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Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars are the last teeth to erupt.
This occurs usually between the ages of 17 and 25. There remains
a great deal of controversy regarding whether or not these teeth
need to be removed. It is generally suggested that teeth that remain
completely buried or un-erupted in a normal position are unlikely
to cause harm. However, if these impacted teeth are in an abnormal
position (a dentist can show you this on an x-ray), their potential
for harm should be assessed.
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What is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth ?
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tooth becomes impacted due to lack of space in the dental arch and
its eruption is therefore prevented by gum, bone, another tooth
or all three. Lack of space occurs because our jaws have become
smaller (through evolution), we do not loose teeth through decay
as frequently as in the past, and our diet is such that our teeth
do not wear down as much. |
What are the alternatives?
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Having
wisdom teeth removed is often the only way to permanently relieve
painful symptoms. Although antibiotics can provide temporary relief,
the symptoms tend to flare up again in the future.
In some cases, where a wisdom tooth is causing pain because it is
pressing into the surrounding gum, removal may not be necessary
- an operation to cut back the gum may be all that is needed. However,
this alternative is not suitable for everyone. |
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Many
people have their wisdom teeth removed under local
anesthesia by
a general dentist or oral surgeon. This means that they are awake,
but the area around the wisdom tooth is completely numb. Sedative
drugs can be given with local anesthesia to help people relax during
the procedure.
Some people have their wisdom teeth removed under general
anesthesia.
This means that they are asleep throughout the procedure. This has
to be done in hospital, but it's almost always carried out as a
day case, requiring no overnight stay. Typically, patients are asked
not to eat or drink for about six hours before general
anesthesia.
However, some anesthetists allow a few sips of water until two
hours beforehand.
The operation will not start until the
anesthetic has taken effect. It is often necessary to make a small cut in the gum over the wisdom tooth, and to remove some bone so that the tooth can be lifted out. Stitches are usually put in to help the gum heal. |
Side-effects and complications
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The
extraction of wisdom teeth is a commonly performed and generally
safe procedure. For most people, the benefits - treatment of pain,
decay and infection - are greater than any disadvantages. However,
in order to make an informed decision, anyone deciding whether or
not to have this procedure needs to be aware of the possible side-effects
and the risk of complications.
Side-effects
:These are the unwanted but usually mild and temporary
effects of a successful procedure. Examples of side-effects include
feeling sick as a result of the anesthetic and occasional bleeding
from the gums, which can last 12 hours or more. There may also be
some facial swelling, pain and jaw stiffness, which can last for
several days.
Complications
:Complications are problems that can occur during or
after the operation. Most people are not affected. The main possible
complications of any surgery include excessive bleeding during or
soon after the operation, infection, and an unexpected reaction
to the anesthetic. Complications may require further treatment
such as having another operation to stop bleeding, or antibiotics
to treat an infection. |
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