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Health

Get Smart About your Wisdom Teeth

What's so smart about wisdom teeth if it seems like they're nothing but trouble in the long run? Indeed, impacted wisdom teeth can cause a variety of problems, from nuisance pain to serious dental disorders. They often must be surgically removed.

Wisdom teeth are your third molars, stuck way in the back of your mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each corner of the mouth two on top, two on bottom. Wisdom teeth are the last of your teeth to come in, or erupt through the gums. They normally emerge between ages 17 and 21.

Oftentimes, wisdom teeth aren't able to emerge normally and instead become impacted, or trapped within your jaw. Understanding more about impacted wisdom teeth can help you decide how and when to treat them and how to prevent related complications.

Signs and symptoms
Some people never experience problems with their wisdom teeth. Your wisdom teeth may emerge normally and be trouble-free for the rest of your life. Or, you may have impacted wisdom teeth but remain blissfully unaware, since they don't always cause signs and symptoms.

Common signs and symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include:
* Pain or tenderness around your gums
* Swelling around your jaw
* Red or swollen gums around the impacted tooth
* Jaw pain
* Bad breath
* Unpleasant taste when biting down on or near the area
* Prolonged headache or jaw ache

When to seek medical advice
If you notice pain or swelling in your mouth, teeth, gums or jaw, contact your dentist right away. Also contact your dentist if you notice any changes in your teeth, such as shifting of position, discoloration or changes in sensitivity.

Screening and diagnosis
Your dentist can evaluate your teeth and mouth to determine if you have impacted wisdom teeth or if another condition is causing your problems. Such evaluations typically include:
* Your dental and medical history
* A dental exam
* Dental X-rays

Complications
Impacted wisdom teeth that aren't removed can cause numerous problems:
* Gum disease. Bacteria and food can get trapped under a flap of gum that can grow over wisdom teeth, creating infections. Gum disease may be initially mild (gingivitis) or progress to a more severe form (periodontitis).
* Crowding. A wisdom tooth can push on other teeth, damaging them or moving them out of position.
* Decay. Because they're hard to reach, wisdom teeth may not get fully cleaned during brushing, making them vulnerable to decay and cavities.
* Cysts. The crown of a wisdom tooth grows in a sac. If the sac remains in the jawbone, it can fill with fluid, forming a cyst that can damage the jawbone, teeth and nerves. Very rarely a tumour, usually benign, also may develop, which may require removal of tissue and bone.
Treatment

Conservative treatment
If impacted widsom teeth aren't causing problems, you and your dentist may choose to simply monitor them. People who can't have their teeth removed because of certain health problems may also need to choose conservative treatment.

Under guidance from your dentist or oral surgeon, you may be able to care for your impacted wisdom teeth and minor problems using mouthwashes, saltwater rinses and over-the-counter pain relievers. If complications arise or worsen, surgery might become an option.

Surgical extraction
Experts agree that when an impacted wisdom tooth causes complications, it should be extracted to prevent further problems.

Some experts say that impacted wisdom teeth should always be removed, even if they aren't causing problems. The belief is that the impacted tooth will probably eventually cause problems, and that it's better to remove it when someone is younger and more likely to recover better and faster from surgery. This is why many high-school children or young adults have their wisdom teeth extracted even before the teeth start causing problems. In addition, if a child might require braces, his or her dentist may recommend extraction of the wisdom teeth first.

Extracting an impacted wisdom tooth
Extraction of impacted wisdom teeth often can be done in your dentist's office with local anesthesia. However, if the tooth is deeply impacted or if the extraction may be difficult, your dentist may suggest that you consult with an oral surgeon. Sometimes extractions are done in the hospital. You may need general anesthesia for more complicated extractions.

To reach the impacted tooth, an incision is made in your gum. The incision creates a flap of gum, which can be peeled back to expose the impacted tooth and jawbone.

An impacted wisdom tooth that has partially emerged may be removed with forceps. But if the tooth is fully impacted or if the roots reach deep into the jawbone, the tooth may have to be broken into pieces for removal. In more severe cases, portions of jawbone may need to be removed.

You may need stitches to close the gap in your gum. The socket where your tooth was located is packed with gauze to control bleeding and to help a clot form, which promotes healing.

Care after surgery
Your dentist or oral surgeon gives you specific instructions about caring for your mouth after extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth. Here are general tips about care after oral surgery:
* Activity. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day after surgery. Don't engage in rough play or ride a bike. Don't smoke for at least the first day after surgery, as doing this may disrupt the blood clot in the socket.
* Diet. Drink lots of clear liquids and eat only soft foods for the first 12 hours. If you had several teeth removed, stick to a diet of soft foods for the first few days. Don't use straws, as doing so can dislodge the clot that forms in the tooth socket. Avoid hard or crunchy foods, such as popcorn, for two weeks after surgery.
* Pain management. Some people may need prescription pain medication during the first few days after surgery. Others may be able to manage their pain with over-the-counter pain relievers. Applying ice packs a bag of frozen peas or corn works nicely also may help control pain, as well as swelling.
* Bleeding. Some oozing of blood is normal for the first day after removal of your impacted wisdom tooth. Swallow blood-tinged saliva instead of spitting it out, to avoid dislodging the socket clot. Get instructions from your dentist or surgeon about replacing the gauze packing. Remember that when blood mixes with saliva, the amount of blood loss can look worse than it actually is.
* Swelling and bruising. Swelling of your cheeks and jaw is normal after surgery. You can use ice packs to help control swelling. Swelling normally begins to subside by the third day. Some dentists give an injection of a steroid during the surgery to help minimise swelling. Swelling may make it a bit difficult to open your mouth fully, but this normally improves on its own. You may also have some bruising around your jaw or upper neck.
* Cleaning your mouth. The day after surgery, rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water at least six times a day. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of table salt in an 8-ounce glass of water. Brush your teeth, but be very gentle in the area around your surgery.

Most people recover quickly and without problems after removal of an impacted wisdom tooth. However, complications can arise. Your dentist or surgeon advises you about signs and symptoms to watch for, such as fever and increasing pain.

Other complications can include:
* Numbness, usually temporary, of your teeth, gums, tongue and chin
* Dry socket when the socket clot dislodges, exposing underlying bone
* Infection from bacteria or trapped food particles
* Sinus problems if teeth near the sinuses were removed
* Weakening of the jawbone from bone removal or damage

Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research