Wisdom teeth are a person’s last set of molars that tend to grow in after the age of 17. Although wisdom teeth are a fantastic chewing aid, more often than not, they are poorly aligned or do not otherwise develop properly. The typical misalignment scenario can range from being slightly angled or, in more serious cases, may grow toward and into surrounding teeth or your jawbone.
The issue with having misaligned wisdom teeth stems from the possibility of trapping food, debris and thereby harboring bacteria in difficult to reach areas. In other cases, wisdom teeth may actually push against other teeth, forcing them to shift and thereby distributing the natural and correct position of your other teeth.
In order to avoid secondary problems such as decay, plaque and other more serious ailments, many people are forced to remove their wisdom teeth through a process performed by a qualified dental practitioner, called extraction.
As a general matter, extractions are best performed during early adulthood in order to avoid unnecessary complications caused by a firmly planted set of wisdom teeth. Many dental practitioners have found that allowing wisdom teeth to set in for long periods of time makes it more difficult to extract them.
What Are Wisdom Teeth Made Up Of?
Wisdom teeth, much like your other teeth are composed of pulp, dentin and enamel. Pulp is the innermost layer and refers to the portion inside the tooth, which harbors nerves and blood vessels. The pulp is far more soft compared to the outer portion of the teeth that is exposed to food and drink. Dentin is composed of cells and is the layer just outside of the pulp. Lastly, the outermost layer is the enamel, which is, as you know, quite hard. Enamel is composed of large amounts of calcium phosphate, which is what makes it so hard.
How Do I Determine Whether I Need To Remove My Wisdom Teeth?
Before you can determine whether or not you will need to remove your wisdom teeth, you will need to ascertain whether or not you have wisdom teeth. To find your wisdom teeth, look into the mirror and focus on the back of your mouth. Your wisdom teeth are, medically speaking, characterized as your third set of molars.
Once you have determined that your wisdom teeth have grown in, you can begin deliberating over whether or not they will need to be removed. This is a question that is best left to a qualified dental practitioner. A dentist will inspect your wisdom teeth to see if there are any visible signs of misalignment or impaction. The dentist will perform a visual inspection by looking at your wisdom teeth directly. It is standard operating procedure for the dentist to take an X-ray, in many cases.
With a thorough physical inspection and an X-ray in hand, a dentist will be able to determine, with a good deal of accuracy, the prospective alignment and direction of your wisdom teeth.
Should your dentist determine that the condition and development of your wisdom teeth necessitate removal, the breadth of the extraction will depend on your particular set of circumstances. If your wisdom teeth have already erupted beyond the gum, extraction will not differ from that of any other tooth. However, certain complications may require your dentist to vary the technique used. In some cases, for instance, a wisdom tooth may lie under the gum line and be placed up against the jaw bone. Such a case may necessitate a more invasive extraction process.
In either case, the dental practitioner will typically administer a local anesthetic in order to numb the surrounding area. A sedative may also be necessary.
After your wisdom teeth have been extracted, you may encounter bleeding and a swollen face. Your dentist will likely prescribe pain medication to help lessen the pain that you may experience during the healing process. Your dentist will also most likely recommend that you adhere to a strict diet containing only liquids and or soft foods. More likely than not, your dentist will also recommend gently brushing your teeth, while paying close attention to avoiding the teeth surrounding where your wisdom teeth once were.
After the first day, your face may continue to be swollen from the extraction. Applying ice will most likely be what your dental practitioner suggests. After the first day, many recommend rinsing your mouth with a combination of warm water and salt after each meal and before bed.
What Are The Costs Associated With Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
The monetary cost of having your wisdom teeth extracted will depend on the condition and development of your wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth may cost more to remove due to the procedures required.
The more complex the procedure involved, the more it will likely cost you. As a general matter, however, the simplest of removals begin at around $100 for each wisdom tooth. More complicated removal procedures may drive up the cost to several hundred dollars per wisdom tooth.
A qualified dental practitioner is medically trained and certified to grapple with the complexities associated with the human mouth and teeth. Be sure to obtain the advice of your local dentist in determining whether or not you will need to extract your wisdom teeth.
As with most dental emergencies, it is far easier and typically more cost effective to handle the problem when the issue arises, rather than to delay. Putting off a much needed visit with your local dental practitioner can result in secondary dental-related ailments that could have been avoided or, at the very least, mitigated.
Why Do Some Dentists Recommend Removing Wisdom Teeth That Are Not Impacted
Whether to remove wisdom teeth that are not impacted depends on a number of factors. In some cases, it can also depend on the philosophy of your local dental practitioner. Some dentists believe that wisdom teeth should almost always be extracted in order to avoid dental emergencies and other complications in the future. This makes sense given the relative ease of removing wisdom teeth at an earlier age as compared to the typically more difficult to remove wisdom teeth in a middle aged person.
While some dental institutions suggest the procedure ought to be performed even if wisdom teeth are not impacted or otherwise misaligned, other institutions suggest that removal of wisdom teeth that are well-aligned is an unnecessary procedure.
