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impacted
wisdom teeth / wisdom teeth extractions
The
removal of impacted wisdom teeth has become so common place that
the act of having these extractions performed has practically become
a right of passage for teenagers. Our discussion about wisdom teeth
will describe for you which teeth are the wisdom
teeth and also what conditions must
exist for a wisdom tooth to be considered "impacted". We'll
also explain for you some of the common
reasons why dentists recommend the extraction of wisdom teeth,
as well as some reasons
why the removal of these teeth might not be indicated.
Our pages discuss the
best age at which to have wisdom teeth extractions and also
explain some of the common
risks and complications associated with this type of oral surgery.
Additionally, we make mention of some of the different methods
of sedation oral surgeons commonly use with patients undergoing
impacted wisdom teeth removal, as well as some tips related
to post
extraction recovery.
What
are "wisdom teeth"?
"Wisdom
teeth" are a type of molar, molars are the chewing teeth found furthest
in the back of the mouth. Most humans have first, second, and third
molars.
Third molars, which are the "wisdom teeth", come in behind the 2nd
molars (if there is room for them and they are aligned properly)
usually during a person's late teens or early twenties. A person
will have four wisdom teeth: upper left, upper right, lower left,
and lower right.
What
are "impacted wisdom teeth"?
In
dental terminology "impacted" means that a tooth has failed to emerge
fully into its expected position. This may occur either because
there is not room enough in the jaw for the tooth, or else because
the angulation of the tooth is improper.
Classifications of impacted wisdom teeth.Dentist use specific terms
to describe the positioning of impacted wisdom teeth. The most common
type of impacted wisdom teeth are those that are Mesially impacted.
The term "mesial" simply means that the wisdom tooth is angled forward,
towards the front of the mouth.
Why
can wisdom teeth be impacted?
The
reason why wisdom teeth can be impacted is not an easy question to
answer. The primary cause of wisdom tooth impaction is simply that
there is inadequate jawbone space behind the person's second molar
(the second molar comes in and is already positioned some years before
the wisdom teeth erupt). Why this lack of space exists is not fully
understood, however there does seem to be a correlation between large
tooth size and tooth crowding and the presence of impacted wisdom
teeth.
It has been theorized that the coarse nature of stone age man's diet
produced extensive tooth wear, not only on the chewing surface of
the teeth but also on the aspects of the teeth which contact their
neighbors. The net effect of this wear would be to reduce the collective
"length" of the teeth as a set, thus providing enough jawbone space
to accommodate the wisdom teeth. In comparison the diet of modern
man does not typically result in severe tooth attrition.
It has also been argued that the coarseness of stone age man's diet,
as compared to modern man's relatively soft diet, probably required
greater activity of the "chewing" muscles. This activity could have
stimulated greater jawbone growth, thus providing more space for wisdom
teeth.
The rough and tumble world of the cave man no doubt often lead to
broken teeth and even tooth loss. Once a tooth (or a portion of it)
is missing the teeth behind it have a tendency to move forward. This
shifting would make available more jawbone space for the wisdom teeth.
In comparison, with the advent of dentistry, and especially today,
there are relatively few reasons why a tooth would be lost or remain
in a state of disrepair.
Impacted
Wisdom Teeth
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1
What are impacted wisdom teeth?
What are the classifications of impacted wisdom teeth?
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2
Why should impacted wisdom teeth be extracted?
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3
At what age should wisdom teeth be removed?
What are the complications and risks associated with impacted
wisdom teeth removal?
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4 The
wisdom tooth extraction process.
What to expect.
Numbing the wisdom tooth.
Sedating the patient.
Post extraction recovery.
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5
How much do impacted wisdom teeth extractions cost?
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