Wisdom teeth cause discomfort, should they be extracted?

Wisdom teeth are the third molars that grow between the ages of 17 and 25. Each person usually has 4 wisdom teeth in 4 parts of the jaw. The reason they are called wisdom teeth is because they grow in adulthood, when people are mature and aware.

Why wisdom teeth often grow stuck or impacted?

Wisdom teeth usually grow at an age when the jawbone has stopped growing and developing, and the bone becomes more solid. The growth and development of the lower jaw during the wisdom tooth eruption stage is directed downward and forward. On the other hand, the soft diet of modern people reduces the growth of the jawbone. These factors contribute to the imbalance between the teeth and the size of the jawbone, leading to the condition of impacted wisdom teeth.

Complications of impacted wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are impacted in the jawbone or gums, the eruption process will put pressure on the bone and gums, combined with food stuck under the gums covering the wisdom teeth that cannot be cleaned. This leads to inflammation, pain and infection.

Wisdom teeth that grow at the wrong angle will create an abnormally narrow gap with the adjacent teeth. This causes food to become trapped and bacteria to accumulate. The position of the wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth makes them difficult to clean with a toothbrush and dental floss, leading to tooth decay and periodontal disease of the adjacent teeth.

Pressure from wisdom teeth can cause the roots of adjacent teeth to shrink. Wisdom teeth can degenerate into tumors or cysts in the jawbone, weakening the jawbone.

When is the best time to remove wisdom teeth?

The best time to extract wisdom teeth is from 18 to 25 years old, when the tooth root is 2/3 formed. Wisdom teeth can be extracted at the age of 35. If you are over 35 years old, the bone will be harder and denser, making surgery difficult. On the other hand, some systemic and local factors also do not allow intervention to extract wisdom teeth. The healing and post-operative process is also prolonged and unfavorable.

When should wisdom teeth be removed?

- When wisdom teeth grow, it causes complications such as pain, repeated infections, cysts, and affects neighboring teeth.

- When wisdom teeth have not caused complications, but there is a gap between the wisdom teeth and the adjacent teeth where food gets stuck, which will affect the adjacent teeth in the future, wisdom teeth extraction is also indicated to prevent complications.

- Wisdom teeth grow straight, have enough space, are not obstructed by bone and gum but do not have the opposite tooth to fit, causing the wisdom teeth to protrude down to the opposite jaw. This creates a ladder between the wisdom teeth and the adjacent teeth, causing food to be trapped and ulcers on the opposite jaw gums.

- Wisdom teeth grow straight, have enough space, are not obstructed by bone and gum, but the shape of wisdom teeth is abnormal, small, deformed, causing food to be stuffed with adjacent teeth, over time causing tooth decay and periodontitis of adjacent teeth.

- The wisdom tooth itself has periodontal disease or extensive tooth decay.

- Wisdom teeth should be extracted for orthodontic treatment, dentures, or wisdom teeth are the cause of other systemic diseases and should also be extracted.

When should wisdom teeth be left untouched?

- Not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted. A wisdom tooth that is straight, normal, not impacted by bone and gum tissue, and not causing complications, can be kept as long as the patient uses dental floss and a toothbrush to clean it thoroughly.

- Patients with some poorly controlled systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, blood clotting disorders...

- Wisdom teeth are directly related to a number of important anatomical structures such as the maxillary sinus, nerves... that cannot be treated with specialized surgical methods.

What to do before wisdom teeth extraction

Patients should have blood tests and X-rays as prescribed before the procedure. Inform the dentist about any systemic diseases and current medications.

Before tooth extraction, you should rest, go to bed early, avoid stimulants such as beer, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. Remove tartar and clean your teeth before tooth extraction to avoid infection.

Should intervene in the morning, eat breakfast before tooth extraction. Be comfortable, relaxed, do not be stressed and afraid. Patients under 18 years old and over 60 years old should be accompanied by a family member.

Notes after wisdom tooth extraction

After wisdom tooth extraction, patients need to strictly follow the doctor's instructions and take all prescribed medications for smooth post-surgery and healing.

The four common symptoms patients experience after tooth extraction are swelling, pain, fever and bleeding.

-Swelling:It is the body's inflammatory response to the trauma of tooth extraction, the amount of swelling depends on the level of intervention and the individual's constitution. Swelling usually occurs in the first 2 days after tooth extraction and then gradually decreases. To prevent or reduce swelling, patients should take prescribed medication, apply cold compresses to the swollen area several times a day for about 15 minutes each time, and apply hot compresses to the swollen area on the second day after tooth extraction.

-Painful:Occurs when the anesthetic wears off, the pain depends on the level of intervention and the pain threshold of each individual. Pain occurs for about 3 days after tooth extraction, then gradually decreases. To reduce pain, patients should take prescription drugs, measures to reduce swelling also reduce pain.

-Fever: The first day after tooth extraction, the patient will have a fever. However, this is just the body's response and not an infection. The fever will usually not last beyond the second day. The patient should take prescribed medication to reduce the fever.

-Bleed:Bite down on cotton wool on the tooth socket for 30 minutes after extraction to help stop the bleeding. If bleeding continues, bite down on gauze until the bleeding stops. There may be saliva mixed with light pink blood one to two days after extraction. Patients need to follow measures to maintain blood clots such as not rinsing the mouth vigorously, spitting vigorously within 6 hours after extraction, not rinsing with salt water, not sucking, inserting the tongue or foreign objects into the tooth socket to probe, chewing on the side of the jaw without the extracted tooth, gently cleaning the tooth socket, eating soft, cold foods within 24 hours after extraction.

Note that if swelling, pain, fever, bleeding persists, is severe and uncontrollable, you should see a specialist again.

According to Giadinh.net