Which wisdom teeth should be extracted? Wisdom teeth are also known as “third molars”. In the course of human evolution, as food became more and more refined, coupled with the use of fire, food became softer, significantly reducing the strength of chewing food. Because there was not enough stimulation, the human upper and lower jaws then became shorter and shorter, but the number of teeth did not decrease. Thus, there is often not enough space to accommodate the third molar. Therefore, wisdom teeth (third molars) often do not erupt properly in an upright position. This is the most common cause of obstructed wisdom teeth. It is generally accepted that “obstructed wisdom teeth” should be extracted. 2. Do you have obstructed wisdom teeth? The easiest and most effective way to determine if a wisdom tooth is blocked is to take a panoramic x-ray. A panoramic film is a film like the picture in the article, but it is completely black and white. From the panoramic film, we can see the eruption position of the wisdom tooth. If it is lying horizontally, diagonally, or even upside down, then sorry, it is likely that the wisdom tooth will not erupt properly and completely, and perhaps extraction is the best option. 3. Why should an obstructed wisdom tooth be extracted? Because, incomplete eruption in the wrong posture often leads to the formation of a difficult-to-clean area between it and the front teeth, and the local bacterial accumulation will lead to serious caries, pulp disease and acute pericoronitis, producing unbearable pain! What’s more, it will lead to jaw and facial gap infection, jaw bone osteomyelitis, etc. 4.What other wisdom teeth should be extracted? When the wisdom tooth has been difficult to treat serious decay, periapical periodontitis, advanced periodontal disease, it is also not recommended to keep. Because the treatment is very difficult and the treatment effect is very poor. In addition, wisdom teeth should be extracted when they are involved by cysts or tumors, or when they are needed for orthodontic treatment, etc. Which wisdom teeth should be retained? In short, healthy wisdom teeth do not need to be extracted. If a wisdom tooth erupts in the “correct position” and there is no serious pathology, it is worth preserving. This is because, in addition to continuing to perform the function of a molar, it can serve as a potential “abutment tooth” in the future if the tooth before the wisdom tooth is missing for any reason, providing a base for denture restoration and a place for the denture to hang. Although temporary pain may occur during the eruption of wisdom teeth due to gingivitis, proper use of toothbrush, dental floss, mouthwash and maintenance of oral hygiene will generally help you get through it until the wisdom teeth are fully erupted. Contraindications to tooth extraction Not all wisdom teeth that are recommended for extraction can be extracted, and some contraindications to tooth extraction should be excluded before extraction. Severe heart disease (cardiac function class III or IV), severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg), certain blood diseases (such as anemia, hemophilia, leukemia, etc.), diabetes mellitus, etc., should be controlled first and then the extraction should be performed under supervised conditions. In pregnant women, it is safer to extract teeth in the fourth, fifth and sixth months of pregnancy. Risks of wisdom tooth extraction No medical operation is risk-free, and tooth extraction is no exception, and this is especially true for the extraction of obstructed wisdom teeth. Some wisdom teeth in the lower jaw are close to the mandibular nerve canal, which sometimes provokes the mandibular nerve and causes numbness in the lower lip, ranging from a few days to a few months; 4. periodontal membrane of the tooth, resulting in a period of sensitivity and soreness. In addition, there are some other postoperative adverse reactions. However, most of them can be recovered by continuing the treatment, so patients do not have to be afraid to extract the teeth that should be extracted because of these reasons, which is not worth the loss. After extraction, the patient will be anxious during the extraction process. For example, even a dentist like me, who is lying on the dental chair, will have the fear of “I am a fish for the chopping block”. After tooth extraction, the dentist will also give some precautions: 1. Just bite the cotton ball tightly for half an hour and spit it out, no need to replace more cotton balls; 2. It is normal to have a small amount of blood oozing from the wound or blood in the mouth for 24 to 48 hours after tooth extraction. If there is a large amount of bright red blood, consult a doctor promptly; 5. Avoid strenuous exercise for 1 to 2 days after tooth extraction; 6. If there are sutures, remove the sutures 7 to 10 days after surgery. Compliance with these precautions can greatly reduce the occurrence of postoperative complications or mitigate the severity of complications and facilitate rapid recovery.