Wisdom teeth are the large molars that emerge at the very back of your mouth, usually between the ages of 17 and 24. Some people never develop their wisdom teeth, whilst others have up to four (one in each corner of your mouth). A lot of the time, wisdom teeth appear with little trouble, however if there is not enough space for the teeth to grow they can become wedged in or ‘impacted.’

The transition of the current generation to softer diets has also modified the growth pattern of the jaws and there is a space constraint for eruption of the “wisdom teeth”. This not only creates an imbalance in position of other teeth but also creates other issues like infections. So when not erupted into its proper position, a wisdom tooth is best removed.

Problems associated with Wisdom Teeth:
Wisdom teeth that are healthy and in the right position usually don’t cause problems. You may have a problem if any of the following occur:

• Your wisdom teeth break through your gums only partway because of a lack of space. This can cause a flap of gum tissue to grow over them. The flap can trap food and lead to a gum infection.
• They come in crooked or facing in the wrong direction causing cheek bite and ulcers at times.
• Your wisdom teeth may get stuck (impacted) in your jaw and not be able to break through your gums leading to referred pain in jaw or head and neck.
• They are so far back in your mouth or crowded that you have trouble cleaning around them.
• Partially erupted teeth may also affect the tooth adjacent to it, by causing decay due to food lodgment or resorption of the root of adjacent tooth.
• A cyst may form around this impacted tooth. This can damage the bone or roots of adjacent teeth.

Do I need Removal of Wisdom Teeth?
If your wisdom teeth are causing the following symptoms, in that case removal of the wisdom tooth would be recommended:

• Pain or jaw stiffness near an impacted tooth.
• Pain or irritation from a tooth coming in at an awkward angle and rubbing against your cheek, tongue, or top or bottom of your mouth.
• An infected swelling in the flap of gum tissue that has formed on top of an impacted tooth that has broken partway through the gum.
• Crowding of other teeth.
• Tooth decay or gum disease if there isn’t enough room to properly clean your wisdom tooth and nearby teeth.

Procedure for Removal:
If the wisdom teeth are completely erupted, the tooth (or teeth) will be removed without surgical intervention. After surgery, you may be asked to bite down softly on a piece of gauze for 30 to 45 minutes after you leave the office, to limit any bleeding that may occur.
If the wisdom teeth are impacted and embedded in the bone, the oral surgeon will put an incision into the gums and remove the tooth or teeth in sections in order to minimize the amount of bone being removed. Some pain and swelling may occur, but it will normally go away after a few days; however, you should call your dentist or oral surgeon if you have prolonged or severe pain, swelling, bleeding or fever.
Removal of wisdom teeth due to crowding or impaction should not affect your bite or oral health in the future.
If surgery is completed, swelling and tenderness in the face and neck are common, as is bruising. Ice packs and pain medications prescribed by the dentist or oral surgeon will help.

After Surgery
Most people have little to no pain after surgery. You’ll likely have swelling and mild discomfort for 3 or so days. Your mouth may need a few weeks to completely heal.
Follow your doctor’s instructions for a quicker recovery. Here are some tips for the first 3 days after surgery:

Dos:

• Use an ice pack on your face to curb swelling or skin color changes.
• Gently open and close your mouth to exercise your jaw.
• Eat soft foods
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Brush your teeth starting the second day. Don’t brush against any blood clot.
• Take the drugs your doctor prescribes to ease pain or swelling.
• Call your doctor if you have a fever, or if your pain or swelling doesn’t improve.

Don’ts:

• Don’t drink through a straw. Sucking may loosen blood clots that help your mouth heal.
• Don’t rinse your mouth too harshly. Your doctor may suggest rinsing gently with saltwater.
• Don’t eat hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that may scratch your wounds.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking can slow your healing.