Wisdom Tooth Extraction: The Consequences Of Saying No To It

In oral health, prevention is always better than cure. That’s why most dentists recommend that you undergo wisdom tooth extraction. These wisdom teeth or third molars start to come out when you’re at the age of 17 to 25. Yet, they don’t have a specific function in your mouth. You can still chew and eat properly even after you have your wisdom teeth removed. Trust your dentist when he or she wants you to let these molars go as early as possible.  You will thank yourself for it because it prevents potential oral health problems.  

Impacted wisdom tooth

You have an impacted wisdom tooth when your third molar partially comes out or it does not break through your gum tissue at all. Impaction happens when you have a smaller jaw or mouth. As a result, you won’t have enough room to accommodate the third molars. If you keep delaying the impacted wisdom tooth extraction, you will be facing these four consequences.  

4 Consequences if you say no to wisdom tooth extraction

1. Tooth decay 

The main concern about third molars is that they are at the rear end of your mouth. It’s challenging for you to clean them even when you properly brush your teeth daily. As a result, bacteria continue to grow in your back teeth, and soon you may develop dental decay. It takes much effort to floss and brush your third molars properly and avoid cavities. 

2. Gum disease

One of the worst outcomes in keeping your wisdom tooth is gum disease or periodontitis. When there’s impaction on your wisdom tooth, the rear tooth traps food particles, which leads to the growth of bacteria. Sooner, you will experience tooth pain and swelling in your gums, and it develops into gum disease. On other days, you may notice bleeding gums when you brush the rear end teeth. It’s crucial to heed your dentist’s recommendation on the removal of your wisdom teeth to prevent this from happening.

3. Tooth infection

Sometimes an impaction on your third molar can lead to infection or abscess. An abscess is pus formed due to bacterial infection. You can tell if you have an abscessed tooth when you have these symptoms; persistent bad breath, bleeding, and swollen gums. You may also experience pain in your jaw and have bad taste in your mouth. If not treated, it could progress to a periodontal abscess, a severe condition characterized by a pocket of pus that’s pushing out of your swollen gums. 

4. Teeth crowding 

When there’s not enough room in your mouth for wisdom teeth to properly erupt, your teeth may overlap with each other. Some of your teeth may also shift and grow in the wrong direction. It will be worse if your wisdom teeth start coming out after your dental braces or Invisalign treatment. It potentially reverses the proper alignment and occlusion achieved during your orthodontic treatment. You have to discuss openly with your dentist about removing your extra molars before they can cause your teeth to move again. 

 At this point, you now understand the urgency to have your mouth checked and decide to forego your wisdom teeth. Surely, you don’t want to risk yourself having to experience any of the consequences if you decide against it. Now it’s time to call your dentist and know what you can expect during the removal of your extra molars. 

What to expect during wisdom tooth extraction

Your dentist carefully examines the position of your wisdom tooth by taking a dental X-ray. The X-ray image helps determine if a dentist or oral surgeon will perform the tooth extraction. If the wisdom tooth is impacted, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon.  

Contrary to common belief, wisdom teeth removal is not painful at all. Dentists and oral surgeons use a numbing mechanism to dull your sensation so you will not feel pain. They give local anesthetic and use sedation to put you in the utmost relaxed mode while going through the procedure. You’ll be awake most of the time, and you’ll respond to the dentist’s instructions. If the procedure may take longer, general anesthesia may be administered to you. In this case, you will be in a deep sleep, and you will not remember what happens while you’re sitting on the dental chair. Whichever the case, be sure to have someone who will take you home after your dental visit.    

As the general or local anesthesia and sedative kicks in, they loosen the tissue surrounding your wisdom tooth using a special instrument. Slowly, and with finesse, they disconnect and pop out your tooth. Sometimes, they may need to divide your tooth into smaller sections to make the removal easier. After, they place a gauze pad on the extraction site, so the blood clots quickly. Your dentist may ask you to go back a few days after to monitor the progress of your healing.  

3 Important things to remember after wisdom tooth extraction

1. Easy on your diet

Go on a soft diet within the week post-procedure so you will quickly recover. Avoid sipping hot liquids for the moment, until the extraction site successfully heals. More importantly, don’t use straw as it disrupts the blood clot and may delay healing. 

2. Take pain medication

Heed your dentist’s advice on taking pain relievers and antibiotics to do away with complications such as bleeding and inflammation. Also, apply an ice pack on your cheek near the extraction site to lessen the chances of inflammation. However, if you experience bleeding after 24 hours from the procedure, contact your Toronto dentist immediately. 

3. No to dry socket

A dry socket at the extraction site is a condition when the blood clot failed to progress or dislodged before the healing of the wound. This condition exposes the underlying bones and nerve endings that cause intense physical discomfort. It usually occurs three days after the procedure. To prevent this, gently gargle with warm water and salt after 24 hours following the extraction. It kills bacteria around the tooth socket and promotes blood clots.