There are the third and last set of molars commonly found in teens and adults, they could be valuable assets when they are aligned well and are healthy, if not would require removal. Most people would think calling it wisdom teeth will make them grow smarter.
Well, that is not the case they are mostly called so because they usually grow when we are older and as such associated with wisdom. They are known to be the widest and toughest teeth that grind food.
Causes of Wisdom Teeth Removal
There are actually good reasons why people remove or are advised to remove their wisdom teeth and some of these reasons are:
- Other Teeth and Jaw Damage: These wisdom teeth can push other teeth out making them misaligned and they can also hollow out the jaw and disrupt some nerves.
- Sinus Issues and Cavities: This can result in pain, pressure and congestion in the mouth and also swollen gums of the teeth can create pockets which will lead to cavities and bacteria growing between teeth.
- Inflamed Gums and Tooth Decay: Here, there is a swelling of the tissue area and could be very hard to clean thereby causing tooth decay.
Method and Period of Removal
People get scared or worried about removing their wisdom teeth and how long it would take to remove it. Well, I will say it depends on the position and stage of development of the wisdom teeth so your dentist should be able to give a clue on what to expect.
Sometime it will need to be extracted at a go and other times if it underneath the gums, there will be an incision into the gums. That is why i said your dentist should be in the right place to tell you what kind of surgery you would need.
An average person has four wisdom teeth and extracting it varies on how easy it is to access during surgery. Wisdom teeth takes from 45 minutes to 2 hours to extract depending on the position and stage of development in the mouth.
Complications You Might Have After Removal
Two rather major complications you should look out for are dry socket and Paresthesia.
- Dry Socket: This is a common complication that occurs when a blood clot has failed to form or formed one has dislodged in the extracted tooth. It is usually accompanied by pains and mouth odor. This can be treated by a dentist.
- Paresthesia: This happens when nerves are bruised or damaged during removal. It is a rare complication but if it happens one will experience numbness in the tongue, lip or chin which could last for days, weeks, months, years or even a permanent feature.
Cost
The cost of removing wisdom teeth varies according to hospitals except a patient is under NHS, then it will be free of charge.
Fast Recovery Tips For Wisdom Teeth Removal
- Antibiotics prescribed prior to the surgery should be continued.
- Restriction of food to liquid diet for a few day; alcohol is prohibited.
- Put ice on the face to reduce swelling.
- Moist heat for sore jaw is advised.
- Do not drink out of a straw.
- You can start brushing on the second day.
- Do not smoke.
Wisdom Teeth Removal takes time to heal, might be weeks or even months, so do not push yourself too hard.
