Question about wisdom teeth?

alright this may be one of those questions that everyone else knows the answer to but i don't...but anyways





i just got all 4 wisdom teeth pulled, and obviously i had to get stitches. when i was 9, i had to get 4 baby teeth pulled and didn't get any stitches. the first reaction is probably 'because the adult teeth are right there'...but the roots on the baby teeth were long and it the permanent teeth didn't grow in until i was 12. why didn't i need stitches with the baby teeth but i do with wisdom teeth?

Question about wisdom teeth?
the swelling should be gone in a few days or less. the baby teeth were designed to be pushed out and if they stitch it, it could problems for the permanent teeth.





The permanent teeth continue to develop slowly under the milk teeth. When the crown of the permanent tooth is fully formed, its root begins to grow. This causes an increase in pressure on the base of the milk tooth. The result is that the periodontal membrane and the cement and even part of the milk tooth root are broken down by enzymes and by special scavenging cells, called macrophages, which absorb the material in the manner of a feeding amoeba. When the cement and the membrane have gone there is no firm attachment of the tooth to the jaw – the tooth in fact becomes loose and eventually falls out, leaving a clear path for the permanent tooth which now rapidly grows up through the gum to take its place in the adult tooth row. When it has reached full size and is firmly embedded in its socket, the tooth ceases to grow because the opening of the pulp cavity closes just as in the milk teeth.





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POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS





Bite on the gauze for about 30 minutes after your surgery. Do not bite too firmly, just enough to keep the gauze in place. After the blood clot forms it is important to protect it especially for the next 48 hours to avoid dry socket. Drainage for a few days is normal. To minimize swelling and bleeding, keep head elevated (use extra pillows when sleeping). You can brush your teeth the day of surgery. Avoid brushing the surgery site. Any stitches will come out on their own in a week





Rinse your mouth with warm salt water after meals and before bed. Begin a very gentle warm salt water rinses (1tsp. salt for every 8oz. of water). The first day or so, do not swish the water around in your mouth; Instead, move your head side to side to rinse. Do not spit; Let the water flow out of your mouth. If you are watching salt intake in your diet, you may substitute the salt water rinse with a peroxide and warm water rinse. Use a 50/50 peroxide and water solution





NO smoking for 2 days


NO drinking through a straw for 2 days


NO mouthwash for a week


NO excessive spitting


NO vigorous rinsing for at least 48 hours after your surgery


AVOID alcoholic beverages


AVOID greasy foods


AVOID high acidic foods and drinks such as tomatos, orange juice, etc....


DO NOT over exert yourself. It is ok to ride in a car or on a plane





For Pain:





Advil (Ibuprofen) or Aleve (Naproxin Sodium) or Extra-Strength Tylenol (Acetaminophen). Take with food. NO aspirin or aspirin products





For Swelling:





Place an ice bag on side of face where your surgery was, for 30 minutes on, then 30 minutes off. Repeat for 6 hours. After 48 hours, use warm compresses as needed for swelling





Eat soft foods. No chips, pretzels, peanuts, etc.... Stay away from crunchy, chewy or small hard foods, to avoid food particles becoming lodged in the socket. Suggested foods are clear broth, pasta, potatoes, yogurt, baby food, smoothies, pudding, cream of wheat, 7up, Ginger Ale, apple juice
Reply:Probably because your baby teeth were smaller.
Reply:Hi, I'm a dental hygienist and I hope I can answer your question for you. The need for stitches basically comes from how large the extraction site is. Obviously, a baby tooth is much smaller and the bone is still in it's growing phase so new bone growth will fill in much quicker. Kids tend to heal up alot faster than adults do. And as you noted, the adult teeth are underneath where the baby teeth were removed and will begin their journey to the surface but it takes awhile. Unlike what most people think, the adult teeth are not completely formed and sitting under the baby teeth ready to come in. The adult teeth start out as a "tooth bud" in a little sack and first the crown portion of the tooth grows and then later as the tooth is starting it's growth to the surface, the root begins to grow, and it is in part this root growth that causes the new tooth to rise up to the surface. It does take awhile and your body has a general time schedule when teeth erupt. Even though you had your baby teeth out at 9, those adult teeth won't come in til they are scheduled to. Did your dentist place "spacers" where the baby teeth were removed? He should have, it will hold the gap open so the other teeth don't shift around and try to fill the gap, which makes it a crowded mess when adult teeth try to come in.


When you had your wisdom teeth pulled, there was nothing underneath them but the hole that was left behind. Wisdom teeth are molars and are much larger, with more roots. That leaves a pretty big gap and you are much more likely to get food stuck inside that hole. Food will cause irritation and infection which would drastically slow healing. So the sutures basically are acting as a bandaid to keep the area as clean as possible so it can heal faster. It takes awhile for new bone to fill in completely where the tooth roots used to be. Soft gum tissue will fill in pretty quickly. Be sure to follow your post-op instructions completely to insure proper healing and you will be just fine!


That was a very good question, by the way. I'd never been asked that one before!



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