Extraction of Wisdom Teeth (Impacted, Semi-Impacted)

Wisdom molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth, are the last set of molars to erupt on the dental arch, typically around the ages of 17-25. There are four wisdom teeth in total, two on each dental arch. However, not everyone ends up having all four wisdom molars throughout their lives.

Unlike other teeth on the dental arch, wisdom molars do not play as crucial a role, especially if they do not develop properly. Wisdom molars can fully emerge and develop correctly, serving the purpose of cutting, grinding, and chewing food. In such cases, extraction is not recommended.

On the other hand, wisdom molars can be impacted or semi-impacted, meaning they fail to fully emerge and take their position on the dental arch. This can occur due to insufficient space on the arch for an additional tooth, either because another tooth is in its way or because its inclination is inappropriate with the dental arch’s alignment.

In this case, impacted or semi-impacted wisdom molars can cause a series of problems and conditions, such as:

  • Halitosis (bad breath). Due to their position on the dental arch, wisdom molars may hinder proper hygiene, leading to the retention of food debris and contributing to bad breath.
  • Gingival bleeding and inflammation. Wisdom molars can cause bleeding and inflammation in the surrounding gum tissue.
  • Both on the wisdom molar and between the wisdom molar and the adjacent tooth, cavities can develop due to crowding between teeth.
  • Potential crowding or malocclusion.Wisdom molars may lead to crowding or misalignment compared to the other teeth, necessitating the patient to wear braces.
  • Severe pain and discomfort. Impacted or semi-impacted wisdom molars can cause significant pain and discomfort.
  • Recurrent infections of soft tissue behind the wisdom molar. Infections may occur repeatedly in the soft tissue behind the wisdom molar.

If a patient experiences one or more of the symptoms listed above, it is advisable to seek urgent dental care, likely for the extraction of the wisdom molar. In any case, routine dental visits are recommended for all patients since, even without bothersome symptoms, wisdom molars can potentially cause issues.

How is the extraction of an impacted/semi-impacted wisdom molar performed?

Similar to a standard extraction, the first step in extracting an impacted or semi-impacted wisdom molar is for the patient to undergo a dental X-ray. This is particularly important as the roots of the wisdom molar may exhibit anomalies. Additionally, a dental X-ray enables the dentist to establish the extraction plan and identify any other local conditions the patient may be facing.

Subsequently, local anesthesia is administered to the patient. Depending on the positioning of the wisdom molar on the dental arch (impacted, semi-impacted, or fully erupted), the dentist will decide how much to incise the gum and whether it is necessary to section the molar in half or perform bone milling around the tooth. The extraction of a wisdom molar involves a more complex procedure than a regular tooth extraction. However, post-operative recovery is straightforward and rapid if the patient adheres to all the dentist’s instructions.