To get a general idea of what a retined tooth means, you need to think about the term "retention". Translated, this means "delay" or "retention." When it comes to a retarded wisdom tooth, we mean a violation of the process of eruption. It turns out, as if hidden in the gum. Should a retinized wisdom tooth be removed? We will try to find the answer to this question in this review.
General concepts
What is a retarded wisdom tooth? This is a shaped figure of eight that cannot break through the gum and jaw. This is a common case; not only a wisdom tooth can be retinned. Small root and upper canines sometimes get stuck in the bones. But most often it is precisely the eights that are retinned.
Features
Before you begin to understand all the intricacies of the removal of a retined tooth, it is worth considering some nuances. Is retention something abnormal? If we are talking about wisdom teeth: the fact that they do not erupt before the age of 25 is quite normal. They may appear after that.
Is partial eruption of the figure eight retention? If a tooth begins to appear with one or two tubercles, then it is semi-reinforced. This condition has its own characteristics. Sometimes it causes much more problems than retention.
Is it mandatory to delete?
Many people have a question: is it necessary to get rid of the retarded wisdom teeth? There are many examples where the eighth incisor, which has not been disturbing for years, has suddenly become active. In the end, he can still take his rightful place. But in some cases, the retained teeth create quite big problems. They can affect not only the structure of the jaw, but also on the body as a whole.
Causes
Let's dwell on this issue in more detail. Sometimes a wisdom tooth erupts for more than a year. This gives a person terrible discomfort. There are cases of quick and painless eruption. Experts cannot agree on why wisdom teeth cannot normally break out of the gums.
It is believed that the eighth incisors are a vestigial. According to the theory, primitive people used rough food that did not undergo heat treatment. A person needed to make significant efforts while chewing. It was the last teeth in the row that were responsible for processing food more efficiently. Today, people don’t need to chew on bones and raw meat. Evolution has done its job, and wisdom teeth are no longer needed. But what to do with them now? Over time, the human jaw became narrower and more compact. This created special difficulties for teething eights.
Why does a retined wisdom tooth appear? The main reasons specialists include:
- super jaw;
- heredity;
- poor nutrition;
- transferred rickets or other infectious diseases.
These factors are quite capable of turning a normal tooth into a retarded one. The optimal terms for teething wisdom is considered to be 14-25 years. Sometimes eights appear earlier. The main thing is that this process does not cause discomfort. If an adult has a wisdom tooth for a long time under the gum in the bone, then it will not be out of place to check its location. To do this, just take an x-ray. Some people have no rudiments of wisdom teeth. This feature is typical for 10% of people. In this case, the eights, of course, will not bother.
The main question is whether the sevens will begin to interfere with the eruptions of eights. Such fears occur, since it is precisely the sevens that most often prevent teething of wisdom. What to do with the retina incisor? Do I need to get rid of him right away, or can I somehow rectify the situation?
Delete or save?
What to do? Many people think that the removal of a retarded wisdom tooth is an extreme measure and should only be taken if the jaw and gums hurt all the time. Everyone wants the problem to be solved somehow by itself. Is it possible to solve the situation with a retarded tooth without doing anything?
If a person has no special complaints, and the cutter grows correctly, then it makes no sense to remove it. However, there are a number of cases in which it is still recommended to get rid of a tooth. We will analyze these situations.
When should wisdom teeth be removed?
So, let's take a look at this in more detail. Is it worth it to remove the retined tooth if the patient constantly feels pain. Also, an operation is performed if a pronounced inflammatory process is observed, the tooth itself is located in the follicular cyst or is generally incorrectly formed.
It is worth noting that in practice, a retina incisor is most often removed when serious abnormalities and purulent inflammatory processes appear. Also, surgery can be performed to correct the bite. Only a dentist can determine if an operation is worth it. Many surgeons consider that it is not necessary to wait when one of the retined teeth begins to bring discomfort. It is better to immediately remove them. They know what they are talking about, because at receptions they often have to deal with rather difficult cases.
Difficulty teething: symptoms
A refined tooth can be located in the jaw for a long time and not cause discomfort. If the cutter has no obstacles in its way, it just falls into place and grows normally. Usually, in the absence of complicating factors, the wisdom tooth erupts in 2-3 months. In severe cases, the process can drag on for a couple of years. In addition, if there is any obstacle in the way of the figure-eight, it may stop growing. Therefore, very often patients say that the wisdom tooth does not erupt immediately, but in stages.
