An adult has 32 teeth. In front of the oral cavity is the incisors and canines. On either side of the cuspids (also called the canines) are small molars (premolars) and large molars. Each jaw has three at least molars. In the back of the mouth are the third molars, which are also called wisdom teeth. Wisdom Teeth in Southfield appear sometime between 16 and 25 years of age. Although they may not be cut, it can seem like a lifetime in their infancy.
Caries and wisdom teeth
Most already know that tooth decay occurs on the outside of teeth, where plaque usually accumulates. Third molars are the mouth’s furthest teeth and a toothbrush may not access them as easily as it would the rest of the teeth. Constant plaque leads to heavy accumulation and the formation of dental caries. Furthermore, if the tooth was cut, the overhang (part of the gums) will prevent brushing.
The first stage of wisdom tooth removal is getting anesthesia. Following anesthesia, the dentist begins to remove the submerged wisdom tooth. Because said submerged tooth may be underneath the patient’s gum and covered by bone tissue, it can take time to remove all the wisdom teeth. To create an access, your dentist will cut the gum, removing the bone that sits over the tooth. So they can remove as little bone as possible, the dentist often uses dental burs.
After separation, the dentist removes the special tools used. After removal of the wisdom tooth, the dentist sutures a remote area of the tooth. This is because they cut the gum and provided remote access for the removal of the teeth. Certain varieties of sutures later dissolve on their own, rather than having the dentist go back in and remove them. However, dentists do not typically use dissolving sutures – the process of removing them is a very quick and painless process.
When should wisdom teeth be removed?
There is no clear age criteria for the removal of wisdom teeth. It is better to remove wisdom teeth at a young age, because the sooner they are gone, the less the risk of associated complications. Secondly, the younger the person, the easier the surgical manipulation and quicker healing after removal. Contact Making Beautiful Smiles for more information.
