INDO AMERICAN DENTAL HOSPITAL - WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL

Why do wisdom molars need to be removed?

Frequently, wisdom molars are included or stuck behind molars number two and are extremely difficult to be cleaned. Scale along with limited access for oral hygiene, causes inflammation which can lead to infection, decay or gingival disorders.

Wisdom molars can also cause cysts in maxillary level.

They are at the same time involved in adjacent teeth migration.

The most common issues associated with wisdom molars are:

Pain and tumefaction: These are the most common initial symptoms. Caused by inflammation (pericoronitis) or gingival tissue infection.
Gingival disorder (periodontal disorder): Gingival disorder can develop between the second molar and the wisdom molar. These are found on the same bone and gingival tissue and when tissue is damaged, its restoration or regeneration becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible to treat. If a second molar develops a profound decay on a side it needs to be extracted.
Caries: Cavities can appear on the wisdom molars or on the root surface of the second molars. These are difficult, if not impossible, to treat. If a second molar develops a profound cavity on one side, it often has to be extracted.Maxillary cysts: Cysts determine a significant destruction of bone and damage of surrounding structures (teeth, nerve, maxilla). Some of them can become quite large and weaken maxillary bones with the risk of fracture.Adjacent teeth migration: This isn’t a fully understood aspect by dentists, yet included wisdom molars can represent a factor that contributes in teeth overcrowding. Orthodontists often recommend wisdom molars removal to prevent migration.

Specialty literature and collective experience of several dentists support one thing: wisdom molars predictably cause problems for a large percentage of the population.

According to a comprehensive analysis of the specialty literature performed by The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), it is stated that:

Included wisdom molars negatively affect gingival tissue and adjacent teeth health
Included wisdom molars can continue to shift position after the age of 23.
Erupted wisdom molar (not included) don’t necessary indicate a good health status. They are associated with a higher incidence of gingival disorder (periodontal) or bone loss.
Lack of symptomatology such as pain and tumefaction doesn’t indicate an absence of illness.
There is a large number of bacteria surrounding molar number three (wisdom molar), many of them extremely pathogenic.
Gingival disorder evolves even with a symptomatology absence and with aging.
Postoperative complications incidence following molar number three removal is three times larger after the age of 25.
Early removal is advised for included molars as well as not included ones, for both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients.

AAOMS specialty literature analysis concludes:

Early removal of wisdom molars is recommended for preventing infection, pathology and surrounding teeth damage.
The philosophy “If it doesn’t hurt, don’t intervene” is not sustained by the specialty literature.
Risk of complications for wisdom teeth removal can increase with aging.
Disorder development can occur in included wisdom molars as well as not included ones (erupted).

Specialty literature and oral surgery literature don’t support the philosophy “If it doesn’t hurt, don’t intervene”