Unpleasant symptoms can occur long before the appearance of a figure eight on the surface. It is they who make you think about tooth extraction. If there are too many nerve fibers nearby, then simple discomfort can develop into neuritis or neuralgia. Due to the retention of the tooth, follicular cysts may appear around it. From year to year, they can increase in size and eventually lead to serious complications. In acute cases, the temperature may rise and the general condition of the body may deteriorate. Serious edema occurs in the tooth area. The symmetry of the face is broken. This is the last sign that suggests that it is time to see a doctor.
When a tooth overcomes the bone barrier and looks out of the gums, there is a feeling that the worst is already behind. However, in reality things can be much worse. Food particles and bacteria can get under the hood in the gum. As a result, tissues are able to become inflamed. This condition is scientifically called pericoronitis. In the event of pus, symptoms may appear that interfere with normal life: swelling, fever, inability to chew, severe throbbing pain. With such symptoms, the first thing the patient thinks about is how to quickly remove the retarded tooth. But there are other ways, for example, dissection of the gingival hood. This procedure is much simpler than tooth extraction. Anesthesia is given to the patient, after which the overgrown gum is excised with a scalpel, a cotton swab is placed in the oral cavity. The whole procedure takes about 10 minutes. However, sometimes this method can provoke a number of unpleasant complications. In some cases, you have to carry out the procedure repeatedly. That is why many dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth at the first signs of difficult teething.
Removal procedure
What is its feature? If all the symptoms suggest that you still have to remove the wisdom tooth, then you should contact a qualified dentist. How does this procedure work? Do the pains remain after the extraction of the extracted teeth? What can be the complications?
The removal process begins with anesthesia. Local anesthesia will suffice. This means that you will be conscious, but you will not feel any surgical intervention at all. It should be borne in mind that some people without any problems tolerate freezing, while others experience the so-called ineffective anesthesia. As a rule, the painlessness of the process depends simultaneously on many factors. This is the quality of anesthesia, and the professionalism of the attending physician, and the general condition of the patient. In compliance with the technique of anesthesia and the proper organization of the dentist's work, in 95% of cases you are guaranteed high-quality pain relief.
The patient's condition also plays a rather important role. Strong fear and the presence of alcohol in the blood can seriously impair the quality of anesthesia. On average, the removal process takes from 10 minutes to 3 hours. Even experienced maxillofacial surgeons cannot say in advance how long it will take. During the operation, many factors can arise that impede the removal process.
Main steps
How is a retined tooth removed? First, the doctor will instruct, cleanse teeth from deposits and conduct antiseptic treatment. After this, the patient is anesthetized. Then the doctor creates access to the retined tooth by cutting the gum. The cutter itself is removed using elevators. In some cases, dentists choose the phased extraction of each piece. Cutting a tooth out of the jaw helps to quickly achieve a positive effect. Hollowing out with a chisel delivers much more unpleasant sensations. When the removal process is complete, you can begin to stop the bleeding. To do this, preparations based on artificial bone, turunds with anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect are laid in the hole. Sometimes the gums are sutured. This reduces the clearance of the wound and prevents infection.
Patient reviews
What awaits the patient after the retined tooth has been removed? Reviews confirm that after the operation, pain and swelling remain. In some cases, fever and chills appear. This is a normal protective reaction of the body. Also, there is often a violation of the chewing function: it is difficult for the patient to open his mouth, and when he comes in contact with foreign bodies, the gum begins to bleed.
Is there any way to alleviate the consequences of the procedure? Doctors in this regard give some useful recommendations:
- Apply cold compresses to relieve swelling after removing the wisdom tooth.
- To reduce the risk of infection, a course of antibiotics is prescribed.
- To maintain cavity hygiene, it is recommended to use special ointments and gels of local action.
- Analgesics help get rid of throbbing pain.
Conclusion
Now you know what the retined tooth means and why it is better to remove it right away, without waiting for it to begin to bring you discomfort. If the first symptoms appear, seek medical attention immediately. If this process is left to chance, serious complications can be earned.