Do You Have a Wisdom Tooth? You Have a Problem!

Wisdom teeth… The teeth we wait for when they don't come in; when they do, we have to have them extracted right away because they decay quickly, and sometimes we wonder why they came in at all… We learned from the Oral and Dental Health Department specialists at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental about the questions people have regarding wisdom teeth and when they should be extracted.

The specialists, who noted that the last teeth to erupt in our mouths, the third molars known as wisdom teeth, generally begin to erupt between the ages of 17 and 25, said: "Whether these teeth should be left in the mouth is a matter of debate. If they erupt in the correct position and do not damage the surrounding tissues, there is no harm in keeping the tooth in place. Extraction may be decided upon for a tooth that is fused to the jawbone or that has been found on X-ray to be in an abnormal position, taking into account the harm it may cause in the future."

When Should I Have My Wisdom Tooth Extracted?

Decay: Saliva, bacteria and food particles accumulate in the opening created by a newly erupting tooth, threatening both the wisdom tooth and the neighboring molar. It is quite difficult to treat such decay if it is not detected early. Painful infections leading to abscesses can develop into serious conditions.

Gum disease (pericoronitis): When a wisdom tooth is partially erupted, an infection focus forms in the gum where bacteria and food debris collect. These cause bad breath, pain, swelling and an inability to fully open the mouth. The infection can spread through the lymphatics to the cheek and neck. The area around a wisdom tooth that is prone to infection can easily become infected each time.

Pressure Pain: If pressure is applied to neighboring teeth during eruption, pain may be felt due to crowding. In some cases this pressure leads to wear.

Orthodontic Reasons: Many young people undergo orthodontic treatment to correct crowding of their teeth. Because the eruption pressure of wisdom teeth is transmitted to other teeth, mobility may occur in other teeth and crowding may increase.

Prosthesis-Related Reasons: In a mouth where prosthetic planning is being done, wisdom teeth must be taken into account. This is because a new prosthesis will need to be made according to the changed oral structure after the wisdom tooth is extracted.

Cyst Formation: An impacted tooth can lead to a cyst; a cyst causes bone destruction, jaw enlargement, displacement or damage to surrounding teeth. To prevent bone destruction, the tooth should be extracted and the cyst cleaned out.

I Have a Badly Positioned Tooth but It Causes No Discomfort…

- A tooth in a bad position is sufficient on its own as a cause of infection. In such a case, pressure pain, gum problems and similar issues can develop suddenly and at an unexpected time.

- Wisdom teeth are located in areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and floss. Bacteria, acids and food debris that lead to decay over time collect in this area. If the tooth decays and is not restored with a filling, the tooth becomes inflamed in a short time.

- Because these teeth are difficult to keep clean, accumulated bacteria and food debris cause bad breath.

- An impacted tooth lying horizontally beneath the gum creates pressure that causes other teeth to shift, crowd together and become crooked.

- Bacteria that collect beneath the gum covering an impacted tooth lead to infection.

What is the best time to extract wisdom teeth?

A badly positioned tooth should be extracted between the ages of 14 and 22, whether or not it causes complaints. Procedures at younger ages are technically easier and healing is faster. Procedures over the age of 40 are more difficult. In addition, side effects increase with age and the healing period lengthens.

Is it different from other tooth extractions?

Depending on the position, shape and size of the wisdom tooth, the difficulty of the procedure varies. After a simple extraction, slight swelling, pain and bleeding may occur. Some complex extractions requiring more specialized procedures may also be performed. The precautions your dentist takes and the recommendations they give minimize side effects. After this extraction, blood does not accumulate in the extraction socket, and pain may also develop. The situation improves within a few days. Furthermore, if the dentist's recommendations are followed, this may not be encountered at all. In older age, extraction becomes more difficult and healing slows, as bone structure becomes denser and flexibility decreases.

Post-operative care

Do not touch the wound site. Otherwise, pain, infection or bleeding may develop.

For the first 24 hours, do not chew on the side where your tooth was extracted.

Do not smoke for the first 24 hours. Smoking increases bleeding and impairs healing.

Do not spit. If you spit, bleeding increases and the clot may dislodge.

Check your bleeding. If no stitches have been placed, pack the area with sterile gauze. Hold the pack in your mouth for half an hour to allow a clot to form. If bleeding continues after the pack is removed, place a new one.

Check for swelling. Applying a cold pack to the area after surgery slows circulation and prevents your face from swelling. Apply in cycles of 20 minutes cold pack – 20 minutes rest – then another 20 minutes cold pack.

After the first 24 hours, gargle every 2 hours with a mixture made by adding 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 glass of lukewarm water.