The wisdom teeth or the third molars are known to the last ones to come out. These new teeth can cause problems as they erupt inside your mouth. This is because it will present a change in your dental structure. These alterations can cause you severe discomfort and pain and therefore you need to have enough knowledge about how the process works in order for you to understand why you need to remove the teeth.

Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth 

If you are in late teens or early twenties and feel pain and difficulty in opening your mouth and have swelling and headache then the most probable cause is that you have impacted wisdom tooth trying to grow in. The wisdom tooth comes after your last 12 year molar. Because of decreasing size of jaw due to evolution the problem of impacted tooth is more as they do not get enough space in jaw to grow in and when they try to grow in gums they cause severe pain and swelling in gums. Mainly the pain and swelling is there when the wisdom teeth get infected. When it is infected one can have following sign and symptoms

Pain in Gums – Pain in gums is due to infection when the wisdom teeth try to come in the mouth and there is lack of space in gums. Initially in early stages it can start as dull pain but within few days it can turn into acute pain. This wisdom tooth pain can even be sometimes felt as ear ache, headache, difficultly in swallowing and other adjacent teeth can be painful. There can be pain in opening the jaw. You can also feel lethargic and you may feel feverish.

Swollen and Inflamed Gums – As the wisdom tooth is trying to break in through the gums, the gums become swollen and red causing acute pain. There can be bleeding also from gums. Due to gum pain in that area, there is difficulty in swallowing.

Swelling in Jaw - The jaw swelling can also happen due to infection of gums which is basically due to either less space for eruption of wisdom tooth or due to wrong angle of growth of wisdom tooth. This swelling of jaw is very painful and patient is unable to open the mouth.

Bad Taste in Mouth – One can feel very bad taste in mouth if there is impacted wisdom tooth trying to grow in. This bad taste is due to infection in the gums and along with this as there is inability to open the mouth, the patient is not able to maintain very good oral hygiene. Brushing becomes difficult.

Bad Breath – Infected wisdom tooth causes pain, swelling and infection of gums and due to infection there is pus in the gums. This infection causes bad breath along with unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Headache – Headache is mainly a referred pain and it is due to pain and swelling in gums. Because of pain and swelling the patient is not able to open the jaw and experiences headache on that side where the impacted wisdom tooth is trying to grow in.

Crowding and Decay of Teeth – Impacted wisdom tooth can cause the decay of other teeth especially adjacent molars as it is difficult to clean that area and food impaction is there. This impacted wisdom tooth can cause crowding also as they push the other teeth to create space for themselves.

Failure of Orthodontic Braces Treatment – If you have undergone the braces treatment and the wisdom tooth are not taken into consideration then this can cause failure of your braces treatment when wisdom teeth try to break in. So normally due to this the wisdom teeth are extracted before the start of braces treatment.

It is not always that wisdom teeth causes problems but if they are impacted they can be really dreadful and if ignored they can cause several complications ranging from gum diseases, decay and damage of other teeth. So getting the treatment for wisdom teeth is very important and the treatment is extraction of wisdom teeth.

                            

Removing the teeth is contingent upon your jaw size.  Since it develops and grows in size, the jaw may not be able to accommodate another set of wisdom teeth. If there is not enough room for your wisdom teeth, and it may become trapped inside your jawbone. As a result, the roots of the teeth may grow in every direction causing damage to other parts of your mouth.

Impaction of Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth can grow in a multitude of directions inside your mouth. If this happens, their roots can also send various lengths into the side of your mouth. Therefore, it would be harder for the tooth to be removed. You must have it removed as soon as it grows. The earlier you remove it, the better.

Assessment of Impacted Wisdom Tooth

While most people may not have problems with their wisdom teeth and usually ignore it, it can cause patients severe pain it is not removed quickly. It can also be the cause other conditions that may affect your dental health such as:

• Bleeding gums
• Gingivitis
• Bacterial infections 

For the sake of practicality, it is best if you have a dental appointment to check on the health of your wisdom teeth. They will be the ones to evaluate your medical history and the condition of your wisdom teeth. If they find anomalies, they will surely recommend surgical removal to help protect you from infection. They will also recommend medication that can reduce the pain that you may feel after the operation. You do not have to worry much because the dentist will surely give you all the information that you will need for assessment.

In addition to this, you must be open with your dentist regarding any reservations that you may have about the procedure. You have to discuss the dangers as well as the advantages of doing the procedure. Furthermore, you also have to decide whether you feel that the procedure would be good for you. After the discussion, if you are still not satisfied with all the information that the doctor gave you, it is best to have a second opinion about the matter.

Simple as it is, having your wisdom teeth removed is not an easy thing to do. There are so many things to consider before undergoing such a delicate operation. This is why you have to be prepared both psychologically and physically for the challenges that the operation might bring. If you are having second thoughts, it is that you do not go through with the operation.

Why Remove the Wisdom Teeth

Having wisdom teeth can cause you so much trouble in terms of your dental health and well being. Wisdom teeth are part of the teeth that you can do without especially if that causes harm to your dentures and your overall health in the oral region of your body. There are many reasons why you should remove your wisdom teeth. Here are some of the major reasons why you need to remove your wisdom teeth immediately.

