Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom Teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late
teens or twenties. These teeth are a valuable asset tothe mouth when they are healthy
and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and may require removal.

An Impacted Tooth refers to the one that has failed to erupt or emerge into its expected
position. Impacted Wisdom Teeth can be classified by the direction and depth of their impaction,the amount of space available for tooth eruption and the amount of soft tissue and / or bone that covers them.

• Lack of space in the jaw to accommodate the tooth
• Eruption path of the tooth is obstructed by another tooth.
• If the angulations of the tooth are improper.
• High density of the overlying bone.

Ask your dentist about the position of your Wisdom Teeth. This can be identified by taking an X-ray of the tooth. After proper evaluation, t he dentist mayrecommend your Wisdom Tooth to be extracted or not.

• Red or swollen gums.
• Tender or bleeding gums.
• Jaw pain.
• Swelling around the jaws.
• Bad breath.
• Altered taste.
• Difficulty in opening the mouth.
• Root resorption of the adjacent tooth.
• Radiating pain to the ear.

1) Damage to the adjacent tooth If the Wisdom Tooth pushes against the second molar, it may damage the adjacent tooth.
2) Cysts When the Wisdom Tooth is enclosed within a sac in the jaw bone, the fluid filled sac or cyst may damage the jaw bone.
3) Decay Partially erupted teeth are at a high risk of developing decay, due to food lodgment between the gums and the tooth.
4) Gum Disease Difficulty in cleaning partially erupted teeth may cause Pericoronitis, a painful inflammation of the gum

Just like other teeth, Wisdom Teeth are a valuable part of a person's dentition. Therefore, the extraction of a Wisdom Tooth is not justifiable, if there is a possibility for its proper eruption.

Your dentist will give you an idea of what to expect during your pre-extraction examination. The Wisdom Tooth that is underneath the gums or embedded in the jaw bone will require an incision in to the gum, before removing the portion of the bone that lies over the tooth. The tooth will be extracted in smaller portions rather than in one piece, to minimize the amount of bone removal. The Wisdom Tooth that is fully erupted through the gum can be extracted like any other tooth.

1) Bleeding can occur for several Hours after Extraction This can be controlled by placing cotton gauze over the empty socket and firmly biting down for about 45 minutes. Avoid rinsing, spitting or sucking, as it may induce bleeding.

2) Facial Swelling To minimize facial swelling, place an ice pack on the affected area of the face in '10 minutes on and 20 minutes off rotations.
3) Pain To control pain, take medications, as prescribed by your Dental surgeon

• Applying Ice Pack.
• Avoiding spitting or gargling.
• Restricting to a soft diet.
• Avoiding alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking.
• Avoiding brushing vigorously in the area of
• extraction, during the first 24 hours.
• Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water, after
• meals and before bedtime.