You may have heard of the 'wisdom tooth surgeryYou may have been looking for information in your dental clinic or searching for information on the Internet and several doubts have arisen that I will try to solve today. Whether it is because it has been recommended to you and you are about to undergo one, or if someone close to you is going to do it, or if you are just curious, I will try to ensure that you leave this article with the necessary knowledge on the subject.
What is wisdom tooth surgery?
Wisdom teeth extraction is nothing more than the removal of wisdom teeth, i.e. ''wisdom teeth''.take outIt is carried out under certain circumstances, which we will discuss later. First of all, we should clarify that the so-called wisdom teeth erupt between 17 and 24 years of age and are the last large molars, which emerge at the back of the mouth.
If their extraction is sometimes referred to as '....surgeryThis is because in most cases a more complex intervention is necessary, for a variety of reasons. In fact, an extraction is referred to in the clinic as a exodontiawhile those that require surgery are referred to as complex exodontics.
When should wisdom teeth be extracted?
Although some people are confused that wisdom teeth should always be removed, if the tooth has grown in the right place and in the right way and does not cause any discomfort or discomfort, there is no reason to remove it. The reasons why they should be extracted are:
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Infection
The pericoronaritis -inflammation around the crown of the wisdom tooth - is the most frequent cause leading to its extraction.
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Retained
Sometimes the tooth does not fully erupt, i.e. it remains '...'.retained'. Sometimes, when this happens, pain and swelling occur and extraction is the best option. Sometimes it can even lead to infection.
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Crowding
Wisdom teeth can cause crowding of the lower teeth, which may require even a orthodontic treatment. Whether or not the patient undergoes it, the inadequate thrust of the molars as they attempt to erupt makes extraction the best option.
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Damage to adjacent tooth
Sometimes, when it lacks sufficient space but still emerges and tries to grow, it can end up damaging adjacent teeth or even resorbing its root.
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Impossibility of proper hygiene
On occasions, relatively preventive action is taken when a tooth is in a bad position. That is to say, even if it has not yet caused any problems, if its position makes proper hygiene difficult, it is clear that it will end up causing major problems.
When is it necessary to surgically remove wisdom teeth?
As we have seen throughout this article, in the review of the motives that lead to extracting a toothIn the vast majority of cases, they are in an unfavourable position, so that surgery will almost always be necessary to remove them.
However, as I always try to explain to patients, the moment a scalpel intervenes, even if only minimally, as happens in many cases, an extraction is called surgery, but sometimes it is only a small incision in the gum to facilitate the extraction without damaging the adjacent teeth.
How is wisdom tooth surgery performed?
After the preliminary diagnosis, which includes the necessary radiographic tests, once the extraction appointment has been made and it has been determined that wisdom tooth surgery will be necessary, the first step is the application of local anaesthesia, as is usual in this type of procedure.
Afterwards, depending on the degree of inclination and eruption of the tooth, it will be necessary to intervene more or less. Sometimes a couple of incisions in the gum are enough to facilitate the complete extraction of the tooth, and sometimes, as in cases where the tooth has not even erupted, it is necessary to completely open the gum and the maxillary bone in order to remove it.
The procedure is quick and involves few complications in the vast majority of cases, the number of stitches after the operation is minimal and many people start work immediately afterwards.
The postoperative period following wisdom tooth surgery
As I mentioned in the previous point, there are many patients who, as soon as they get up from the chair, resume their working day where they left off. Obviously, this statement must be understood in context, because it does not mean that it is advisable for all people or jobs, but it does give us an approximate idea of how complicated the postoperative period for this type of surgery can be: very little.
The discomfort caused by the operation is inflammation and swelling in the area, perhaps some bleeding, which will subside over the following days until it disappears completely.
The important thing is to follow the dentist's instructions, which may vary from one operation to another and depending on the patient, and above all to respect the prescribed medication routine, which will basically consist of anti-inflammatory and painkillers to mitigate the discomfort of the healing process.