Wisdom Teeth Extraction

For many years it was a popular belief that wisdom teeth should be left in place unless they were fully “erupted” or viewable above the gum. Today, however, this is not the case. Dental professionals and the general public understand the ongoing problems that both erupted and submerged wisdom teeth can cause, and most people are advised to deal with their wisdom teeth as early in their life as possible. There are risks associated with the extraction of wisdom teeth, and they only increase with age. Risks are even greater for those waiting to deal with the teeth until issues such as infection, tenderness or other medical issues arise. People under the age of thirty five are in the best position to have their wisdom teeth dealt with without additional concerns, after fifty however people are at risk for damage to the jaw and surrounding bone because the teeth fuse as the individual ages. The risks after thirty five will also include a potential for numbness in the lips or mouth due to the proximity of many nerves surrounding the wisdom teeth.

Luckily, modern technology lets a dentist or oral surgeon have a good view of the situation before beginning any corrective work. Nerves, bones and problematic teeth will all be plainly seen on a standard x-ray, and the patient can be advised of any potential problems. Why is it so necessary to eliminate wisdom teeth? They can cause a great deal of pain and suffering to the individual, and not simply by pressing and crowding other teeth. Wisdom teeth will cause other teeth to shift which results in bite irregularity and the associated problems, they can cause sinus problems, irritate the gum tissue and make it possible for infection, they will frequently cause pockets of decay that lead to bone loss and infection and they can make orthodontia and dentures non-functional due to tooth shifting. Extracting wisdom teeth may require surgical skill, especially for the teeth which have not yet erupted. It is important to work with a dentist or oral surgeon with the proper equipment and training to meet the needs of the patient. Equipment must include adequate sedation techniques because wisdom tooth removal can frequently be a traumatic experience, and it is best to eliminate any chances of panic or unnecessary pain. Many people will have all of their wisdom teeth removed during a single visit, though not all patients will need the entire set removed.

The after effects of wisdom tooth removal will include some discomfort which is usually addressed by an over the counter pain reliever, light bleeding – especially for those with sutures, swelling of the face and jaw area, and unfortunately some people may experience a permanent numbness in their lower lip due to the disturbance or damage of a nerve in the lower jaw. You can fin the home page for our provo wisdom teeth dentist here.