Should You Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?

The removal of wisdom teeth, often known as their extraction, is a routine oral surgery treatment. To maintain your oral health and shield your other teeth from potential problems in the future, dentists may advise this procedure. As a dentist at a New West dental clinic says, wisdom teeth are considered vestigial structures by scientists, which refers to elements of the human body that are no longer required. These teeth were necessary for crushing and chewing raw meat, roots, nuts, and leaves for our ancestors. We use forks and knives to cut our meals into smaller pieces today because we eat more cooked food. We no longer require wisdom teeth as a result.

The upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right wisdom teeth are all present in some persons. Some individuals might have one, two, three, or none at all. It makes no difference how many wisdom teeth you have—or don’t have—because nothing is wrong. It is merely an aberration from the norm and evidence of the dynamic nature of evolution.

How Come This Is Done?

If any of the following apply to you:

• Have a wisdom tooth or teeth that are impacted. (To be partially or completely imprisoned in your gums or jawbone is to be “impacted”).
• Possess wisdom teeth that erupted irregularly or sideways.
• Feel discomfort close to your mouth’s rear.
• Keep dirt and food from getting near your wisdom teeth.
• Get gum disease, especially in the area surrounding your teeth.
• Have cavities in a wisdom tooth that has partially erupted.
• Develop a cyst (a fluid-filled sac) around a single or several wisdom teeth.
• Have teeth or bones nearby that are damaged.

Wisdom tooth removal is frequently advised by dentists as a prophylactic precaution. As a result, even if you are symptom-free, your dentist may advise having your wisdom teeth removed. This can lessen your likelihood of developing issues along the road, such as infections and tooth decay.

How Should I Get Ready for My Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

During your appointment with the oral surgeon, an assessment of your wisdom teeth will be conducted and dental X-rays will be taken to determine their exact position. It is important to inform the surgeon of any medication, vitamins, or supplements you are taking at the time of the appointment.

During this session, your surgeon will also go over sedation dentistry options with you. They might suggest local anaesthesia, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), IV (intravenous, or through your vein) sedation, or general anaesthesia according to your requirements and preferences.

Your surgeon will provide you with specific preparation instructions whether you opt for IV sedation or general anaesthesia. This can entail quitting some drugs a few days beforehand and fasting after midnight the evening before your surgery. (Before stopping your medicine, speak with your surgeon.)

What Follows the Removal of Wisdom Teeth?

You can anticipate some minor discomfort, light bleeding, and oedema following wisdom tooth removal. To lessen these side effects, your dental surgeon will provide you with treatment guidelines for your wisdom teeth. Once the sedation has worn off sufficiently, a responsible relative or friend will take you home.

What Age Do Wisdom Teeth Often Need to Be Removed?

If you are old enough to have wisdom teeth, you are also old enough to have your wisdom teeth removed. Additionally, there is no maximum age. Having your wisdom teeth removed in your late teens or early 20s is frequently advised by dentists. Your wisdom teeth are still forming at this age, which may make extraction easier.