Why do you need wisdom teeth: features, structure

Do you know why wisdom teeth are needed? This is exactly what we are talking about today. Consider different opinions on this issue and try to understand how things really are. Do we need wisdom teeth?

Opinion of foreign dentists

Immediately it is worth saying that in many countries, patients do not even have a question about whether they need wisdom teeth. The answer is obvious - no. In Europe and the US, doctors remove third molars (the natural name for wisdom teeth ) as soon as they become visible. The procedure for removing wisdom tooth is even included in medical insurance. In our country, this problem is solved in different ways. Most often, doctors insist on the removal of the tooth, but the patient has the right to decide for himself how to proceed.

What is the wisdom tooth?

Wisdom teeth are 4 molars, which are located at the end of the upper and lower dentition, are located closer to the auricle and jawbone. The people call it the "eight". The scientific name is the third molar.

Appearance

To understand why a wisdom tooth is needed, it is worthwhile to figure out when it appears and at whom. We know that an adult has 32 teeth, but only 28 teeth take part in the process of chewing food. This means that this process does not need 4 teeth, which are located at the edges of the upper and lower jaw, that is, wisdom teeth. They appear much later than other teeth, from about 16 to 26 years. They received their popular name because of the symbolic "wisdom" that a person attains by entering into adulthood. Although it is clear that the "adult" does not yet mean "conscious", "reasonable" and "wise". The appearance of wisdom teeth can cause a number of oral problems. It is also worth noting that the appearance process can take a few years.

The wisdom tooth: why is it needed?

The functional property of wisdom teeth has not been fully studied. Scientists and dentists consider them a rudimentary organ in which a person no longer needs. It is interesting that the third molars do not develop at all. Approximately half the population does not know the problems with wisdom teeth , because it does not have them. This leads scientists to the idea that in the near future they will not have anyone.

There is a common opinion. Why do you need wisdom teeth in fact? It is believed that in the past, a person needed all 32 teeth to chew on hard food. Modern man consumes food much softer, processed, refined. Now, only 28 teeth are enough for chewing food.

Why does it hurt?

Why do you need wisdom teeth if they cause such inconvenience? It is believed that due to the fact that the food has become softer, the jaw has atrophied and changed. It decreased in size, although the teeth remained the same. It turns out that the third molars simply do not fit in the oral cavity, so they bring so many problems.

In defense of

And yet you can find several reasons why wisdom teeth need a person. In the process of chewing food to a modern person, it is not absolutely necessary to have third molars, but they perform a number of other important functions. Why do you need to remove wisdom teeth if they can be the only way out with some problems? For example, with dental prosthetics, third molars can become a support, which will greatly simplify the procedure. The second reason is that wisdom teeth restrain other teeth from excessive growth. They "hold" the jaw, not letting the teeth grow as if it were horrible. And the last argument: when an elderly person loses a lot of teeth, it is the third molars that can replace chewing.

It becomes clear that the role of wisdom teeth is significant. They are something like a "reserve", which can always help out.

Why delete?

If you are worried about the question of whether to remove the wisdom tooth and why, then be sure to read the following paragraph. Their growth provokes many problems: deformation of the dentition, caries, persistent pain and a number of other problems, which we will discuss below. It is important to understand that possible pathologies are very serious. If the dentist thinks it necessary to remove the wisdom teeth, do it, otherwise you can get big health problems. To protect healthy teeth, it is best to remove the third molars and to drink the vitamin strengthening complex.

Problems

If the dentist recommends removing the wisdom tooth, then it is best to do so. Third molars can bring a lot of problems to a person. Such teeth very often grow crooked, which brings a lot of pain. But the process of tooth growth can drag on for a couple of years. The process of "eruption" takes a long time, for which "early" tooth decay succeeds. If you do not treat such teeth in time, the gums around them swell, which may require immediate surgeon intervention. Even if the wisdom teeth do not disturb, they can contribute to the development of caries. It can be difficult to clean them thoroughly or to cure them, even in the doctor's office because of the hard-to-reach location. Very often cases when tooth decay from wisdom teeth is transferred to other healthy ones. If treatment is not possible, pulpitis threatens - inflammation of the dental nerve.

Long eruption of wisdom teeth is also fraught. There are a lot of bacteria, food and plaque accumulating there. This can lead to gingivitis and halitosis. Even worse is when the tooth has grown only half. Pericoronitis may occur, an inflammation of the gum that can go to the bone. Because the wisdom tooth is too big, it presses on the neighboring ones, destroying their enamel. If the tooth ripens, but does not erupt, it can cause severe pain, giving up in the neck, throat and ears.

Delete

Suppose you decide to remove the wisdom tooth. Why is it needed if it brings so many problems? But do not blindly trust the dentist, it's best to find out what steps are necessary to remove the tooth without consequences. The first thing a doctor should do is to find out about the patient's illnesses, as well as about the medications that the doctor takes. It is very important. Even aspirin can cause surgery to be delayed, as it slows blood clotting. At the next stage, the doctor makes several X-ray photographs in order to correctly plan the removal.

Begin the procedure with anesthesia. It is advisable that the doctor apply a special gel to the injection site, which will not let you feel the injection. When the tooth is in the bone itself, the doctor has to saw the tissues and remove the tooth completely or in parts. After that the wound is sewn up.

Sutures are removed by the dentist after a while. This is done under local anesthesia. In modern clinics, suture material is used, which itself dissolves. After the procedure, you need to see a doctor for an examination on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day to monitor the situation. To avoid possible complications, you should follow certain rules:

• 24 hours after the operation to spend in peace, do not engage in active activities and all that requires tension;
• Use only soft and liquid foods, avoid hot;
• Do not drink alcohol and smoke for 2 days;
• After a day, rinse your teeth with saline after eating.

These small and simple rules will avoid possible complications. It is also advisable not to brush your teeth for at least one day. On the second day you can brush your teeth with a soft brush, avoiding touching the place of removal.

We learned why wisdom teeth are needed. They were foreseen by nature, not for nothing, but for a modern man they do not play such an important role. If you are regularly checked by a dentist and there are no problems with wisdom teeth, you can leave them alone. But if there are problems, it is better not to delay their decision, so that surgical intervention is not required.