Do you know why wisdom teeth are needed? That's what we’ll talk about today. Consider different opinions on this issue and try to understand how things really are. Do we need a wisdom tooth?
The opinion of foreign dentists
It’s worth mentioning right away that in many countries patients don’t even have a question about whether they need wisdom teeth. The answer is no. In Europe and the USA, doctors remove third molars (the natural name for wisdom teeth ) as soon as they become visible. The procedure for removing a wisdom tooth is even included in health insurance. In our country, this problem is solved in different ways. Most often, doctors insist on tooth extraction, but the patient has the right to decide for himself what to do.
What is a wisdom tooth?
Wisdom teeth are 4 molars that are located at the end of the upper and lower dentition, located closer to the auricle and jaw bone. The people call it the "eight." The scientific name is the third molar.
Appearance
To understand why a wisdom tooth is needed, it is worthwhile to figure out when it appears and from whom. We know that an adult has 32 teeth, but only 28 teeth participate in the process of chewing food. This means that this process does not need 4 teeth that are located on the edges of the upper and lower jaw, that is, wisdom teeth. They appear much later than the rest of the teeth, from about 16 to 26 years old. They got their popular name because of the symbolic "wisdom" that a person gains when he enters adulthood. Although it is clear that "adult" does not mean "conscious", "reasonable" and "wise". The appearance of wisdom teeth can cause a number of oral problems. It is also worth noting that the appearance process may drag on for several years.
Tooth of wisdom: why is it needed?
The functional property of wisdom teeth is still not fully understood. Scientists and dentists consider them a vestigial organ that a person no longer needs. It is interesting that not everyone has developed third molars. Approximately half of the population does not know problems with wisdom teeth , because it does not have them. This leads scientists to the idea that in the near future no one will have them.
There is a generally accepted opinion. Why do we really need wisdom teeth? It is believed that in the past a person needed all 32 teeth to chew hard foods. Modern man consumes much softer, processed, refined food. Now, only 28 teeth are enough to chew food.
Why does it hurt?
Why do we need wisdom teeth if they cause so much inconvenience? It is believed that due to the fact that the food became softer, the jaw atrophied and changed. It decreased in size, although the teeth remained the same. It turns out that the third molars simply do not fit in the oral cavity, and therefore bring so many problems.
In defense
Nevertheless, there are several reasons why a person needs wisdom teeth. In the process of chewing food, a modern person does not have to have third molars, but they perform a number of other important functions. Why remove wisdom teeth if they can be the only way out for some problems? For example, with prosthetics, third molars can become a support, which will greatly simplify the procedure. The second reason is that wisdom teeth restrain other teeth from excessive growth. They "hold" the jaw, preventing the teeth from growing randomly. And the last argument: when an elderly person loses a lot of teeth, it is the third molars that can replace chewing ones.
It becomes clear that the role of wisdom teeth is significant. They are a kind of "reserve" that can always help out.
Why remove?
If you are concerned about the question of whether to remove a wisdom tooth and why, then be sure to read the next paragraph. Their growth provokes many problems: deformation of the dentition, caries, constant pain and a number of problems, which we will discuss below. It is important to understand that possible pathologies are very serious. If the dentist considers it necessary to remove the wisdom teeth, do it, otherwise you can get big health problems. To protect healthy teeth, it is best to remove third molars and drink a vitamin firming complex.
Problems
If the dentist recommends removing the wisdom tooth, it is best to do so. Third molars can bring a lot of problems to a person. Such teeth very often grow crooked, which brings a lot of pain. But the process of tooth growth can drag on for a couple of years. The process of “teething” takes a lot of time, during which the initial caries manages to “mature”. If such teeth are not treated on time, the gums around them swell, which may require immediate intervention by the surgeon. Even if the wisdom teeth are not disturbing, they can contribute to the development of caries. Thoroughly cleaning or curing them can be difficult even in the doctor’s office due to the inaccessible location. There are very frequent cases when caries from wisdom teeth is spread to other healthy ones. If treatment is not possible, pulpitis threatens - inflammation of the dental nerve.
Long teething wisdom is also fraught. Many bacteria, food debris and plaque accumulate there. This can lead to gingivitis and halitosis. The situation is even worse when the tooth is only half grown. Pericoronitis may occur - inflammation of the gums, which can go to the bone. Due to the fact that the wisdom tooth is too large, it presses on the neighboring ones, destroying their enamel. If the tooth matures, but does not erupt, it can cause severe pain, extending to the neck, throat and ears.
Delete
Suppose you decide to remove a wisdom tooth. Why is it needed if it brings so many problems? But do not blindly trust the dentist, it is better to find out for yourself what steps are necessary in order to remove the tooth without consequences. The first thing a doctor should do is to find out about the patient's illnesses, as well as about the medications that he takes. It is very important. Even aspirin can cause surgery, since it slows down blood coagulation. At the next stage, the doctor takes several x-rays in order to properly plan the removal.
It is necessary to begin the procedure with anesthesia. It is advisable that the doctor apply a special gel to the injection site, which will not allow you to feel the injection. When the tooth is in the bone itself, the doctor has to cut the tissues and remove the tooth completely or in parts. After this, the wound is sutured.
The stitches are removed by the dentist after a while. This is done under local anesthesia. Modern clinics use suture material that dissolves itself. After the procedure, you must go to the doctor for an examination on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day to monitor the situation. To avoid possible complications, you should adhere to some rules:
- 24 hours after the operation to be calm, not to engage in vigorous activity and anything that requires stress;
- eat only soft and liquid foods, avoid hot;
- within 2 days you can not drink alcohol and smoke;
- rinse your teeth with saline after a day after eating.
These small and simple rules will avoid possible complications. It is also advisable not to brush your teeth for at least one day. On the second day, you can brush your teeth with a soft brush, avoiding touching the place of removal.
We learned why we need wisdom teeth. They were provided for by nature not in vain, but for modern man they do not play such an important role. If you are regularly checked by a dentist and there are no problems with wisdom teeth, you can leave them alone. But if there are problems, it is better not to delay their solution so that surgical intervention is not required.