Many people groan when others mention the words ‘wisdom teeth’, and sometimes they have good reason. For some, the wisdom teeth don’t cause any problems, but occasionally they can be very troublesome and if this is the case, extraction may be recommended.
A bit about wisdom teeth
The wisdom teeth are so-called because they develop in adult life when we are supposed to be wise, but they are also known as the third molars. These are the last teeth to erupt and there are four in total, with one located in each corner of the mouth. In some cases, the wisdom teeth develop without causing any discomfort at all, but often they are painful because there is not enough space for them to grow properly. If this is the case, the teeth can start to grow at an angle and push against the neighbouring teeth. This is known as an impacted tooth.
Why would I need my wisdom tooth extracted?
If your tooth is impacted or it has become decayed, the best course of action may be to remove the tooth. Strictly speaking, you don’t need your wisdom teeth and you will be able to cope just fine without them, so extraction can save you a lot of unnecessary pain.
The procedure
Wisdom tooth extraction is essentially very similar to normal tooth extraction, in that the tooth is loosened in the socket and then pulled out using specially designed dental instruments; however, it is often complicated by the location of the tooth and the angle it is positioned at and in this case, expertise is required. Our highly trained dentists have experience in oral surgery and will do all they can to remove your tooth with the minimum amount of fuss. We can offer sedation for extraction procedures if you are feeling nervous and we are on hand to offer advice after the procedure. It is normal to experience mild pain after extraction and we recommend taking over the counter pain relief.
Between the ages of 17-25, almost all of us will be subject to the problem of wisdom teeth. In some people, they never develop, but if they do, they can cause multitude of problems, according to dentists in central Leeds. Generally, as wisdom teeth grow, there is not enough room for them to come through or they can grow at angles due to overcrowding- forwards, backwards, downwards, sideways. Sometimes, the teeth do not erupt at all. These situations are known as impacting and can lead to swelling, serious infections to other teeth, bad breath and tooth decay. Cavities can form, along with periodontitis, cysts and tumours. If a patient suffers such dental problems with their wisdom teeth, they should be removed. On the other hand, healthy impacted teeth only need to be monitored. Removing the teeth presents problems as well- nerve damage, damage to other teeth, bleeding and in rare cases, death. Such decisions about wisdom teeth are made by the dentist after x-rays and consultation. If the conclusion is that all four teeth are to be removed at the same time, it’s likely that the operation with be carried out in hospital. But in the case of only one extraction being necessary, this can be done by the dentist using a local anaesthetic. After the teeth are removed, the dentist will demand a strict regime of oral hygiene- such is the delicate nature of this procedure, infection at this stage can lead to serious complications and health problems.
Are you experiencing a terrible pain at the back of your mouth? Then it could be that your wisdom teeth are erupting and causing trouble. It is not always the case that wisdom teeth cause pain and dental complications but some patients have too little room in their dental arc to accommodate any more teeth. This can cause the teeth to come through at an angle or get stuck against other teeth. Wisdom teeth affect more than three quarters of people in their twenties so it is always worth going to see a City of Leeds dentist to see if your wisdom teeth are likely to cause you problems.
