Important Questions About Wisdom Teeth (Answered)

You know how important regular dentist visits are for improving and maintaining your dental health in good condition. You dedicate a great amount of attention to your dental health, yet you cannot explain the discomfort and pain you are feeling in your mouth? Chances are, if you are 17-24 years old, your wisdom teeth are growing. And if you feel discomfort and pain in the back part of your upper or lower jaw, find a reputable dental clinic that offers removing wisdom teeth procedure. Wait, there is no reason for panic. Let’s start from the beginning and answer the most important questions regarding wisdom teeth.

What are Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth is a popular term used for the two pairs of molar teeth that are located at the end of the upper and lower jaw. These teeth are called “wisdom teeth” because they are the only teeth that do not grow in child age but in the adult years which is when we are considered to be wiser (you surely heard of ‘getting wiser with age’ phrase).

Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth

Truth be told, we don’t actually need them. In fact, we have “inherited” them from our ancestors, who needed them to chew raw food. Unlike today, in the primitive times people didn’t cook the food, instead they were eating raw meat, roots and leaves from trees and other plants. With the advancements and changes in food preparation, the need for such teeth was eliminated. Also, another evolution change in humans that contributes for the lack of room for these teeth to grow is the increased size of the brain.

All summed up, wisdom teeth are very likely to cause all kinds of problems, with which most of us will have to deal with sooner or later (with the exception of the lucky ones that are born without the predispositions for growing wisdom teeth).

In most cases, the problems caused are solved by removing wisdom teeth.

Are You a Candidate For Removing Wisdom Teeth?

Of course, it is the dentist’s job to determine whether you should undergo such procedure, but in simpler terms the main factors or situations that make you a candidate for this type of surgery include:

• Your wisdom teeth are impacted, meaning that there’s not enough room in your jaw/s for them to come out. This happens when they start growing far back in your mouth.
• Your wisdom teeth start coming out in the wrong angle. It’s normal for all the teeth to come in upwards, but it is very common for the wisdom teeth to start growing in less than 90 degrees angle. In such situation they push your other teeth.
• You have small jaws and there is no room to support the growth of additional set of molar teeth.
• You have cavities or certain type of gum disease, which is likely to prevent you from reaching your wisdom teeth when brushing. You can prevent these issues with regular deep dental cleaning.

What Does the Procedure for Removing Wisdom Teeth Include?

Simply said, your wisdom teeth are removed. The surgery can last about one to one and half hour. Depending on the nature of your problem and the degree of pain you are likely to experience during the surgery, you will be given certain type of anesthesia (local, IV sedation or general anesthesia) for pain relief and numbing your mouth. You will however be awake during the procedure, of course with your mouth numbed.

Are There Certain Risks Associated With This Type of Oral Surgery?

In general, this is a safe surgery if it’s performed by highly experienced personnel and under strict medical circumstances. However, although rare, some complications may occur. For example, some of the complications that are likely to occur include: temporal or permanent nerve damage and formation of blood clot also known as dry socket. Speak to your dentist about the possible risk before the surgery.

Can I Have More Than One Wisdom Tooth Removed At Once

Yes, if you want to save on recovery time and on anesthetic administration, you can have more than one wisdom tooth removed. But if removing wisdom teeth you ought to consult with your dentist to better understand the procedure and learn more about how do reduce the level of discomfort during the surgery and what you should expect during the recovery period.