Wisdom teeth (third molars) are among those dental topics that generate a lot of anxiety and questions. Should they systematically be extracted? Is it very painful? When is it urgent?
This guide answers all these questions with precision, avoiding both extremes: unnecessary panic and the minimization of cases that genuinely require attention.
No. That is the short answer. A wisdom tooth that is well positioned, exerts no pressure on adjacent teeth, is accessible for hygiene, and presents no associated pathology: there is no reason to extract it.
The problem arises when it is impacted, semi-impacted, or poorly positioned. In these cases, the risks are multiple: cavity in the adjacent second molar, pericoronal cyst, painful eruption with local infection (pericoronitis), or displacement of anterior teeth.
The decision to extract or not is based on a dental panoramic X-ray or 3D scan, analysis of the tooth's position, and assessment of medium and long-term risks.
Under local anesthesia, the extraction of a non-impacted wisdom tooth is quick: ten to fifteen minutes, slightly uncomfortable but painless if the anesthesia is well administered. Post-operative discomfort lasts two to five days and is managed with pain relievers.
Extractions of impacted wisdom teeth are oral surgery procedures, more complex, requiring an incision and bone access. For very difficult cases (tooth very close to the inferior alveolar nerve), a 3D pre-operative assessment is essential.
Serious complications are rare but exist: alveolitis (intense pain in the days following extraction), temporary or permanent nerve injury for teeth very close to the nerve.
Do not manage your wisdom teeth alone. If they are erupting, if they are painful, come in for a consultation. At Longchamp CIL Dental Clinic, we carry out a complete assessment before any decision. Extraction or monitoring: in all cases, you will know why and within what timeframe to act.
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