PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
8th March 2014
Wisdom teeth or third molars are the last teeth to erupt (between the ages of 17 and 25 years) and are located at the back of the mouth. They are called wisdom teeth because they come through much later than the rest of our teeth, at a time when we are supposed to be an adult and therefore ‘wise’! It is usual to have four although some people can have less or occasionally more.
Many people are familiar with the idea of wisdom teeth being removed and indeed it was normal practice in certain countries around thirty years ago for wisdom teeth to be routinely removed. Best practice has moved on since then and now it is recommended that a wisdom tooth should only be removed if the patient is experiencing recurrent infections, several times a year for 2-3 years. If there is no clinical need to remove a wisdom tooth, it should not be removed.
Problems with Wisdom Teeth
A common problem is an impacted wisdom tooth which is when the wisdom tooth emerges at an angle or gets stuck and only partially emerges, due to lack of space. Food debris and bacteria can easily become trapped around the area. This, combined with the area being difficult to clean effectively, increases the risk of gum disease, infection, dental decay and pain.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
If a tooth requires an extraction it may be performed by your dentist or you may be referred to a specialist surgeon. This depends upon the complexity of the extraction, the individual patient and the abilities of the dentist. Before the procedure, you will usually be given a local anaesthetic injection to numb the area around the tooth and prevent any pain. In some cases a cut (incision) may be needed in your gum and the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces before it is removed. After the tooth been removed, some swelling and discomfort may be experienced but this should subside after a few days.
Possible Complications
As with all surgery, there are risks associated with removing a wisdom tooth. These include problems such as infection or delayed healing, both of which are more likely to occur if you smoke during your recovery.
Another possible complication is “dry socket”, which is a dull, aching sensation in your jaw, and sometimes a bad smell or taste coming from the empty tooth socket. In this case you should return to your dentist for the socket to be dressed. There is also a small risk of nerve damage, which can cause problems such as pain or a tingling sensation and numbness in the tongue, lower lip, chin, teeth and gums. This is usually temporary, but in rare cases can be permanent.
