We learned the answers to frequently asked questions about wisdom teeth and when they should be extracted from Oral and Dental Health Department Specialist Dr. Enver Selman Sümer.

Stating that the wisdom teeth, which are the last molars to erupt and the third molars in line, generally start to emerge between the ages of 17-25, Dr. Sümer said, “It is controversial whether these teeth should be left in the mouth or not. There is no harm in keeping them in place if they erupt in the right position and do not damage the surrounding tissues. He stated that “when deciding to extract a tooth that is fused to the jawbone and the abnormal position of which has been detected by x-ray, the future damage it will cause should be considered.”

WHEN SHOULD THE WISDOM TEETH BE EXTRACTED?

Decay: Saliva, bacteria and food particles accumulate in the groove created by the newly emerging tooth and threaten both the wisdom tooth and the adjacent molar tooth. It is very difficult to detect and treat this type of decay early. Severe problems may occur, causing infection with pain and resulting in abscess.

Gum disease (pericoronitis): In a partially removed wisdom tooth, a focus of infection occurs in the gum, where bacteria and food residues are stored. These residues cause bad breath, pain, edema and not being able to open the mouth fully. The infection can spread to the cheek and neck through the lymph. This infection-prone area around the wisdom tooth can easily  become infected.

Pressure Pain: If pressure is applied to neighboring teeth during eruption, you may also feel pain due to compression. In some cases this pressure causes wear.

Orthodontic Reasons: Many young people receive orthodontic treatment to correct the crowding of their teeth. As the pressure of eruption from the wisdom teeth will reflect on other teeth, there will be a shift and the existing crowding may increase as a result.

Prosthesis Related Reasons: It is necessary to take into account the wisdom teeth in prosthesis planning. Because, after the wisdom teeth are extracted, it will be necessary to make a new prosthesis according to the changing mouth structure.

Cyst Formation: A buried tooth causes dental cyst, the cyst causes bone collapse, jaw growth, displacement or damage of the surrounding teeth. To prevent bone destruction, the cyst should be cleaned after tooth extraction.

The position of the teeth being wrong alone is a sufficient reason for infection. In such a situation, pain caused by pressure, gum problems and similar problems develop suddenly and unexpectedly.

Wisdom teeth are located in areas that are difficult to reach with brushes and floss. Bacteria, acid and food residues that cause decay over time accumulate in this area. If the tooth decays and is not repaired with filling, the tooth will become inflamed in a short time.
Since it is difficult to keep these teeth clean, bacteria and food residues that accumulate cause bad breath.
A buried tooth in a horizontal position under the gum creates a pressure that causes the other teeth to shift, crowd and distort.

Bacteria that accumulate under the gum covering the buried tooth cause infection.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO EXTRACT WISDOM TEETH?

A badly positioned tooth should be removed between the ages of 14 and 22, whether it causes a complaint or not. Operations at younger ages are technically easier and recovery is quicker. Operations over the age of 40 are more difficult. Additionally, side effects increase  with increasing age and the recovery period is prolonged.

IS THIS OPERATION DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DENTAL EXTRACTIONS?

Depending on the position, shape and size of the wisdom tooth, the difficulty level of the procedure to be applied varies. There may be mild swelling, pain and bleeding after a simple removal. Some complex extractions that require more specialized procedures can also be applied. The measures taken and the recommendations your dentist will make minimize the side effects. Following this extraction, blood does not accumulate in the related space and you may experience pain. The situation will improve in a few days. But if the dentist’s recommendations are followed, this may not be experienced at all. As the bone structure becomes denser and flexibility decreases in advanced ages, removal becomes difficult and healing slows down.

POST-OPERATIONAL CARE

Do not tamper with the wound site. If you do, pain, infection or bleeding may develop.
Do not chew with the side of your removed tooth for the first 24 hours.
Do not smoke for the first 24 hours. Because smoking increases bleeding and disrupts healing.
Do not spit. If you spit, the bleeding will increase and the clot may dislodge.
Check for bleeding. If there are no stitches, a sterile gauze pad is applied. Hold the gauze tampon in the mouth
 for half an hour for clot formation. If bleeding continues after the compress is removed, get a new one.
Check for swelling. By applying a cold compress to the area after the operation,
 you may slow down the circulation and  prevent your face from swelling. The application is made in periods of cold compress for 20 minutes, followed by a 20 minute break and again cold compress for 20 minutes.

After the first 24 hours, gargle with the mixture you have prepared by adding 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 glass of warm water every 2 hours.