An adult has 32 permanent teeth. This process begins at the age of six and by the age of 15 every teenager can count 28 teeth in his mouth. And where are the other 4? These teeth, known as the "eight" or "wisdom teeth", erupt strictly individually, usually not earlier than 18 years. The process of eruption of such a tooth can drag on for years and be quite painful, so removing the wisdom tooth is not uncommon.
The correct official name for these teeth is third molars (chewing teeth) or eighth teeth. If you count from the center of each jaw to the right or to the left, such a tooth will be the eighth and the last. "Wise" they are named in the common people because of the late eruption. It is believed that to 18 years and older a person has a certain amount of wisdom.
Why do we need so many teeth?
Our distant ancestors had to get food on the hunt and in the process of a hard struggle for survival. Chewing half-baked, poorly processed meat is a heavy load for the chewing apparatus. Twelve chewing teeth coped well with this task. But, in the course of the evolutionary process, man has found ways to get food in a simpler way. In our time, it's enough to go to the store. Therefore, such a large number of teeth performing a chewing function, became redundant.
Do I need to delete it?
In many people, they simply do not cut through the gums, this tooth is called retina. In this case, the tooth may be in the gums in the wrong position, for example, horizontal, putting pressure on adjacent teeth, causing various inflammatory processes. Removing the retinued tooth of wisdom in this case is a necessity.
The lower third molars are more often retinated. If the place for teething is not enough or there is a wrong position in the gum, removing the lower wisdom tooth is a more humane way out than treating permanent inflammatory processes and patience of pain. Often the teeth on both sides are in the same or similar position, and the pain sensation doubles. In this case, the doctor can advise the removal of wisdom teeth under anesthesia. This is a modern and safe procedure, which guarantees a minimum of unpleasant sensations.
Wisdom teeth on the upper jaw are often half-etched. That is, they do not completely erupt. This happens because the jaw of a man, due to the use of soft food has decreased in size and is unable to accommodate the last large teeth. Removal of the upper wisdom tooth often does not require anesthesia and is performed under local anesthesia.
What to expect after removal?
If the removal of the tooth itself is painless due to anesthesia, complications after the removal of the wisdom tooth can bring a lot of unpleasant sensations. What are the most common complications:
- Pain and swelling after removal of the wisdom tooth. It may seem that the neighboring tooth, throat or all jaw hurts. What cheek and gum around the removed tooth swelled to an incredible size. Temporary pain and swelling after
tooth extraction is normal, because the removal of the wisdom tooth is a traumatic procedure. Taking anesthetic in this case will be the most correct decision. - Dry hole after removal of wisdom tooth. If pain and swelling persists or worsens, you should consult your doctor! It may be that the blood clot, necessary to replace the empty hole with a bone tissue, did not form. In this case, the doctor forms a new clot and prescribes anti-inflammatory treatment.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a complex and unpleasant procedure, but it avoids many more unpleasant problems.