Hi everybody, this is Dr. Jolvin Lee from Tooth Heaven. I'm here to give you some more facts and myths about things in dentistry. One of the most common things that I have, that I get on a weekly basis is wisdom teeth. So, you know, there are certain myths that I'd like to debunk and certain facts that I'd like to put out there so that you know how to differentiate between the myths and the facts.
Myth: I have wisdom teeth, do I need to have them out?
Well, the answer is yes and no. I suppose most times, you know, as a general rule of thumb it's always better to keep all your teeth, including wisdom teeth and, you know, in Tooth Heaven, you know, in fact, not just in Tooth Heaven, in fact, there are studies that shows that there are four criteria as to why, and when do wisdom teeth need to come out.
Now, the first being a mesial impactions, which mesial impaction means, you know, if the wisdom tooth is coming out forward and pushing forward onto the teeth next to it, kind of like this little video, this little picture here, it looks like that. Now you can see how it's pushing forward and things like that, if it's pushing forward, it may cause issues like, you know, it might eat into the tooth next door, it might cause infection. And again, depending on if it's inside the bone or outside of the bone, cause inside the gums or outside the gums now, if it's inside the gums, it's okay. Then, you know, it's covered by the gums, it's protected. But if it's exposed then you're more likely to get some sort of discomfort there.
Now another criteria is if you get pain or swelling for more than two times a year generally, and if pain or swelling keeps occurring on a yearly basis or pretty much on a weekly basis, or monthly basis, then you may, you should really consider getting it out. Another one of the common reasons why wisdom teeth come out is if it's hard to clean. So if it's hard to get your toothbrush right up the back and really brush everything out, and it's just a matter of time before holes start forming on that tooth and then causing all sorts of mess in there. And, you know, the fourth reason being, you know, as I mentioned, if it's hard to clean and it turns into holes or even infections, then maybe that's again, the indication to get your wisdom teeth out.
So, no, I don't think it is true that you should, once you have wisdom teeth, you have them out, not really. I think as long as you fall under those four criterias that I mentioned about then it's more recommended to have them out then. Another myth that I get is some people say that, or ask and say that, do they cause, I mean, wisdom teeth causes my teeth to move. Now I guess I could see where they coming from.
You know, if the teeth are pushing forward like that it may push into the teeth in front of it and then cause it to go all crooked. I mean, there's some basis to that. But you know, the question that I'd probably ask beforehand is why do teeth move in the first place? Look, there are many factors to that. And you know, it could be gum issues, could be something called mesial drifting where, you know, with gravity, it pushes teeth forward, and there are, you know, genetic factors, there are bone factors, and all sorts of other factors as well.
But one thing's for sure is it's, this argument about teeth, wisdom teeth causing teeth to move is, to be honest, it's very controversial, and it's debatable at this stage.
In fact, look, I've seen a few folks that come through our doors and even personally, a staff member who actually has had her wisdom teeth taken out before her braces. So if you think about it, she had her wisdom teeth taken out, her teeth were straight. And then years later her teeth still move.
So how can you argue that wisdom teeth actually then caused the teeth to move? Cause you know there are other factors, like I mentioned earlier, to why teeth move in the first place. But one thing's for sure is that retainers are for life.
- So they are for life, so which means, how long to wear them for?
- You wear them for as long as you want your teeth to be straight.
- So it's a myth that, in my opinion, look I could be wrong, but I think I'm right, is that it's a myth that teeth, wisdom teeth causes teeth to move.
- Another one I get is, you know, some people say, can you die from taking your wisdom teeth?
- Well, I mean, probably the question I'll probably ask back is where did you had your wisdom teeth taken out and who, do you know someone personally that actually has had that?
Well, if you're in Australia and you had, you know, teeth taken out here, you know, we are generally across the board, all dentists in Victoria, or not Victoria, but, you know, across Australia we're very strict in terms of hygiene and very strict in terms of sort of criteria, sort of protocols you have to abide by before we take any teeth out. But if you go to say a third world country where, you know, you walk into this place and, you know, they just say, yep, open your mouth, I'll get a pair of pliers, that you see has been sitting on the table for like hours, and just go ahead and take the tooth out.
Of course, then the question you gotta ask is, well, is it clean in the first place? There might be some bugs on it. And then when you pull it out you might introduce it in there. Or, and the second thing they ask is, do you just open a mouth and pull it out without knowing what's underneath the gums.
You know, that's why dentists in Australia, in general, I'm sure in first world countries as well, in most first world countries is that they will take x-rays or maybe certain special scans to work out what they're up against before they actually jump in there and yank the tooth out, so that the risks is absolutely minimum.
Now I won't say it's impossible, but I say it's almost unheard off in most countries, especially in Australia, that you can die from wisdom teeth being pulled out. So I think it's a myth there. Another one that I get is, you know, it's extremely hard to pull wisdom teeth out.
Well, I guess there are many factors just like how, you know, one would say, how long is a piece of string? You don't know, right? Everyone is different, you know, some, it depends on the position of the teeth, it depends on the roots, depending on how easy it is to get in there, depending on the build of the person even, depending on how strong the bone is. And that's just some of the factors out there, but generally, you know, the guys at Tooth Heaven, they're pretty good at pulling teeth out, but there are also you know, really good people out there that have never had any issues pulling wisdom teeth out at all. But as a general rule of thumb, the top wisdom teeth are always easier to take out than the bottom ones, in general, in general.
Myth: Will my face be swollen for weeks or months!?
Now the other common myth that I get is, my, look after having wisdom teeth taken out, my mouth will be swollen for weeks, if not months. Well, again, it really depends on the person on what their comorbidities are, you know, like what they have, preexisting conditions, they have bleeding issues, heart problems, you know there's all sorts of other issues.
But you know, generally for a healthy person, swelling can last for days to sometimes weeks. I've never heard of it going for months. But of course, how much swelling you get really depends on again, how easy it is to take the tooth out. And again, what other pre-existing conditions do you have at the moment?
But, you know, these days there are really good medications out there, like, you know, ibuprofen, paracetamol, and some sort of steroids, that will help manage the swelling there. So it won't be swollen, so it's a myth, you won't be swollen for months. It may take a few days, sometimes up to a few weeks, but it won't be for months, and things are easily managed with medications these days.
Myth: Am I going to have a hole there for life!?
Now the last myth that I get on a weekly basis is, oh, if I take my wisdom tooth out will I, and then there's a hole there, does that mean that I'm going to have a hole for life? Please don't laugh I get that sometimes. But, you know, I guess then I usually ask the question again, like if you get a cut in your hand, does that mean you're going to have that cut, and it doesn't close up for months and months and months on end?
No, no, no. That's not true. It will heal over. And the body's a remarkable thing. It will heal over and just like your jawbone, once you have the tooth taken out, the bone will close up over it and you'll feel you know, over the coming weeks to maybe sometimes up to three months, it will just heal right over and you will just feel this nice, smooth ledge over.
Now, I guess, you know, that's a myth that you will always have a hole after you have a wisdom tooth taken out. So I guess, you know, I hope this information has helped you in some way or form. And if you've got any question or questions obviously seek the help of your local professional, but otherwise, you know, until the next time again, I hope to see you soon and take care. Bye now.
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