Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are believed to be our evolutionary residues, which may have been helpful for our distant ancestors to eat their coarser foods like plants and grass. As human beings have evolved, we are no more in need of these teeth as our oral hygiene and diets have changed. In essence, our mouths have the space for 28 teeth, but with four extra wisdom teeth, we have about 32 teeth, all struggling for space. 

Wisdom teeth grow deep inside the mouth, behind your molars. There is a set each on the bottom and the top, and they often erupt in sideways, crooked, or misaligned. As they begin to grow in, they can push on other teeth, causing problems of overcrowding and misalignment.

What are the common symptoms of Wisdom Tooth pain?

• The first symptoms of wisdom tooth pain start at the back of the mouth behind the molars. This pain increases gradually as the wisdom teeth continue to erupt in misaligned or sideways, and as a result, pressing on the nerves and bone and crowding surrounding teeth.
• Other symptoms include pain, redness, tenderness, and swelling in the wisdom tooth area. 
• As wisdom teeth begin to sprout through the gums' surface, this lets the bacteria enter through open tissue, which can result in infection. Oral infections have been known to affect your overall health as well.
• The wisdom teeth also become impacted, a condition in which the jaw bone or neighboring teeth block the teeth from growing up. These impacted teeth can also cause severe pain in the inside of the mouth, infection, and other difficulties.
• Foul breath, lousy taste upon chewing food, redness, and swelling can all be signs of infection of the wisdom tooth.
• Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to cysts formation and, in rare cases, tumors.

What is the procedure involved in Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

The most routine treatment for wisdom teeth pain is the extraction of the teeth. Wisdom teeth extraction is generally performed by a dentist or an oral surgeon under local or general anesthesia. The wisdom teeth can be removed relatively quickly if they have already erupted through the surface of the gums, just as if they were any other tooth. However, impacted wisdom teeth can be a little more challenging to extract. In order to remove an impacted tooth, an incision is made through the surface of the gum above the tooth. Next, any bone covering the tooth is removed, and then the tooth itself is pulled out. At times, your dentist or surgeon will have to break the tooth into several small pieces in order to save as much bone as possible and avoid needlessly cutting bone or risking nerves and delicate tissues. Wisdom teeth extraction is a regular procedure and the best solution to getting rid of your wisdom teeth symptoms.

In recent times, it has become increasingly rare for wisdom teeth symptoms to precede their extraction. Dentists and oral surgeons are more likely to advise that wisdom teeth be removed before becoming a problem for oral health. Though, it's still possible to experience wisdom teeth symptoms, in which case you should relate this information to your dentist immediately.

Call us at Myers or schedule an online appointment to know more about Wisdom Teeth