wisdom tooth means that it has failed to erupt through the patient's gums, and a partially impacted wisdom tooth means that only some of the crown is exposed. Wisdom teeth don't always grow in straight, either. They have been known to grow in at angles, backward, and even upside down.
Problems Brought About By Wisdom Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth —also known as third molars— emerge at the back of the mouth and fail to develop typically because there is no room in the patient’s mouth. There are some cases where the third molars do not cause any irritation or ache; unfortunately, since these teeth are more difficult to clean, they tend to be more vulnerable to gum disease and tooth decay compared to the remainder of the teeth. Oral surgeons will always take out impacted wisdom teeth that are leading to complications for the patient, and they will also suggest removing the wisdom teeth that aren't currently causing pain under the precaution that there will be issues in the future.
So what kind of symptoms are identified with impacted wisdom teeth? Here's an outline of some things you might suffer from:
▪ Bleeding or swelling gums
▪ Pain and swelling at the jaw
▪ Problem opening up mouth
▪ Bad breath
When wisdom teeth grow in, they can cause additional damage to the neighboring teeth. Orthodontic treatment methods might be required if the incoming wisdom teeth press the other molars forward, leading to what is called overcrowding. There is a risk of developing a tumor in the mouth-- though it is rare-- and this comes about because the wisdom tooth can develop a cyst because it is growing in a fluid-filled sac inside the jawbone. If this occurs, the oral surgeon might have to extract the surrounding tissue and bone. Again, wisdom teeth are hard to clean because they are located in the back of the mouth. Along with tooth decay, patients are possibly at risk of developing an inflammatory gum issue referred to as pericoronitis for these exact causes.
A Model Operation
The oral surgeon will extract all four wisdom teeth together, but they might choose to do a few teeth at a time depending on their or the patient's desires. The patient will undergo general anesthesia to eliminate the amount of discomfort they might experience during the process. This procedure can last anywhere from one to several hours depending on how many teeth are being removed. Probably the most common side effects of wisdom teeth removal are swelling and bleeding at the surgery site. These could be managed at home with gauze and ice packs, but if these side effects remain, it is smart to call the performing surgeon.
Controversy
A few people argue that removing wisdom teeth is unneeded and is essentially a way for dentists to bill significant amounts of money to their patients. Jay W. Friedman, DDS, MPH, has published an article elaborating on this perspective and the myths that accompany the eruption of wisdom teeth in younger patients. However, the option to move ahead with wisdom teeth removal or to decide against it is effectively up to the patient. That being said, we recommend patients to make an educated examination of their pain and irritation and to consult with Dr. Sachs for information and assistance when it pertains to identifying the severity of impaction.
If you or someone in your family is experiencing any dental issues, or if you are due for your routine exam, you can schedule your next appointment online or call Sachs Dental at (815)963-1731.