Wisdom tooth extraction versus regular tooth extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction can be daunting and even scary. There is a lot of talk about wisdom tooth extraction. The truth is that technically, wisdom tooth extraction is not much different from molar tooth extraction. But there are a few factors that may complicate wisdom tooth extraction or make the experience a little different.

Here are some tips on why pulling your wisdom teeth can be different than other teeth.

What is a wisdom tooth?

Wisdom teeth are different from other adult teeth in several important ways. So while pulling them may not be a unique procedure compared to other tooth extractions, some factors set wisdom teeth apart. The biggest problem is that most of the time the jaw is not big enough to accommodate them. As a result, a long list of potential problems can occur.

Why is wisdom tooth extraction different?

Unlike the other 28 teeth, wisdom teeth do not have corresponding “milk teeth”. When any of your other teeth come in (“procedure”), a baby tooth is already in place. This means that they are protruding from an area of ​​the gum that previously had no teeth. It’s normal to feel discomfort when wisdom teeth erupt, although some people don’t feel anything noticeable.

tooth size

When a wisdom tooth appears, it is one of your largest teeth. Wisdom teeth are part of a group of teeth called molars. Molars are designed to allow you to chew food with a large flat surface of teeth. They are larger than the front teeth in your mouth and are designed to bite down on food. The bigger the tooth, the bigger the root. Because of this, larger teeth are more complicated to extract.

crowded

Because wisdom teeth are large, they enter a new space and there may not be enough space to accommodate them, they cause more problems than other teeth. They are prone to impact, which means that the lack of space prevents the gums from breaking. This can be painful and even lead to cysts and other problems.

Wisdom teeth can also come in at odd angles and negatively affect adjacent teeth. Once they come in, they can be overcrowded, making you prone to decay caused by difficulty cleaning them properly. While these problems are possible for other teeth, they are much more common with wisdom teeth.

Multiple surgeries

When you extract a tooth due to decay or trauma, often only one tooth is affected. When dealing with wisdom teeth, you often need this procedure on more than one tooth. This is because your jaw is fairly symmetrical. So if one side of your jaw isn’t big enough to accommodate your wisdom teeth, the other side probably has the same problem. You may also have the same problem in the upper and lower jaw, meaning up to four problem teeth instead of one.

improvement

Wisdom tooth retrieval can be a bit more difficult than other tooth extraction procedures. Reasons for this include the fact that this method is likely to be more complicated. The size of the hole (or “socket”) left when a larger tooth is extracted will be larger and therefore require more attention and time to heal. Also, as we mentioned above, you may need multiple extractions. Don’t worry, healing is still a short process and your dentist in Windsor will guide you through ways to heal quickly.

Signs that you need wisdom teeth extraction

There are many signs that you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed. You may experience one or more of these symptoms in the back of your mouth:

• jaw pain
• swelling
• tenderness
• Bleeding in the gums
• Dark or white spots on your wisdom teeth if you can see them
• Bad taste in the mouth
• bad breath
• Difficulty chewing
• Difficulty opening the mouth

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and think you may need a wisdom tooth (or any other tooth) extracted, call our office right away.