Annals and Essences of Dentistry
Open Access

Complications and Risks Associated with Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Shashi Saxena^{* *}Correspondence: Shashi Saxena, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, Email:

Author info »

Description

The third molars (wisdom teeth) are blocked from erupting into the mouth due to impacted wisdom teeth. If there's not enough room in the jaws for all of the teeth to erupt into the mouth, wisdom teeth become impacted. Because wisdom teeth are the last to emerge and there isn't enough room in the jaws to fit more teeth, they become impacted and jammed in the jaws. Genetic susceptibility to tooth impaction occurs. Genetics plays a significant role, although unpredictable, in determining jaw and tooth size, as well as tooth eruption ability. Some people feel that our jaws have shrunk as a result of our current meals that are more refined and less gritty than those of our progenitors.

Wisdom teeth removal

The most common treatment option for impacted wisdom teeth is extraction (removal). In the United States, 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted each year. Depending on the depth of the impaction and the angle of the tooth, the surgery might be simple or invasive. A surgical extraction involves making an incision in the oral mucosa, removing bone from the mandible or maxilla next to the tooth, and extracting it whole or in sections. This procedure can be performed under local sedative, or general anesthesia. As of 2020, there is insufficient evidence to advocate one surgical procedure over another.

Recovery, risks and complications

Unless affected by dry socket, a wound-healing problem that prolongs postoperative pain, most patients will have pain and swelling (worst on the first post-operative day), then return to work after 2 to 3 days, with the rate of discomfort decreasing to around 25% by postoperative day 7. Patients may take 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover their entire range of jaw movements.

The use of antibiotics shortly before or just after surgery lowered the risk of infection, discomfort, and dry socket when oral surgeons removed wisdom teeth, according to a systematic review. However, drugs produce higher side effects for these patients. Antibiotics were given to 19 patients to prevent one illness. According to the review, antibiotics administered tohealthy people to prevent illnesses may cause more harm than good to both individual patients and the population as a whole. Another Cochrane study found that ibuprofen or ibuprofen in combination with acetaminophen successfully manages post-operative pain.

A systematic review found that the use of antibiotics shortly before or just after surgery lowered the risk of infection, discomfort, and dry socket when oral surgeons removed wisdom teeth. However, drugs produce higher side effects for these patients. Antibiotics were given to 19 patients to prevent one illness. According to the review, antibiotics administered to healthy people to prevent illnesses may cause more harm than good to both individual patients and the population as a whole. Another Cochrane study found that ibuprofen or ibuprofen in combination with acetaminophen successfully manages postoperative pain. Periodontal issues, such as bone loss on the second molar after wisdom teeth removal, can be long-term complications. Bone loss as a consequence of wisdom tooth removal is uncommon in the young, although it occurs in 43% of individuals aged 25 and up. Numbness or partial numbness of the lower lip and chin following injury to the inferior alveolar nerve has been recorded at rates ranging from 0.04% to 5%. The largest study comes from a poll of 535 oral and maxillofacial surgeons in California, which found a rate of 1:2,500.

Technique, patient pool, and surgeon experience all play a role in the huge range in report rates. Persistent sinus communication, damage to adjacent teeth, lingual nerve injury, displaced teeth, osteomyelitis, and jaw fracture have all been documented as unusual consequences. Excessive bleeding, alveolar osteitis, and post-operative infection are all possibilities.

Wisdom teeth get impacted when there isn't enough room in the jaws for all of the teeth to emerge into the mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last to develop, and there isn't enough room in the jaws to accommodate any more teeth, thus they get impacted and jammed. Some believe our jaws have shortened as a result of our present meals, which are more refined and less gritty than our forefathers'. An oral mucosa incision is made, bone from the mandible or maxilla next to the tooth is removed, and the tooth is extracted whole or in parts. Antibiotics were provided to 19 patients to help them avoid getting sick. The review said that antibiotics used to treat healthy people to prevent infections may do more harm than good to both individual patients and the population as a whole. Long-term consequences can include periodontal disorders, including bone loss on the second molar after wisdom teeth removal.