Did you know that wisdom teeth can often cause you problems such as difficulty opening your mouth, headaches, or ear pain? Don’t wait for pain or swelling caused by poor positioning or irregular wisdom tooth growth to develop. If your dentist advises you that it’s best to extract the wisdom tooth, listen to them and don’t postpone the procedure. Most often, a panoramic X-ray (orthopantomogram – an image of both jaws) and an examination are sufficient to schedule a surgical wisdom tooth extraction.
For wisdom teeth that are deeply impacted, or in contact with a larger pathological change (such as a cyst), and wisdom teeth that appear on the panoramic X-ray to be close to anatomical structures (nerves and blood vessels), sometimes an additional 3D scan of the region around the problematic tooth is taken. In this way, the surgeon wants to become thoroughly familiar with the position of the tooth in relation to the mentioned anatomical and pathological structures.
Why Does the Surgery Have to Happen?
With surgical wisdom tooth extraction, the name is the only “scary” part. Actually, it’s almost the same procedure as when we normally extract a tooth. Local anesthesia is sufficient to make this small and simple surgical procedure, where we simply move the tissue to access the tooth and its root, painless.
Wisdom teeth are teeth that have the most varied shapes, and due to the limited space in the jaw already mentioned, they grow (or don’t) in various irregular ways. That’s why surgical extraction is sometimes the only solution to remove all parts of the wisdom tooth.
Surgical Wisdom Tooth Extraction Does Not Hurt
Before the procedure itself, the patient receives local anesthetic so that the tissue (soft and bone) becomes numb and they don’t feel any pain. During the procedure, the patient can communicate with the surgeon, and if they feel even the slightest pain, they will receive anesthetic again until even the smallest discomfort disappears.
After the wisdom tooth is extracted, the patient comes in for a checkup the next day to properly monitor healing. Sutures are removed between 7 to 10 days after surgery. After the procedure is completed, in addition to detailed verbal instructions, it is common practice for the patient to receive all advice on how to proceed during the postoperative period in writing as well. Some things can simply be easily forgotten in the rush.
When Should We Get Rid of Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth erupt last in our jaw, most often in the third decade of life, which is why they usually have the least space. Biologists consider them an evolutionary leftover that has lost its purpose. We no longer eat like our ancestors, who ground hard food with their jaws, so these molars are not as necessary for us. Still, that doesn’t mean they can’t serve us well today. However, we often witness that it is precisely the wisdom teeth, being the youngest, that cause the most problems.
Wisdom teeth push other teeth, create crowding in the mouth, don’t erupt (impacted wisdom teeth) or only partially erupt, are not visible well. They are difficult to reach with a toothbrush, so they decay more easily, especially if they haven’t erupted properly. Soft tissue often extends over the crown of the wisdom tooth, leaving an empty space where food particles can accumulate, which can lead to infections. Because of this, they can very easily damage the teeth next to them and cause much more harm than benefit.
It is not uncommon for wisdom teeth to be extracted preventively so they don’t cause problems in the future. Such procedures take less time and the recovery process is faster, but certainly your dentist, after an examination and X-rays, will best advise you and tell you whether to keep your wisdom teeth or not.
You can find advice after the procedure in our post about wisdom tooth extraction.
With the PRF Method, the Wound Heals Twice as Fast
Before the actual wisdom tooth extraction, our dentists always discuss the benefits of PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin – fibrin enriched with platelets) preparations with patients. Experience from practice shows that patients who have PRF applied to the wound tolerate the postoperative period much more easily. The wound hurts noticeably less, there is less swelling, and it heals twice as fast.
PRF treatment takes 10 minutes and is completely painless and safe, with no risk of contamination. The process works by taking a small amount of venous blood from the patient’s arm, then fibrin enriched with platelets—that is, growth factors that help the wound heal faster—is separated from the blood in a centrifuge. The PRF preparation is applied to the area that needs healing or regeneration.
Set Others’ Experiences Aside and Trust Your Surgeon
To the frequent patient question of whether there will be swelling and how much, dentists cannot give a universal answer. Healing is individual; no two wisdom teeth are the same, so the tissue reaction is different. Be assured that your surgeons do everything they can: they release the least bone, apply minimal pressure and tissue trauma, give you injections against swelling, and provide you with cold compresses to take home.
The last, but no less important thing, is the advice not to listen to others’ experiences, or if that was the case, to try to set aside any previous bad experience. Our surgeon doctor is full of understanding, patient, gentle, and patients say she has a light touch.