Why is wisdom tooth removal necessary?
The wisdom teeth are the third molars all the way at the back of your mouth. They’re the last teeth to grow out, usually in your late teens or twenties. Since they grow out after the rest of your teeth, they often have insufficient room for growth, which can lead to numerous problems. They might grow out at incorrect angles in the jaw, which can harm your gum tissues and surrounding teeth. In some cases, they might remain hidden beneath the gums, necessitating emergency wisdom tooth extraction.
It’s important to highlight that wisdom teeth don’t always have to be removed. You don’t need an emergency wisdom tooth extraction if you have healthy wisdom teeth that have fully erupted, are positioned correctly, and can be cleaned regularly. However, most people can’t maintain such perfect conditions for their wisdom teeth and eventually need wisdom teeth extraction. You should ideally opt for wisdom tooth removal at an early stage; otherwise, you may later need emergency wisdom tooth extraction when it starts affecting your oral health.
Wisdom teeth are vestigial, i.e., they may have been useful at some point in the past, but they’re no longer necessary. They don’t serve any cosmetic or functional value. As such, there’s absolutely no harm in removing your wisdom teeth, only benefits.
The following are some of the situations necessitating wisdom tooth removal:
- The wisdom teeth are pushing against the surrounding teeth due to inadequate space in your jaw, leading to overcrowded or crooked teeth.
- The wisdom teeth are hidden within the gums or trapped in your jaw, a condition known as impacted wisdom teeth. This can lead to infections and abscesses.
- The wisdom teeth have partially erupted, making them hard to clean and maintain. This can lead to bacterial accumulation and infections.
Dentists often recommend wisdom teeth removal at a younger age, i.e., before they cause any problems. When your bones and roots haven’t fully formed, you heal from the wisdom tooth removal faster. Furthermore, if you wait too long, your wisdom teeth may damage the surrounding teeth and affect your overall bite and alignment. That’s why some adults seek wisdom tooth removal at an early stage rather than waiting for emergency wisdom tooth extraction.
What are the symptoms indicating that it’s time for wisdom tooth extraction?
- Gum Irritation: If you experience excessive irritation on the gums at the back of your mouth, you may have an impacted wisdom tooth. You may also develop red and swollen gums that bleed easily while brushing, which indicates a wisdom tooth infection.
- Severe Toothache: You may experience severe toothaches because of an impacted wisdom tooth. While the toothache originates at the back of your mouth, it can eventually spread to other parts of your mouth, such as your sinuses and jaws.
- Halitosis: If you have persistent bad breath that doesn’t go away with brushing, you may have an impacted wisdom tooth. If your wisdom tooth hasn’t erupted properly, it can lead to bacterial pockets on the surrounding gums, leading to extremely bad breath.
- Jaw Stiffness: Impacted wisdom teeth can sometimes affect the underlying jawbone, leading to severe jaw pains and stiffness. Because of this, and several other reasons, you may have a hard time opening and closing your mouth to eat or speak.
The aforementioned symptoms don’t confirm that you have an impacted wisdom tooth necessitating an emergency wisdom tooth extraction. However, they indicate that something is terribly wrong, with a high chance of it being your wisdom teeth. That’s why you should never ignore these signs and symptoms — contact your emergency dentist in Houston immediately.
Why are wisdom teeth more difficult to remove than other teeth?
Wisdom teeth are a lot harder to extract than other teeth, especially if you have impacted wisdom teeth. Most other teeth can be removed using simple extraction or surgical extraction, depending on their condition. However, impacted wisdom teeth necessitate the surgical extraction of wisdom teeth. That’s because wisdom teeth often erupt at awkward angles or remain hidden under the gum, and they contain multiple roots.
Can you be sedated during wisdom teeth surgery?
Wisdom teeth extraction is performed under local anesthesia and IV sedation. The oral surgeon will inject local anesthesia around the wisdom tooth to ensure comfort. Furthermore, you may receive intravenous sedation anesthesia to ensure emotional comfort. You’ll be awake during the procedure, but you won’t feel anything other than some pressure.
How to extract wisdom teeth?
During the wisdom tooth extraction, the surgeon will make an incision in the gum tissues around the wisdom tooth. This will expose the underlying bone and gum tissues. The dentist will remove bone tissues to expose the root, divide the tooth into sections, and remove them piecemeal. Once all of the fragments are removed, the dentist will clean the empty socket and remove all the debris. Finally, the wound will be sutured closed to promote healing, and an antiseptic gauze will be placed at the site.
How long should it hurt after wisdom tooth extraction?
Most people experience mild pain and discomfort after wisdom tooth extraction, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. The swelling and discomfort will gradually dissipate within 3 days. You should avoid spitting or rinsing with mouthwash for the first 24 hours because that might open the wound. After the first day, you should rinse your mouth with warm salt water for a week.
Where can I get wisdom tooth extraction near me?
URBN Dental is one of the most reliable dental clinics for emergency wisdom tooth extraction nearby in Houston, TX. Our dentist or oral surgeon will carefully examine your teeth and use the safest techniques to remove the impacted wisdom teeth safely. Please schedule an appointment for wisdom teeth extraction today.
