If you’re feeling slight but lingering pain at the back of your jaw or in the back molars, you’re likely facing the same thing that millions of Americans experience at least once in their lifetime: wisdom teeth pain. While tooth extraction is the best and most common solution, understanding the "when" and "why" is crucial to identifying the right treatment for your long-term oral health.
Whether you’re looking to consult a dentist in Lynnwood about your wisdom tooth pain or planning a routine check-up to identify the source of the problem, this guide covers everything you need to know about wisdom teeth and why or when extraction might be needed.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are a set of permanent teeth. They are the final molars to erupt in the mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in the very end of each corner. They usually sprout between the ages of 17 and 25.
While our ancestors may have needed this extra set of teeth to grind coarse, raw foods, human jaws today are much smaller, leaving little room for wisdom teeth to grow properly. This leads to various complications, such as crooked teeth or irregular shapes, which necessitate wisdom teeth surgery.
Why Do I Need Wisdom Teeth Removal?
The decision to have the wisdom tooth extracted depends on several factors, mainly to avoid or protect yourself from various oral health issues. Here’s why your dentist may recommend removal:
1. Impaction
An "impacted" tooth is stuck under the gum line or bone, limiting or prohibiting its growth or causing it to angle toward the next tooth. Impacted teeth can damage neighboring teeth and gums, causing significant pain.
2. Expanding and Shifting
Even if your wisdom teeth erupt normally, they are often too big for your jaw or gums to hold them properly. As they expand, they can cause the neighboring teeth to overlap, shift, or become crooked. For those who use braces, overgrown wisdom teeth can undo years of progress.
3. Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Because wisdom teeth are located at the very end of your teethline, they can be difficult to keep clean. Food particles and bacteria accumulate in the gaps, leading to:
- Pericoronitis: An inflammation and infection of the gum tissue surrounding the tooth.
- Cavities due to poor care and maintenance.
When Do You Need Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
It depends on your age and the condition of your wisdom teeth. While some people never need their third molars extracted, most others have to undergo the surgery during young adulthood.
Signs Your Wisdom Tooth Might Need an Extraction:
- Persistent Jaw Pain: A constant ache in the tooth or stiffness in the jaw.
- Swelling: Red or swollen gums around the tooth.
- Bad Breath or Unpleasant Taste: Often a sign of a potential gum disease or infection (pericoronitis).
- Difficulty Opening Your Mouth: Inflammation can cause the jaw to stiffen.
Don't wait for the dental pain to turn extreme before you see a dentist. Routine dental visits and checkups are important for predicting the condition and growth of your wisdom teeth and identifying whether they need removal.
The Wisdom Teeth Surgery: How It Works
Most people avoid wisdom teeth removal because they think the process (surgery) would be too painful, long, and difficult. On the contrary, it’s a standard outpatient procedure that takes no more than a few hours and is completely painless thanks to modern sedation options. It usually happens in the following three stages:
Step 1: Preparation: X-rays to determine the condition and the right procedure. Choosing the best sedation option based on the condition.
Step 2: Surgery: A small incision is made in the gum to remove any bone or tissue blocking the tooth. The dentist then extracts the tooth and stitches the areas.
The incision is optional and may not always be needed.
Step 3: Recovery: Swift and painless. Most patients start normal eating within 3 to 5 days, though full healing can take weeks or months.
Post Wisdom Tooth Extraction Care
To ensure the desired results from your wisdom tooth extraction surgery, it’s crucial to take good care of the area afterward and support the formation of a blood clot.
- The First 24 Hours: The dentist will recommend applying ice packs to your cheeks to handle swelling and pain (soreness). Avoid hard foods. Avoid Straws.
- Saltwater Rinses: After the first 24 hours, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean the area.
- No Smoking: Smoking and drinking during recovery should be strictly avoided.
Conclusion
While not everyone needs wisdom teeth removal, it’s often a beneficial, pain-free, and straightforward procedure to remove an overgrowing or crooked wisdom tooth that you may never use. Identifying the problem early leads to an easier, quicker surgery and a faster recovery.
If you’re feeling constant pain in a particular back molar or pressure in the back of your jaw, it may be time for a professional dental X-ray or a dentist consultation. Addressing the issue early can save you years of stress and more invasive and expensive procedures later in life.