1. The first reason is to avoid tooth decay. If the wisdom teeth become impacted, bacteria and other food particles can accumulate within the teeth, which will be very difficult to remove and therefore may lead to infection.
2. Secondly, having impacted wisdom teeth can lead to gum disease and cause it to bleed because the growth of the wisdom teeth may pierce through the gums and cause pain to the patient. In addition to this, the direction of wisdom teeth can cause of accumulation of germs and bits of food under the gums. Infection may occur if this happens. Therefore, you will not be able to open your mouth fully if you are infected.
3. Another reason would be to maintain a balance original set of teeth. If the wisdom teeth go off within the mouth in the wrong direction, it will disrupt the balance of the dentures. The orthodontic balance will also be disrupted.
4. In addition to this, the eruption of the wisdom teeth can cause pain to the patient. This is because of the pressure that the internal forces of the teeth would bring. This can also cause the other set of teeth to collapse. 
5. Wisdom teeth removal should also be done to prevent cysts from growing within the impacted tooth. This growth can also destroy the bones within the jaw line aside from being at risk for cancer and other related diseases that may harm your health. It can also cause other parts of your mouth to be damaged.
6. The wisdom teeth should also be removed due to physical reasons. This is because if the wisdom tooth grows underneath a denture, it will cause pain and discomfort patient for the patient and will be trickier in terms of removal. Furthermore, you will have to have another set of dentures remade because the gums will alter in shape once the wisdom teeth are out.

The wisdom teeth are something that can cause real harm if you do not remove it immediately. It may not cause any harm for you at first but eventually it will cause you more trouble because of the pain and discomfort that it will give you if it grows in the wrong way.

 It can also cause inconvenient for you because of the frequency of dental visits that you should do in order to have it checked by the dentist if you do not want to have it removed. This is why it is best to remove it early on so that you can avoid complications in terms of your dental health. 

Pros and Cons of Wisdom Tooth Removal

Like any other procedure, there are pros and cons to having wisdom teeth removed. Wisdom teeth are indeed part of your dental set and therefore it needs to be protected as well. However, the location of the tooth would make it very hard for you to reach and brush your wisdom teeth often. If this happens, cavities will attack. The removal of the tooth therefore is an important aspect of keeping your dental health positive. 

Here are some advantages to removing your wisdom teeth.

The effects of wisdom tooth removal may depend on the following conditions.

·        The size, shape and position can determine how much pain you can feel. This will affect it in such a way that the removal can cause extreme pain and suffering for the patient if the teeth is too big or it caused so much bleeding. In this case, you have to go to the dentist to have the results checked.

·        Removal of the wisdom teeth may result to unhealthy clotting. If this happens, it will result into a dry socket following an extraction. This is because a patient through no fault of his own may disturb the clotting process therefore causing it to dislodge.

·        If this happens, bleeding might arise again and complications may ensue. In order to protect your teeth, you have to follow the doctor’s instructions as to recovery period activities that can help you hasten the healing of your operation.

You should never take the removal and extraction of your wisdom teeth for granted. Although it is true that the removal in itself will help improve your dental health, you should still consult your dentist before going through the operation.

Having any kind of dental procedure is something that you should prepare for. It is something that should be taken seriously and with caution. These pros and cons can help you know and weigh what your options are. In this way, you will be able to decide what is best for you to do.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction Surgery, Healing and Postoperative Care

Surgery is usually held in your local dental clinic rather than the hospital. Your dentist will ensure that he or she explains the procedure very carefully and with as much tact as possible. The doctor will discuss about the healing process, the operation itself and other information you might want. The use of anaesthetics will ensure that you feel no pain because dentists might have to cut lesions in your mouth to perform the operation.

The healing process immediately begins after the operation because the blood will rush back into the socket to provide the necessary nutrients for clot formation. A gauze will provide the sufficient pressure necessary for immediate clot formation.

To further promote healing, you must follow the doctor’s prescriptions and advice regarding postoperative medication. You must also go back for follow up consultations. Furthermore, the moment you feel any pain or swelling during recovery, you must immediately go to the dentist for consultation.

Care after Surgical Extraction of Wisdom Tooth

In order for your teeth to heal properly after the removal, you must be observant as to any aberrant signs of bleeding or swelling during the period. The eight hours right after the operation are found to be the most critical but otherwise, it is manageable.

After the operation, you may feel small bone parts scattered across your tongue. Those are the remnants of the tooth, which have been removed. It will disappear as soon as the gum heals. In addition, the stitches can also give you a little discomfort. You have to come back to the dentist for thread removal. However, if dissolvable threads were utilized, it will eventually melt on its own after a few days. Here are additional advices on recovery.

1. Never Touch the Wound

Within the first 24 hours, be sure not to have physical contact with the wound. This may infect the spot. Make sure to use the unaffected side of your mouth for chewing. 

2. Smoking is prohibited for a Day

Smoking immediately will cause the wound to bleed.

3. Bleeding Control

Be sure to have the gauzes replaced every so often if the wound had not been stitched up. It is important to apply pressure on the wound until clot formation. 

4. No Spitting or Sucking on Straws

This is another cause for bleeding, which can affect the clot and reopen the wound.

5. Anti Pain Medication

Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to prevent discomfort after minor surgery. The dentist may prescribe stronger analgesics when the patient feels extreme pain.

6. Swelling

During the first 24 hours, it is advised to put a cold compress on to the wound when swelling occurs with 20-minute intervals. It is also advisable to rinse your mouth with warm water and a teaspoon of salt after twenty-four hours to clean it. Do not do this before the allotted time so as not to disturb the clots.

7. Recommended Diet

• Soft
• Avoidance of hot and cold drinks as well as food to prevent bleeding
• Avoidance of alcohol 

Schedule a visit to your dentist once a week to prevent any complication.