Wisdom teeth are a person’s third set of molars and the last teeth to develop and appear in the mouth.
Wisdom teeth are impacted if they do not have the space to grow in naturally or are unable to completely erupt into the oral cavity.
Due to the numerous complications of impacted wisdom teeth, surgical removal is often recommended.
Wisdom teeth attained their name for the time they may normally erupt into a person’s mouth.
Third molars typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 25, once called the “Age of Wisdom.” Even though they may not arrive until patients are in their 20s, wisdom teeth are often identified via X-rays before they erupt.
Wisdom teeth are an artifact of where humanity has come from. These vestigial teeth are relics of a time when humans had larger jaws and greater need and space for more teeth in their mouth. While third molars still are developing, they now have less space to erupt and be maintained in the mouth.
No, and not everyone will have a full set of four wisdom teeth either.
Recent research has shown that as many as 25 percent of people are missing at least one third molar.
- Routine Blood Investigation such as CBC (complete blood count), RBS (random blood sugar) etc.
- OPG (Orthopantomogram)
An OPG is advised for routine screening for impacted tooth in upper or lower jaw.
- CBCT(Cone Beam Computed Tomography) or CT Scan
In most of cases, OPG is sufficient for diagnosis and treatment planning but in some cases where nerve can be compromised or impacted tooth is associated with pathology such as cyst or tumor would need an additional CBCT or CT scans.
While it is possible for wisdom teeth to erupt problem-free, their placement in an area that is challenging to clean makes it difficult for many patients to maintain proper health of the teeth and associated gum tissue.
Even healthy wisdom teeth require regular, professional cleanings, annual checkups and periodic X-rays. Impacted wisdom teeth may need to be extracted due to periodontal disease (gum infections), damage to adjacent teeth, or if cysts or tumors form.
This is an answer that will vary from patient to patient, as everyone’s wisdom teeth are different. In many cases, an uncomplicated extraction of all four third molars can be performed in less than an hour. An outpatient procedure, wisdom tooth removal is typically performed under local anesthesia in the clinic.
Surgeon’s experience, the number of imapacted teeth extracted, their level of impaction in bone (if any) and their difficulty level to remove will affect the cost of wisdom tooth removal.
Patients should follow their Surgeons’s instructions regarding diet and care after wisdom tooth removal. Typically, patients can begin eating soft foods, slowly working their way up to more solid foods while avoiding foods that are hard, spicy or difficult to chew.
It’s smart to plan what to eat after wisdom teeth removal before the procedure and to have those foods on-hand during recovery.
Local anesthesia or numbing cream will be applied and is known to be comfortable if done Board Certified surgeon.
Patients should follow their Maxillofacial Surgeons’s instructions. This can include resting the day of the surgery and avoiding the use of a straw for at least 24 hours.
Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least a week after surgery to avoid dislodging a blood clot. Patients also should take care to brush their teeth gently, avoid any vigorous rinsing and avoid smoking during the healing process.
Although full tooth extraction healing can take up to six weeks, many patients are able to resume normal activities the day after surgery and can return to normal life within a week, following their Maxillofacial Surgeon’s instructions.
Wisdom teeth will not grow back after they are removed, but it is possible for a patient to have supernumerary (extra) teeth, also known as hyperdontia. Supernumerary teeth can occur anywhere in the mouth, from incisors to canines to molars. Although the condition is uncommon, patients will often know ahead of time whether they will have to worry about extra wisdom teeth; they should be visible in preliminary dental X-rays.
Simple tooth removal can be performed by general dentist whereas impacted teeth requires to be removed surgically by specialist Maxillofacial Surgeon .
Dr. Punit Dubey is First International Board Certified Craniomaxillofacial Surgeon in Delhi NCR region, and neighbouring states with vast experience in Facial Cosmetic Surgery providing safety according to International norms.
View this post on Instagram