Extraction of impacted wisdom teeth is considered necessary in several clinical scenarios:
1: Risk of Periodontal Disease (Gum disease): Impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth can contribute to periodontal disease, which may adversely affect the health of adjacent teeth and the overall periodontal environment.
Young people aged 18-30 years old are at increased risk of acute peritonitis, a gum infection typically surrounding their wisdom teeth. During this, they may experience sudden swelling of the gum, acute severe pain, facial swelling, restricted mouth movement/opening, and nausea.
Typically, this requires urgent wisdom tooth extraction and may require antibiotics. There is a risk of serious complications if adequate treatment is not provided in time, including oral and maxillofacial space infections, which can be life-threatening.
Risk factors for “wisdom tooth infections” include stress, exam time for students, travel, other physical illnesses, and pregnancy. Some clients choose to extract their Wisdom teeth to reduce or avoid the risk of periodontal disease and its complications.
2: Caries (Rotten tooth ) Development: Excess caries can often be seen in individuals in their 30s and 40s and continue to develop as we age. Teeth adjacent to wisdom teeth are at increased risk for carious lesions due to difficulty cleaning the area, often leading to poor hygiene and significant decay that may require extraction or endodontic treatment (root canal therapy).
3: Pressure and Discomfort: The eruption of impacted wisdom teeth can exert pressure on neighboring teeth, exacerbating the susceptibility of these adjacent structures to dental pathologies which result in discomfort and pain.
4: Oral Hygiene Challenges: With advancing age, maintaining optimal oral hygiene can become increasingly difficult. This challenge is often compounded by the atypical positioning of wisdom teeth, creating areas that are prone to plaque accumulation and subsequent periodontal issues.
In the above scenarios, dental professionals typically recommend a thorough evaluation to determine the necessity of wisdom tooth extraction, antibiotics, abscess drainage, specialist or hospital referral, or intervention for compromised adjacent teeth.
Regular dental assessments and robust oral hygiene practices are essential for early detection and management of potential complications.