About Oral Surgery
Should I have my wisdom teeth removed?
Poorly positioned, impacted teeth can cause many problems. If partially erupted, the opening around the teeth allows bacteria to grow and can eventually become infected. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain, and illness. Pressure from erupting wisdom teeth can also move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problems occur when tumors or cysts form around impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Early removal is recommended to avoid problems and to decrease the surgical risks involved.
Types of Extractions
- Simple extraction: Removes tooth by loosening the surrounding gums, grasping your tooth by forceps and applying force to extract.
- Surgical extraction: If there is no enamel showing above the gum line or if the tooth breaks off, leaving roots still connected to the underlying bone. After extraction, the hole can be sutured and healing can begin.
- Removal of impacted teeth can be necessary when a tooth has not fully erupted through the gum. If the tooth is submerged below the bone, or if it is positioned sideways, the dentist must remove surrounding bone to expose the tooth, then break it into pieces for easier removal (known as, bony impaction). After extraction, the hole is sutured and healing can begin.
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