Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth erupt in between the ages of 15 and 24. These are usually a problem in the late teens and early adulthood. In many cases, surgical intervention may be needed. However, wisdom teeth may not cause problems in the majority of people. Many people do not develop wisdom teeth at all.

There are several theories to explain wisdom teeth in human beings. Scientists believe that as humans evolved, their jaws started getting smaller and smaller. Because of this reason, the last erupt teeth do not get sufficient space to grow normally. Wisdom teeth are not observed in certain communities of people. This indicates that there are genetic factors involved.

When wisdom teeth do not grow properly, they may protrude sideways or into other teeth. This condition is known as impacted tooth. This causes pain and can lead to infection. Surgical intervention that is extraction of the tooth can relieve the symptoms.

There are alternatives to wisdom teeth extraction. For example, antibiotics can be used to treat infections and painkillers can be used to relieve the pain. However, neither of these are a permanent solution and the symptoms will tend to be back again after some time. Having the wisdom teeth removed surgically is the only permanent option.

Wisdom teeth extraction is usually performed under local anesthesia. The operation will take about an hour and it may take some more time for the healing to be complete. In cases of impacted wisdom tooth, the dentist and cut through the gum and then extract the tooth.

Special care needs to be taken after surgical procedure is completed. It is not advisable to smoke as smoking can the rate of healing. It is also essential that you take all the prescribed antibiotics and other medications as per the dentist’s advice. Do not vigorously rinse your mouth after the surgical operation as this can disturb the blood clots and cause more bleeding.

If bleeding is observed after the surgery, there are several ways to treat it. You can place a hand kerchief or some other clean cloth over the bleeding gum and bite it into place at about 20 minutes. This will usually stop the bleeding. Do not rinse your mouth with water as it will only make the bleeding worse.

Wisdom teeth removal doesn’t usually present any complications. It needs a relatively safe procedure. However, in very rare cases, some complications may be observed. If you observe any complications or feel that something is not normal, you should immediately contact your dentist or healthcare provider.