WHY DO WE REMOVE THEM?
The extraction of wisdom teeth is suggested when there is insufficient room for them to completely and properly erupt. They are therefore likely to be positioned against the adjacent tooth or to remain completely or partially impacted.
An impacted tooth is not useful for chewing and one can imagine that nature had not planned for it to remain inside the gum. The impacted tooth has an envelope in which it grows. Over time, this envelope may grow and form a cyst or lesions, which can damage the jaw bone and the structure of adjacent teeth.
When the wisdom tooth erupts on an other tooth, it is useless because it cannot be used to chew. It simply puts the adjacent tooth at risk for decay or periodontal inflammation. In the case where the tooth remains semi-impacted, a risk of food or bacterial entrapment is present, because gum partially covers the tooth.
WHEN?
It is generally recommended to have your wisdom teeth removed before their roots are fully formed. In addition to facilitating their extraction, it is preferable to proceed at this time because if the teeth are less formed they are then less well anchored in the bone and therefore easier to remove. Moreover, they are further away from certain anatomical structures such as nerves. The more formed the lower wisdom teeth are, the closer they come to a nerve that runs along the length of the jaw. During the procedure, the closer the tooth is to the nerve, the greater the risk of damage to this nerve.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and calming medication is prescribed beforehand. It is painless and ends in most cases with absorbable sutures, so no need to have an appointment to have it removed.
WHAT TO PLAN?
A soft, cold diet is recommended for 24 hours after surgery. It is also prescribed to refrain from doing sports activities during 48 hours after the intervention.
Reach out to our team for more information!