The Wisdom Behind Wisdom Teeth

HEALTH

the wisdom behind wisdom teeth

LKNEXPERT Dr. Michael Foran is an oral/ maxillofacial surgeon and partner at Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery (as well as Lake Norman Implant Dentistry), located at 19910 North Cove Road in Cornelius. You may reach them at 704.892.1198 or visit them at www.CAROLINAOMS.com.

AS ORAL SURGEONS, we perform many di erent surgical procedures. One of the most common procedures is removal of wisdom teeth, also called third molars. One of the most common questions that we get is, “Why do we have wisdom teeth if they need to be taken out?” While there are several theories proposed for the presence of wisdom teeth, no one particular theory has been proven. What we do know, however, is that whether they are impacted or erupted into the mouth, they can and often do present an array of oral health problems.

Impacted wisdom teeth create a pocket that bacteria can live in and cannot be e ectively cleaned out. When these bacteria multiply, their byproducts destroy the surrounding bone and soft tissue and can damage the adjacent molars and supporting tissues. It can also cause cavities in hard-to-reach places that may not be xable and can end up causing loss of the adjacent teeth. Additionally, impacted teeth can have di erent cysts and tumors form, which need to be removed. Even when wisdom teeth erupt into the mouth, rarely can they be maintained or kept clean, resulting in similar issues.

e best time to remove wisdom teeth is between the ages of 14 and 20 as a general rule. Everyone in this age group should have a full mouth x-ray, called a panorex, to check the positioning of their wisdom teeth so a more individual plan can be formulated. Waiting until one’s late 20s, 30s, or 40s generally makes the removal much more di cult and increases the risks for complications and longer, slower recovery periods.

When patients have their wisdom teeth removed, they should remember that it is a surgical procedure. It involves having anesthesia, surgical removal of small amounts of surrounding bone and teeth, and a recovery period. Some patients feel great the next day while others may take several days to recover. During this time, patients should limit their activities at home, especially athletics, and stick to a softer diet. Syringes are given to patients to care for and clean the extraction sites.

Sometimes patients may be slow to heal or have pain that continues beyond a few days. is is generally referred to as “dry socket.” While dry socket is not dangerous, it can be uncomfortable and refractory to oral pain medications. In these cases, patients should follow up with their surgeon to have medicine placed directly into the extraction sites to ease the discomfort.

Knowing some of the facts surrounding wisdom teeth and their removal can help you plan to take care of them and prevent future, more serious issues down the road. w