Extractions/Wisdom Teeth
Extractions
Teeth are extracted for a variety of reasons:
- Decay has reached deep into the tooth
- Infection has destroyed a large portion of the tooth or surrounding bone
- There is not enough room for all of the teeth in your mouth
It is recommended to extract impacted teeth that are only partially erupted. Bacteria can enter around a partially erupted tooth and cause an infection, which can extend into the surrounding bone and become extremely serious. Impacted teeth continue trying to break through the gum tissue even if there is not enough room to accommodate them. The continued pressure caused by this can eventually damage the roots of nearby teeth. Removing a tooth that is impacted can often prevent infection and minimize damage to adjacent teeth and bone.
X-rays are required to reveal the length, shape, and position of the tooth and surrounding bone. From this information, we can estimate the degree of difficulty of the procedure and decide which action to take. Before removal, the area around your tooth will be anesthetized. We use a local topical anesthetic to numb the area of the mouth where the extraction will take place. Consideration should be given as to how to deal with the open space that will exist after most extractions, in order to avoid further complications that could result, such as a difficulty chewing or other teeth shifting to accommodate for the void. A bridge or partial denture may solve these and other problems that could occur.
Wisdom Teeth
This is the name given to the last or 3rd molar in the mouth. They usually grow into our late teens or early adulthood. The eruption of these teeth was supposed to correspond with the arrival of maturity and wisdom. In some cases there is enough space for these teeth to erupt and function as a valuable asset, however the position of the teeth are quite far back, making cleaning very difficult and the risk of cavities or infection very common.
More commonly, wisdom teeth are problematic and need to be removed.
A tooth becomes impacted due to lack of space in the dental arch, and gum, bone, another tooth or all three therefore prevent its eruption. Through evolution, our jaws have become smaller and most simply have no room for these “third molars” anymore. Not only do we not have room for these teeth, but they are simply not necessary due to our softer diets and better dental care. When they try to squeeze into our mouths and become impacted, it usually means trouble. This can manifest as gum infections, pain, possible cyst formation, crowding or damage to nearby teeth.
If these symptoms are present, it is recommended that you have the wisdom teeth extracted. Depending on the degree of impaction, Dr. R Kaur can perform wisdom teeth extractions.