Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, presumably when an individual is wise. Well, now that’s relative!

Wisdom teeth are one of the few vestigial organs of the human body, the presence or absence of which doesn’t make much difference. According to anthropologists, humans have evolved beyond needing wisdom teeth, so the future generations won’t even have any!

Humans have evolved and so have our diets. We no longer eat raw vegetables or meat. The cooking of our food is well-done, and our two molars are enough to chew such food. Still, owing to genetics, at least 53% of individuals still have at least one wisdom tooth coming in. 

Another interesting fact is that you may have a wisdom tooth but you won’t be able to see it because it may have never erupted into the oral cavity due to lack of space. 

Such a wisdom tooth may also lead to problems in the near future and can be only confirmed through an X-ray. 

But wait, the best dentists in Mumbai do not advise extraction of wisdom teeth unless necessary. To know in which cases you would not need a tooth extraction, read along. 

• Healthy wisdom tooth with no signs of caries or infection.
• A fully erupted wisdom tooth, completely grown with adequate space.
• Presence of an opposing tooth and thus they can together aid in chewing.
• Easily reachable and cleansible.
• Correctly positioned in the oral cavity

In such instances, you do not need to get your third molar extracted. But well, not everyone is lucky enough. Most of us fall short in at least one of the above-mentioned criteria. 

Most of the time, wisdom teeth don’t have enough space to erupt and thus end up erupting partially and applying pressure on the adjacent tooth.

The list of problems caused due to malpositioned wisdom teeth are endless. Erupting wisdom teeth tend to grow at various angles in the jaw, even completely horizontal at times. 

Such partially erupted teeth are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and thus are often left unclean. Such teeth often become a site for food lodgement. This results in the development of cavities which if not treated on time may become infectious. 

At times, the wisdom tooth may remain completely hidden within the gums or embedded in the bone. This may result in an infection, abscess, or a cyst! It can also lead to damage to the adjacent tooth. 

A wisdom tooth placed at a different angle also applies pressure on the neighbouring teeth which results in crowding. Thus, if you had a perfectly fine set of teeth earlier but have recently started noticing crowding, it may be a result of an erupting third molar. 

The best dentists in Mumbai believe it’s better to remove wisdom teeth at a fairly young age before there is a complete forming of roots and bone. They also show faster recovery post-surgery which is one of the prime reasons why some young adults pull out their wisdom teeth even before the teeth cause problems.

Below is a quick checklist to follow if you wish to remove your wisdom tooth:

• If you experience recurrent pain in the back area of the jaw. 
• Frequent complaints of repeated infection of soft tissue behind the lower last tooth.
• If the wisdom teeth is at a wrong angle.
• There is a partial covering by gums on top of the wisdom teeth. 
• Food gets regularly stuck at the site of the third molar.
• You are having difficulty cleaning the third molar leading to development of plaque on it. 
• Development of cavity at the site of the third molar. 
• If you notice sudden crowding in your upper or lower teeth. 

Now you know whether you need to get your third molar extracted or not. If like most others, you have realised that you need to get a tooth extraction done, do not delay the treatment. What happens if you delay the extraction of a wisdom tooth? Gum diseases, crowding, extensive tooth decay, pain, discomfort, abscess, infection which may further lead to formation of cyst or even a tumor! No, we aren’t trying to scare you, rather make you aware of the outcomes.

Now that you have taken a wise decision to get your wisdom tooth extracted, you might be wondering what the next step is? Is the treatment painful? How long will the recovery take? We’ve got you covered. 

1. Is it necessary to get my wisdom tooth removed? 

The answer entirely depends on whether it is already causing trouble or whether it is likely that it will in the future. 

2. How will my wisdom tooth be extracted?

The wisdom tooth extraction is a minor surgical procedure and the complexity varies depending on the kind of impaction, degree of angulation and bone involvement. Your dentist will take a pre-operative radiograph and determine the treatment plan accordingly. 

3. Is the extraction painful? 

The extraction is done entirely under anesthesia so you wouldn’t feel any pain. However, you may experience some amount of pressure during the procedure which is entirely bearable. With the introduction of painless dentistry, pain should be your least concern. 

4. How long will the recovery take? 

This is again variable but the best dentists in Mumbai suggest that the recovery is fast and you may just need a single day rest post the treatment in some cases.

5. Will there be any side effects post extraction?

It’s a surgical procedure so yes, there are a few immediate side effects that are completely manageable! Most people experience swelling after the operation, are unable to open their mouth, and may experience pain right after the procedure, but it doesn’t last long. With pain killers, ice packs, and antibiotics, the side effects can be easily managed. 

The decision to remove wisdom entirely depends on the wisdom tooth itself! It’s not always necessary to get it extracted so consult your dentist and determine what’s best for your