The development of wisdom teeth is considered a milestone in assessing a person's maturity, however it has almost no effect on the overall teeth and can also become a "nightmare" for many people. . So when do wisdom teeth need to be extracted and how does the wisdom tooth extraction process work?

Wisdom teeth is the name used to refer to the last teeth to grow on each side of the jaw and is also known as tooth number 8. This tooth will not appear as a child, when teething or when teeth are replaced, but in humans. Adults 18 years of age or older. Wisdom teeth have almost no effect on chewing or other functions of the teeth.

Wisdom teeth grow last while the normal palate does not have enough room for them to fit in, so wisdom teeth often grow crooked, push each other, push against adjacent teeth, or crowd other teeth. , leading to pain, swelling of the jaw, and can severely deform the teeth.

Wisdom teeth can be considered the "enemy" of many people because they bring a lot of pain and trouble. In most cases, wisdom teeth must be extracted, sooner or later. According to survey results of major dental organizations in the world, it is estimated that up to now, about 85% of cases of wisdom teeth extraction instead of having them last for the rest of their lives.

In many cases, wisdom teeth are impacted or impacted and cannot be intervened in time, causing the gums and gums to become swollen, clogging, and easily accumulating food and bacteria, causing bad breath and gingivitis. , gingivitis, gum ulcers... At this time, it is necessary to intervene to extract the tooth.

There have been many patients with wisdom teeth that were not removed or treated promptly, causing tooth misalignment, spreading bacteria to surrounding areas, and causing tooth decay. Therefore, people who reach adulthood, even if they have no symptoms, should still go to the doctor and check the condition of their teeth to promptly detect misaligned wisdom teeth and treat them early.

However, not all cases of wisdom teeth require extraction and wisdom teeth can be preserved in the following cases:

• Wisdom teeth grow normally, straight, do not get stuck with gums and bone tissue, do not cause complications such as infection, tooth misalignment, gingivitis... In this case, if the patient wants to keep it, they need to pay attention to care. Thorough and clean teeth.
• Patients with chronic diseases such as bleeding disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes...
• Growing wisdom teeth are directly related to important structures in the jaw such as the maxillary sinus, nerves, large blood vessels...

Normally, the wisdom tooth extraction process is performed with the following basic steps:

Step 1: General examination and X-ray

This is the first but also very important step in the wisdom tooth extraction process. Accordingly, the dentist will perform examination measures to assess the general condition, as well as a thorough examination to consider the condition, location, level of damage... of the teeth. After that, the doctor will let the patient take dental X-rays to assess the exact image of the position and position of the wisdom teeth, helping the dentist clearly understand and develop a suitable and less invasive tooth extraction plan. shock the patient.

Step 2: Perform check tests

The patient is then assigned to have blood tested to evaluate blood clotting status, blood count and some other related tests. If there is a problem, the dentist can prescribe interventional medication to make the tooth extraction process go smoothly and not affect your health. In addition, patients are also tested to check for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes... to eliminate risk factors and ensure safety after treatment.

Step 3: Proceed with tooth extraction

The dentist will anesthetize the area where the tooth needs to be extracted so that the patient has a comfortable and gentle experience, especially without feeling pain during the wisdom tooth extraction process. Especially before tooth extraction, medical staff must also ensure sterilization of instruments to limit infection and cross-infection to patients.

Step 4: Follow-up examination after tooth extraction

After the tooth extraction process, the patient will be instructed by the dentist on proper hygiene and eating, and will schedule a follow-up appointment to check the wound and condition after the extraction. During the first 7 - 10 days after extraction, if you feel any problems with your teeth, quickly contact your dentist for timely support.

3. What should you do before and after wisdom tooth extraction?

In order for the wisdom tooth extraction process to be safe and not leave dangerous complications, the patient must pay attention to issues before and after the procedure, such as:

3.1. Before wisdom tooth extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction is the most common form of minor surgery in dentistry. Therefore, in order for the wisdom tooth extraction process to be safe, comfortable, smooth, and with as little pain and swelling as possible, patients need to pay attention to the following issues:

• If you are using any medications or have a history of any medical conditions, especially hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, coagulation dysfunction, etc., please notify us. with your dentist before tooth extraction.
• If you are having a cough, flu, fever... the patient should wait for his health to be completely stabilized, then proceed with wisdom tooth extraction.
• Clean all of your teeth, have your teeth scaled and treat previous gingivitis diseases.
• Women who are pregnant or in their menstrual cycle should not have their wisdom teeth extracted at this time.

3.2. After wisdom tooth extraction

After tooth extraction, symptoms such as swelling, pain and bleeding often appear. Patients should not worry too much because this condition can stop after 1-2 days. To minimize discomfort and complications, patients should take the following precautions:

• Within the first 30 minutes to 1 hour after tooth extraction, the patient should bite the cotton roll tightly to limit bleeding from the wound. During the next 1 - 2 days, blood may ooze slightly from the wound hole and mix with saliva to form a light pink fluid. Don't worry too much because this is a completely normal symptom and can go away on its own after 2-3 days. In case the patient sees that the blood is still bleeding heavily or oozing for a long time, he or she should immediately contact the dentist to report the situation.
• When the anesthesia wears off, the patient may feel slight pain at the tooth extraction site. Use pain relievers according to your dentist's instructions for more comfort.
• In cases where wisdom teeth have difficulty growing in, the swelling may last for a long time, affecting daily activities and making it difficult for the patient to eat and chew. It is recommended to choose soft, liquid foods such as porridge, cooled soup... for 3 - 5 days. If after about 5-7 days swelling and pain increase, the patient should immediately contact the dentist for timely treatment.
• After wisdom tooth extraction, a small hole or pit may appear at the extraction site because there is no longer a tooth root. Depending on each person's constitution, these positions can be filled again in about 1 - 2 months. Therefore, to limit food getting stuck in holes or cavities during this period and causing tooth decay, patients should use a soft toothbrush or dental floss to clean their teeth regularly, combined with mouthwash with Special cleaning solutions to help food float out. Be careful not to use sharp objects or toothpicks to pick up food because this can injure, cause bleeding, infection and affect the wound healing process.
• Timelines and symptoms that patients need to pay attention to:
  • First 24 hours: Blood clots will form.
  • 2 - 3 days: Mild effects such as mouth swelling and pain will subside.
  • 7 days: The dentist will make an appointment to come back to remove the stitches.
  • 7 - 10 days: The pain and stiffness in the jaw will disappear almost completely.
  • 2 weeks: Pain and swelling will disappear.
• Note that recovery time will vary from person to person. If the wound becomes infected or a blood clot dislodges from the wound...healing may take longer.

Wisdom teeth have virtually no effect on chewing while they can cause serious dental problems. Therefore, wisdom tooth extraction is now widely performed to relieve patients' discomfort. Learning about the wisdom tooth extraction process along with notes before, during and after tooth extraction will help patients have a safe and effective treatment process.