Things you need to know before removing your Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom Teeth – What are they?
Wisdom Teeth are the final and pre-final set of molars that are present during the end of adolescence and during early adulthood. While in some cases they are perfectly aligned, in most scenarios they are unerupted, partially erupted, or misaligned, due to which they are removed.
Their misalignment can lead to inappropriate cleaning leading to decay and infection both in the tooth and surrounding gum or could also cause crowding and damage to adjacent teeth.
Common Causes for removing your wisdom tooth
The most stated reasons for removal of these teeth include Pain, infections, Tumours, Gum disease and tooth decay. The wisdom teeth that are not removed should be continually monitored since there is a potential for developing problems. The difficulties with Wisdom tooth may also include an insufficient space to grow properly and crowding which would result in infections down the road.
What to do if you decide to remove your Wisdom Teeth?
First things first, it is important to consult a dentist and seek his opinion on removing your wisdom teeth. You would be given a preliminary X-ray namely OPG to evaluate the position of those teeth. If in case they are healthy and are grown completely whilst being correctly positioned, Wisdom teeth need not be removed. In most cases, though your Dentist might suggest removing the wisdom teeth sooner to avoid a more complicated process later if you choose to not remove them. There is also age to be considered since the recovery process for a younger person is comparatively faster.
How the removal of wisdom tooth takes place?
Your dentist would provide an outlay of what the process is going to be. The tooth is usually removed in small pieces to reduce the bone that needs to be removed. Before removal, the region is likely to be given local anesthesia to counter the pain. Your Dentist would guide you on the procedure and make sure that you are comfortable at all stages and sedate you if necessary.
What to do after the removal of Wisdom teeth?
A medley of symptoms is expected for a duration of 24 hours from surgery. These include
- Bleeding, which might occur for a couple of hours and could be reduced by applying pressure in the area. Try to avoid rinsing your mouth with water and beverages should be restrained for a while.
- Pain and inconvenience in your mouth, which could be diminished by consuming a liquid diet and avoid eating crunchy foods and follow the prescriptions by your doctor.
There are also some complications like Dry socket which is the failure of the formation of the blood clot that indeed would result in a delay in healing. Another rare complication is Paresthesia where Wisdom teeth are close to the nerves, resulting in collateral damage. This might result in numbness of your tongue and lip for a few days/weeks. It is important to fret not and ask your dentist about any possible complications that might occur and follow his remedies.