Wisdom teeth appear in a person aged 17-24 years and can cause numerous problems. Improper growth, tooth decay, gum disease, pain - all these are symptoms of problems associated with eights. You can read more about whether it is necessary to remove wisdom teeth in front of braces and in other cases in this article.
Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that usually develops between the ages of 17 and 24. It is believed that it is at this age that the human body finally stops growing and begins to age, hence the teeth got their name. No one claims that from the moment of teething wisdom a person gains some special knowledge, just the jaw is finally formed. The teeth of wisdom can be either 0 or 4: two on the upper and lower jaws. Very often, they develop with problems and can cause inflammation, displacement of the remaining teeth and severe pain. Do i need to remove wisdom teeth? It depends on the concomitant factors, so if you are concerned about molars starting to appear, consult your doctor.
Experts believe that wisdom teeth do not play almost any value in the process of chewing food, but there can be many problems. Pieces of food often get stuck in them and can cause tooth decay and inflammation. The wisdom teeth “sleep” for a long time and erupt even when the jaw is fully formed. They grow quite slowly - the process itself can take several years, and therefore do not cause any special unpleasant sensations. Sometimes the "bud" of the tooth is not located correctly, as a result of which it grows horizontally or generally in the opposite direction. In such difficult situations, doctors usually prescribe surgical treatment.
Problems caused by the growth of wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth do not always develop correctly. Sometimes their appearance can cause a lot of problems. If the wisdom teeth do not grow correctly, they can cut into soft tissues (cheek), damage neighboring teeth, jaw or nerves. Quite often, dentists are faced with the following situation: wisdom teeth have only grown by half and most of them are hidden by the gums. In this same "bag" may be leftover food that causes inflammation and tooth decay. It is almost impossible to get a toothbrush to this place, therefore, to avoid difficulties, dentists often recommend simply removing the tooth.
Also, a wisdom tooth can cause problems and pain during teething. If your gum is inflamed, it is swollen and you feel constant pain, then the dentist will most likely advise you to remove the wisdom tooth. Since it does not have key significance in the process of chewing or forming the jaw, it is clearly not worth it to endure such torment for its sake.
Wisdom teeth may cause malocclusion. The erupting eights gradually shift to the middle all other teeth, as a result of which their normal arrangement is disturbed. Pressure on neighbors can lead to more serious problems: inflammation of the nerves, cyst of the jaw, and others. The dentist who decides to remove the molar usually calculates all the nuances and only then decides whether to remove it or not.
It should be noted that in most cases wisdom teeth develop without any associated problems. Despite all the disadvantages that can cause wisdom teeth, they can serve as the basis for prosthetics if all other teeth will not be able to bear the weight of the prosthesis bridge. Also, in the absence of adjacent chewing teeth, eights can take on this role.
Indications for removal
Do i need to remove wisdom teeth? Dentists have a clear list of situations in which a removal operation becomes necessary.
- They cause gum disease. If wisdom teeth during teething cause inflammation, swelling and pain in the gums, then this is an occasion to consult a doctor. Also, a situation may become problematic during which the tooth is cut only halfway, thereby contributing to the development of bacteria and the appearance of infections. This is a dangerous situation, because as a result, the patient may have inflammation of the bone tissue or a cyst filled with pus or blood may form.
- Their growth can damage adjacent teeth. The deep gaps between healthy molars and a half-cut wisdom tooth can serve as a place for bacteria and food to accumulate, which serves as a favorable environment for their reproduction. As a result, they may develop caries and then be transmitted to adjacent teeth.
- The position of the eighth molar affects the chewing function and the structure of the jaw. If a wisdom tooth scratches soft tissues, makes you bite your cheek, or causes a gum tumor that makes eating difficult, this is an excuse to get rid of it.
- Teeth grow incorrectly. If a wisdom tooth presses on adjacent molars or grows inside the jaw, then this is also a good reason to remove it. Is it necessary to remove a wisdom tooth if it does not grow correctly? Most dentists answer in the affirmative. Pressure on a healthy tooth can damage its root, spoil the bite, and lead to many problems, which will be much more difficult to fix than just snatch the hindrance.
When to pull out a tooth is not necessary?
A wisdom tooth is not worth removing in all situations. When is no intervention required?
- If the wisdom tooth has erupted completely.
- It is correctly placed and does not interfere with adjacent teeth.
- It allows you to chew food without touching soft tissues.
- Eights do not cause pain and are not inflamed.
Is it necessary to remove the retarded wisdom tooth? Only a specialist can answer this question by making a preliminary x-ray of the jaw. A tooth that has been fully formed, but has not erupted, is called retined. Sometimes people may not suspect its presence, and sometimes it can cause unpleasant and painful sensations. Therefore, the question of whether it is necessary to remove the wisdom tooth, if it has not come out, there is no single answer.
Difficult cases
In many cases, teething wisdom is associated with many problems. Wrong tooth positioning is a fairly common complication, which according to statistics occurs in 70% of patients. In this case, even an erupted molar can do a lot of harm. For example, it may begin to grow horizontally or inward of the jaw. Is it necessary to remove a wisdom tooth that lies horizontally? Dentists agree - such a wisdom tooth should be removed as soon as possible. The fact is that against the background of this situation, the patient may have a purulent-inflammatory disease or even flux, and as a result a much more serious operation will be required.
If a person postpones a visit to a doctor, then the body gradually gets used to the constant discomfort. But the background inflammatory process weakens the immune system, as a result of which a person often has enlarged lymph nodes and fever. It will be most reasonable at the age of 17-20 years to regularly undergo examinations at the dentist and do an x-ray of the jaw in order to avoid such problems. Tooth extraction in young people is much less painful than in adults, and healing is faster. Therefore, dentists do not recommend waiting until the last and, at the slightest unpleasant symptoms, consult a specialist.
