Wisdom tooth extraction - how is it performed, what is a wisdom tooth, what is an impacted tooth, what is a partially erupted tooth? The four molars that emerge between the ages of 17-21 are called wisdom teeth. These teeth can sometimes cause abscesses, pain, and decay formation due to the narrowness of the jaw caused by gaps in the front teeth or due to their crooked positioning.

Wisdom teeth that cannot emerge properly are called impacted teeth. These teeth can cause intense pain. They can cause pain in the jaw, face, gums, and even in the arm area where they are located. Surgical intervention may be required for teeth that cannot adapt to the jaw structure in these situations.

To prevent these impacted wisdom teeth from damaging surrounding tissues and adjacent teeth, the impacted wisdom tooth needs to be extracted as they can cause serious problems. In these cases, wisdom tooth extraction is essential.

 

Problems Caused by Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth are the teeth that cause the most problems in the mouth. Many individuals have their wisdom teeth extracted through surgical intervention because the wisdom teeth that should emerge cannot find enough space in the gum and remain impacted. They can cause several problems:

• Infection and cavities
• Lesions (abnormal tissue appearance)
• Damage to surrounding teeth
• Bone loss around the root
• Gum diseases
• Chronic headaches

If these problems exist, wisdom tooth extraction may be necessary.

Individuals who have healthy wisdom teeth do not need any medical assistance. Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, but the extraction of impacted teeth that need to be removed is not done with the standard tooth extraction method. A different procedure is followed for impacted tooth extraction.

What Are the Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom tooth pain is the most noticeable symptom. Due to nerve compression, it is much more intense than headache and toothache and has a wider area of effect. If the wisdom tooth causes an infection in the mouth, it gives the following symptoms:

• Red and inflamed gum around the teeth
• Swelling in the face
• Pain and sensitivity
• Discharge from the gum
• Swollen and painful lymph nodes under the jaw
• Difficulty opening the mouth and chewing
• Fever
• Food impaction issues
• Difficulty in oral hygiene
• Bad breath
• Difficulty speaking
• Unbearable, intense headaches
• Pain in the jawbone

Unhealthy wisdom molars manifest themselves with the above symptoms. After wisdom tooth extraction, these negative symptoms will disappear.

How is Wisdom Tooth Extraction Performed?

Diseased wisdom teeth can lead to various oral and dental problems such as inflammation of the surrounding gum tissue (pericoronitis), bad breath due to food accumulation and tooth decay, tissue loss (resorption) in the roots and enamel of neighboring teeth, as we mentioned earlier. Therefore, partially erupted and impacted teeth, as well as wisdom teeth that create congestion in the mouth despite emerging at the correct angle, need to be extracted.

Since wisdom tooth extraction is a different procedure, it would be wise to choose your dentist well. How these teeth will be extracted is decided after taking an X-ray of the tooth. Prices also vary according to the type of procedure.

In cases where the roots of the tooth are embedded in the jawbone, the probability of removing the tooth in one piece is low, which is why the impacted tooth is divided into several pieces by the dentist and extracted in this way.

For the most painful wisdom teeth, if the tooth is under the gum but not embedded in the bone, a different method is applied. This wisdom tooth extraction method involves cutting and opening the gum to extract the tooth; with the cutting of the gum, the impacted tooth can be removed in one piece. After the tooth extraction, the area is cleaned, and the gum is sutured; these sutures should be removed after a certain period following the operation.

Surgical procedures like the above fall within the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. After the procedures, individuals may experience bleeding and infections in the oral region. It is beneficial to see the dentist after the surgical procedure.

Is Wisdom Tooth Extraction Difficult?

In the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth, the gums and jaw are numbed just as in the extraction of other teeth. In the procedure where local anesthesia is used, the patient is prevented from feeling pain or discomfort throughout the procedure. Thanks to local anesthesia, the patient does not encounter any difficulties during the procedure. During wisdom tooth extraction, the patient does not feel any pain or discomfort different from standard tooth extraction.

The extraction and treatment of impacted teeth that have been delayed for 6 months or more can be a difficult process. Still, it is not as long and difficult a process as it is thought to be. Surgical procedures may be prolonged if the tooth is embedded in the tooth root, as the doctor needs to fragment the tooth, but this procedure does not occur in every impacted tooth extraction. The patient can only learn how the extraction will be done after consulting with the dentist.

What Should Be Done After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

After wisdom tooth extraction, as with standard molar tooth extraction or procedures such as fillings, it is necessary not to eat or drink anything for 1-2 hours after the procedure. Not smoking for about 24 hours is important for the healing of the gum. It is important not to fiddle with the area by hand.

Things to consider:

• The area where the tooth was extracted should not be touched by hand.
• After the extraction procedure, food should be eaten with the other side for one day.
• Smoking should be avoided for the first 24 hours. Smoking can cause bleeding in the area where the procedure was performed.
• Saliva accumulating in the mouth should not be constantly spit out. Otherwise, the newly clotted wound opens and bleeds.
• If there is swelling in the face after the procedure, ice can be applied as a compress for 10 minutes or at 2-minute intervals.

You can find answers to questions about wisdom tooth extraction above. You can make an online appointment right now and visit the IGU Dental Hospital.

Don't forget to check our other articles for similar content, and to contact IGU Dental Hospital to make an appointment right away!