Wisdom teeth are molar-only teeth that develop towards the back of the mouth. Although each patient's wisdom teeth may begin to erupt at a different age, many people begin to develop their third molars in their late teens or early twenties.

A wisdom tooth is located on each side of the upper and lower jaws in the average adult. It's possible to have fewer than four wisdom teeth or even none at all. The extra wisdom teeth are referred to as supernumerary teeth if you have more than four of them.

Wisdom teeth may become impacted and need to be removed by an oral surgeon if there is not enough room for them to develop.

Because they can get infected with gum disease, inflammation, and dental cavities, impacted wisdom teeth need to be extracted. Although there are more conservative choices, tooth extraction is the most preferred method of treating impacted wisdom teeth.

As with any operation, there is a chance of problems following the removal of an impacted wisdom tooth. Here are a few such instances and some tips on how to handle or avoid them.

Following oral surgery, people who smoke frequently experience delayed healing. Smoking slows down the blood clotting process, which is essential for a wound's healing and could cause the sore site to reopen.

A dry socket is a condition that produces pain in the jaw or gums and can occasionally be accompanied by an unpleasant taste or smell coming from the empty tooth socket.

The lower lip, chin, teeth, tongue, and gums may experience tingling or numbness as a result of nerve injury, which is uncommon. Nerve injury is typically only transient.

When wisdom teeth begin to develop, they may crowd other teeth and damage them. Wisdom teeth can push out neighbouring teeth and alter the alignment of teeth if there is not enough room for them to do so. By removing wisdom teeth, you can ease crowding and save paying for braces or other orthodontic treatments to straighten your teeth.

As wisdom teeth erupt, the pressure they exert can damage the roots of neighbouring teeth, leaving them vulnerable to cavities. Additionally, wisdom teeth are vulnerable to infection since they might be difficult to reach and clean when brushing the teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth can inflame the gums and are prone to decay. When teeth become infected, the infection may slowly spread and enter the bloodstream, leading to potentially fatal illnesses including sepsis. Additionally, these conditions might be difficult and expensive to address in the future, making wisdom teeth removal possible.

Because they are challenging to clean, impacted wisdom teeth can serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and other pathogens. Cysts and tumours that develop as a result of germs might result in disorders that affect the jawbone.

If left untreated, wisdom teeth can become impacted and lead to serious dental issues. One should get their wisdom tooth removed through maxillofacial surgery as soon as it begins to cause problems in order to avoid dental emergencies in the future.