Most People Have Their Wisdom Teeth Removed To Prevent Potential Problems

Deciding whether to have wisdom teeth removed is something that requires careful thought and consultation with a reputable oral surgeon or dentist. There are risks associated with leaving them in, as well as having them removed. The good news about having them removed is that most complications are easily preventable by following your dentist's care instructions. When trying to determine if removal is the best option, most oral surgeons will perform a thorough examination and analyze x-rays to determine the appropriate course of action for each patient. Below we'll go over some of the most common complications that can arise from not having third molars (commonly called wisdom teeth) removed, some signs to look for that may indicate they will need to be removed, as well as what to expect from the removal process.

Common Complications from Keeping Wisdom Teeth

• Pericoronitis - One of the main issues people who have not had their third molars removed encounter is a condition known as Pericoronitis, which occurs when the gum tissue around the crown of a tooth becomes inflamed. With Pericoronitis, a small flag of gum tissue partially covers the wisdom tooth, making it impossible for even the most thorough of brushers and flossers to adequately clean under the flap. Eventually, food becomes trapped under this flap leading to a buildup of plaque and bacteria that slowly breaks down the tooth.
• Dental Caries – Another common problem is Dental Caries, or tooth decay. This usually occurs in between wisdom teeth and their adjacent second molars but can also take place on any exposed surface of the third molars. Since wisdom teeth are located all the way in the back of the mouth, it makes them harder to see and adequately clean. This in turn can lead to the teeth breaking down and decaying without the patient evening realizing what is happening.
• Localized Gum Disease – This is something else that can occur without the patient even being aware of a problem. Localized Gum Disease can take place around an erupted or partially impacted wisdom tooth. If left untreated it will lead to bone loss in and around the impacted tooth and in some cases adjacent teeth.
• Cysts or Tumors – In more severe cases, cysts or tumors can even begin to form. This can lead to the deterioration and eventual destruction of the impacted teeth and any adjacent teeth.

Signs Removal May Be Needed

There’s several signs that wisdom teeth have outgrown their welcome in the mouth. Some of the most common signs that people will see include: 

• Pain – One of the most obvious signs of wisdom teeth that need to be removed is pain. It is generally a dull, aching, consistent pain that is felt in the jaw and can often lead to headaches or migraines. Chewing food can also become painful.
• Impacted Teeth – Another telltale sign it may be time to have wisdom teeth removed is the presence of other impacted teeth which will be forced to grow in at an angle since there isn't enough room in the mouth to accommodate all the teeth. Impacted teeth can cause a variety of serious jaw issues and other related problems.
• Overcrowding – Similar to Impacted Teeth, Overcrowding happens when teeth that were once straight begin to crowd together, shift, and overlap. This often leads to gum issues and creates the conditions for food to become trapped and cause infections.
• Sensitivity – Patients who need their wisdom teeth removed frequently report increased sensitivity to heat and/or cold.

The Removal Procedure

Many people worry about having their wisdom teeth removed and whether it will be a painful experience or not. This is usually uncalled for since wisdom teeth removal is one of the more standard and routine procedures that dentists and oral surgeons perform. The pain associated with the procedure is minimal thanks to anesthesia and pain medications. When removing wisdom teeth, surgeons generally follow the process below.

1. Sedation – The surgeon will sedate the patient by fitting a small mask over their nose, causing them to inhale. An IV may also be used to administer the sedative in some cases.This can be partial or full.
2. Numbing – The dentist or surgeon will next apply a local numbing agent to the wisdom teeth and any surrounding tissues.
3. Bone Removal – This is only performed in situations where an impacted wisdom tooth is partially or fully covered with bone. In this case, a high-speed handpiece is utilized to drill through and remove the bone covering the tooth.
4. Loosening of the Tooth – After the impacted teeth become visible to the surgeon, different surgical instruments are used to gently loosen and section them off from the connective tissue in the tooth's socket. In some cases, the dentist may even need to cut the tooth into sections to make the removal process easier.
5. Tooth Removal – Once the tooth is loosened, the oral surgeon uses specialized surgical instruments designed expressly for tooth removal to extract the tooth.
6. Stitches – In some cases, stitches are applied to close up the area if the dentist feels they are necessary to help the patient heal faster.

Recovery from the procedure will take a while and instructions will need to be followed to ensure only the correct items are ingested for food and to avoid creating negative pressure and potentially causing the bleeding to resume.