Wisdom teeth are large third molars at the back of the jawbone. They are called wisdom teeth because these teeth appear between the ages of 16-40. Due to the fact that humanity’s eating habits changed for thousands of years, human jawbones have also gone through changes. Today, wisdom teeth cannot fit in many people’s mouths. So, these teeth either stay buried or get located in a different position. In such a case, third molars are extracted since they do not necessarily help chewing.

If wisdom teeth are located where they should be in the mouth and do not pose any problems while closing the mouth, they do not need to be extracted. However, if they are half-buried in the mouth, and cause decays in the neighboring teeth, and if there are any complaints such as pain while eating, then the teeth should be extracted. Also, nonvisible wisdom teeth that are buried in the mouth are extracted if they are in a position that might pose problems. Otherwise, it may disrupt the alignment of the other teeth. On the other hand, wisdom teeth that are buried and haven’t done any harm on the other teeth or on the mouth can be kept with routine check-ups.

The structure of the wisdom teeth is similar to the other teeth in the mouth. However, it is harder to clean them effectively due to their rearmost position in the mouth. Therefore, they decay more quickly

When a wisdom tooth is half-buried in the mouth, food residue gets stuck and piles up between the tooth and the gum above. It cannot be totally cleaned no matter how carefully you brush that tooth. If this situation goes unnoticed and becomes more severe, it may result in an abscess. Owing to the abscess, you may feel pain opening your mouth, which will make it more difficult for you to eat.

A wisdom tooth is extracted;

– If it disrupts the teeth alignment (i.e. if it leads to crooked teeth) because it cannot find space in the jawbone while growing,

– When it causes bad breath due to the difficulty of cleaning it,

– When there is pain, swelling and redness in the surrounding gums,

– When it causes root resorption in the neighboring teeth if it’s in horizontal position,

– And when it brings about a cyst in its surrounding if it stays buried.

When clearly visible in the mouth, it is no different from extracting the other teeth. Nevertheless, if it is in a buried or a half-buried position, it requires surgical operation. In this case, the tooth is anesthetized through an injection inside the mouth. Then, the tooth is extracted by removing the bone and gingival (gum) tissue above the tooth. After the suturing, it’s all done.

When the bone tissue is removed, there might be a bit of swelling around the face. However, there is no need to worry as long as you use regularly the medicine prescribed by your dentist and apply cold compress after the operation.

The dentist’s knowledge and experience are very important aspects in wisdom teeth extraction. The patient might experience numbness in the lower lip and tongue due to permanent nerve injury if the dentist does not act carefully. Besides, the teeth roots might get into crucial anatomic cavities such as the sinus cavity. In some cases where excessive force is used, the adjacent tooth may get broken or cracked. Chronic infection in the area of extraction and incomplete recovery are also among the problems that can occur.

As with any other surgery performed in the mouth, you should avoid consuming hot food and drinks and should not spit after the operation in order to take bleeding under control. You should quit smoking or smoke less since smoking will disrupt the healing process of the wounded area. Moreover, the adjacent teeth must be cleaned with a soft tipped brush and the hygiene of that area should be supported with antiseptic mouthwash.