Different wisdom teeth require different treatment. The treatment depends on the angle of the erupting wisdom tooth and the space available for its eruption in the jaw.
Let us see the different treatment modalities in different cases:
⦁ If there is enough space and the tooth is erupting straight then usually it does not require any major treatment. Maintainance of good oral hygiene would be enough in such cases. Ultrasonic scaling done by a dentist proves helpful in case of food lodgement in loose gums around the wisdom tooth.
⦁ OPERCULECTOMY:
If the gums are covering the wisdom tooth and the operculum is not going away on its own then operculectomy needs to be done.
It is a minor surgical procedure done under local anaesthesia where the affected soft tissue over the wisdom tooth is removed. This procedure prevents gum bite and build up of debris and plaque saving you from subsequent inflammation.
⦁ RESTORATION:
If the wisdom tooth is having superficial cavity and the tooth is easiily accessible to instrumentation then cavity restorations and root canal treatment can be done.
⦁ EXTRACTION:
This involves surgical or non surgical extraction of wisdom tooth under local anaesthesia. Also grossly decayed wisdom teeth need to be extracted.a.Non surgical extraction: This means tooth is removed without much invasion of surrounding bone.b.Surgical extraction: Access to tooth removal is gained through bone reduction in desired area. This makes the extraction site a bit larger and sutures need to be given to close the surgical site. Healing requires little longer than non surgical extraction. Sutures are removed after 8-10 days.