Wisdom teeth are the final teeth to appear in your mouth, and they appear between the ages of 17 and 25. For many people there are not any issues as wisdom teeth emerge; however, it is common for this process to be painful, cause infection and cause a great amount of discomfort. The issue arises when the jaw cannot accommodate the teeth properly, resulting in only a portion of the teeth erupting. The remaining wisdom teeth remain under loose gums, where bacteria from food can easily become trapped and cause infection requiring dental treatment.
Because wisdom teeth are quite problematic if a person doesn't require them for the purpose of chewing, they are removed by a trained dentist. In the past, humans did need these teeth for chewing because they had quite abrasive diets; however, nowadays humans have more of a softer diet, meaning that wisdom teeth aren't necessary for chewing and can be removed.
Problems with wisdom teeth
Frequent infection and difficulty brushing wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth means that these teeth are more prone to decay. Most people fail to maintain the cleanliness of wisdom teeth as they are located right at the back of the mouth where it is difficult to reach with a toothbrush. In more severe cases, cysts can appear under the wisdom teeth and interfere with the nerves of the jaw. When such problems arise, dentists will recommend wisdom teeth removal. Normally dentists prefer to remove these teeth when people are in their early twenties, when the wisdom teeth aren't causing as many problems, in order to prevent future complications. Removal of wisdom teeth later on in life comes with the risk of damaging a major jaw nerve, which can result in loss of feeling in that portion of the jaw.
How is a wisdom tooth removed?
Wisdom teeth removal is normally done under general anesthetic right in the dental chair. You will not feel pain during the procedure. However, once you wake up from the procedure you will experience grogginess from the anaesthetic, as well as pain a few hours later. If you are having more than one tooth removed in a single procedure then you will probably have increased swelling, which will take a few days to go down. During this time it is recommended that you consume soft or liquid foods of medium temperature to avoid discomfort. You may also be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection.
Share