What Happens If You Avoid Removing Wisdom Teeth Due to Fear of Dental Procedures?

Wisdom teeth are often problematic teeth. They tend to grow sideways instead of straight up, mainly because they emerge at the back of the mouth after a certain period following birth. Due to this nature, wisdom teeth end up sharing space with other erupted teeth, which can lead to issues.

 

Issues Arising from Misaligned Wisdom Teeth

Misaligned wisdom teeth can affect adjacent teeth. When these wisdom teeth grow horizontally, it can cause problems like dental caries (tooth decay) or periodontitis (gum inflammation) on the surfaces of adjacent teeth. Moreover, it can lead to pericoronitis, inflammation around the wisdom tooth, causing swelling, pain, and difficulty in opening the mouth.

 

Wisdom teeth often pose management challenges and may not serve a functional purpose.

 

Fear of Extraction and Pain Management

Many individuals choose to leave their wisdom teeth untreated due to fear of extraction. However, when adjacent teeth are damaged or pericoronitis occurs, extraction should be considered. Discomfort and pain may occur after extraction. To manage pain, one can take prescribed medications before the anesthesia wears off. In severe cases, consulting with a dentist for additional pain relief medication may be necessary.

 

Anesthesia Methods and Choices

Wisdom teeth extraction typically occurs under local anesthesia. However, depending on pain management during the procedure, depth of impaction, and difficulty of extraction, different anesthesia methods may be considered.

 

One option is conscious sedation, where the patient is awake but relaxed during the procedure. This may be chosen when the wisdom tooth is deeply impacted, or if the patient has significant fear of the procedure.

 

Another option is general anesthesia. This might be chosen when the patient experiences extreme fear of surgery, or when there are accompanying conditions like cysts, tumors, etc.

 

The Need for Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom teeth often pose management challenges and may not serve a functional purpose. Therefore, even without symptoms or pain associated with these teeth, extraction may be necessary for the management of adjacent teeth. If there are issues related to wisdom teeth, it's important to consult with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or undergo regular check-ups.