Pregnancy
Should I remove wisdom teeth before pregnancy? This question is often asked by women planning a pregnancy. Definitely worth a visit to the dentist and find out his opinion. During pregnancy, a woman's body experiences a double load, and due to a lack of calcium and metabolic disorders, the teeth suffer most often. Therefore, in order to avoid possible problems, it is necessary to take care of prevention and necessary procedures in advance.
If the pain in the region of eights caught you during pregnancy, then in this case the operation is performed only in extreme cases and only with local anesthesia. Medicines can cause serious harm to the fetus, so they are prescribed with great care.
Operation process
How does the wisdom tooth extraction process take place?
- First, the doctor takes an x-ray to make sure the procedure is necessary.
- Then he consults with an anesthetist who helps to find the right pain medication. In some cases, removal can take place under general anesthesia.
- During surgery to remove the tooth, the patient is usually given local anesthesia with a gel, and then an injection into the area of the procedure. Anesthesia begins to act on average after 7-15 minutes.
- Then the surgeon opens the gum tissue and removes the wisdom tooth, sutures, which are then removed during the second visit.
- The procedure itself usually takes 1 to 2 hours.
Many are afraid of the possible soreness of the procedure, so they delay it to the last. But with proper anesthesia you will not feel pain. After that, the doctor will prescribe you strong painkillers, which will also help you survive the first few days after the procedure.
What happens after?
In order for the healing process to be as successful as possible, it is important to follow all the postoperative recommendations of dentists.
- If you are worried about severe bleeding, then gauze pads (sterile) must be applied to the right place.
- An ice pack will help you relieve swelling and reduce pain after the anesthesia has stopped. Instead of ice, you can use a bag of frozen foods.
- After the operation, you should refrain from sports and hard work. On vacation you need to allocate at least a few days. Try not to plan anything for this time.
- Avoid smoking, eating sugary sodas, and solid foods. It is best to eat soft food at room temperature in the first 2-3 days.
- Take medications prescribed by your doctor.
After the operation, the food process may be difficult for some time. Here are a few options for soft foods that won't make you uncomfortable:
- baby food;
- soup;
- dairy products (yogurt);
- pudding;
- smoothie
- milk and protein shakes.
Tooth of Wisdom and Braces
A beautiful smile and even teeth are considered one of the main signs of beauty and health. Therefore, now more and more people are resorting to orthodontics in order to correct a bite or uneven teeth. What role do wisdom teeth play in braces? If the eights are refined or semi-refined (not yet erupted), they can subsequently significantly affect the correct position of the teeth. Sometimes, for an even smile, people have to wear braces for several years. After their removal, the wisdom tooth that began to grow incorrectly can easily cross out all efforts, again shifting them. Therefore, when asked whether it is necessary to remove wisdom teeth in front of braces, dentists are often advised to undergo surgery.
But there is an opposite opinion. Removing molars in such an inaccessible place can be very difficult, and the patient will feel unwell and a long recovery after surgery. Yes, and the orthodontic treatment itself can be postponed indefinitely because of this. Therefore, if the patient is not worried, and the tooth is completely erupted, then the doctors leave him alone.
Is it necessary to remove a wisdom tooth during implantation? If you need to install an implant, then the surgeon can at the same time remove the wisdom tooth, if there is evidence for this. In Germany, for example, eights are removed soon after they erupt. And clearly there is no point in putting an implant in place of a torn out wisdom tooth that grows incorrectly. In addition to complicated access, the load during chewing will not coincide with the axis of the implant, as a result of which gaps and inflammations can occur between the teeth.
Opinion of orthodontists
Is it necessary to remove the wisdom tooth when installing braces, if they have grown? Now the removal of eights before installing braces or correcting a bite is becoming an increasingly common practice. But doctors emphasize that surgery is a serious intervention in the body, so the indications for it should be really serious. But the removal of retarded eights, unfortunately, is necessary. Not every dentist will undertake it, and you will need to find an experienced specialist who will do his job with dignity.
If you are afraid of pain or sensations during the procedure, then it is worth doing the removal under general anesthesia, though for this you will need to go to hospital. You will not feel pain even with local anesthesia, but you will still feel all the manipulations that the doctor performs. Therefore, before deciding whether to leave or remove eights, consult with several specialists to make an informed decision.
What to do if a wisdom tooth hurts?
If a wisdom tooth causes you pain, but you cannot or do not want to tear it out, then improvised means that everyone has in the house can come to the rescue.
- Tooth gel with analgesic effect can make your life easier. They are released mainly for children, but they can be suitable for adults.
- Ibuprofen is not only an analgesic, but also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that can reduce inflammation.
- Rinsing with salt or soda can reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria. Instead of salt, you can also use a solution of furatsilina. However, if the inflammation is too serious, then folk remedies are unlikely to help you.
- Tea bags contain tannins, which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. You just need to make tea, put the bag for a while in the refrigerator, and then attach it to the affected area.
- A clove decoction relieves toothache. You can use both dried clove flowers and clove oil. To alleviate the symptoms, it is recommended to put the clove on a sore spot and hold it a little there.
Summary
Wisdom teeth are considered problematic for good reason. They are difficult to reach during dental procedures, even a toothbrush cannot properly clean them of food debris and bacteria. With the appearance of such a tooth, a person can have many problems even if he remains inside the gums. Removing eights is almost always required before installing braces and in some other cases. Some decide to remove wisdom teeth before pregnancy in order to avoid possible complications. But removing molars is a rather complicated and painful process, so when asked whether to remove a wisdom tooth before a vacation or for no good reason, dentists recommend not to rush.