Wisdom Tooth Extraction

The history of wisdom teeth is one of evolution. Hundreds of thousands of years ago this third set of molars played a vital role daily in offering powerful chomping power to the types of food available at the time. Today we have gravitated to a softer, more refined palate. In fact, today 35% of the population is born without any wisdom teeth and another 75 to 85% of adults need to have their wisdom teeth extracted dayton oh.

The Reasons behind having Wisdom Teeth Extracted

Wisdom teeth usually erupt through the gum between the ages of 17 and 25. They are spotted on x-rays prior to that and your dentist will watch their movement closely. One of the first reasons to have your wisdom teeth removed is there simply is not enough room in your mouth to accommodate them. This will cause unnecessary crowding and have negative effects on your bite pattern and alignment. They can come in at the wrong angle creating pressure against the neighboring molars. If the wisdom teeth have erupted and you can’t adequately reach them with your toothbrush you may have to have them removed due to cavities or gum disease. Finally, many wisdom teeth do not erupt through the gum, staying impacted. They can be trapped in your jawbone and develop painful nerve involvement over the years so it is a proactive measure to simply take them out of the equation.

The different methods to Extract the Wisdom Teeth

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.5 million wisdom teeth are removed surgically every year with another 10 million simply pulled.

Pulling a wisdom tooth, like any other tooth, simply starts with the application of a local anesthesia. Once the area is numb the tooth is pulled. You should feel no pain, just a pressure and some movement. You will have to be diligent about proper recovery paying close attention to the instructions given. You cannot use a straw with fluids, you should not smoke and your brushing habits will need to be gentle around the hole that is left from the removal of the tooth.

With the removal of an impacted wisdom tooth the area will be numbed again and you will be given a mild sedation, either breathing a nitrous oxide or through an IV injection in your arm. The entire procedure should only take about 45 minutes. The dentist will have to cut your gums, sometimes even some bone to get the tooth out. Stitches will close the wound helping to heal and these usually dissolve in several days.

The Benefits of having your Wisdom Teeth Extracted

Some dentists will tell you that it is not advised to remove your appendix proactively, then why your wisdom teeth? The primary benefit in having your wisdom teeth removed is to maintain the integrity of the balance of your teeth. Yes, they can cause negative health issues as mentioned previously in the reasons to have them removed. The benefit is peace of mind. You don’t need them. You can function perfectly without them.

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