Discussion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom_teeth#Partial_...
Anyone ever had one done? Have had a few issues over the years when food has gotten stuck there and caused serious pain, not happened for a long time but I do have to be extra special cleaning it and eating. Just fed up with it now....and am scarred of removing the whole tooth
Anyone ever had one done? Have had a few issues over the years when food has gotten stuck there and caused serious pain, not happened for a long time but I do have to be extra special cleaning it and eating. Just fed up with it now....and am scarred of removing the whole tooth
Never had one, but done lots!
An operculum is just some gum tissue sitting over an erupting tooth, and most commonly it sorts itself out as the tooth comes in. When a tooth gets a bit stuck (typically we're talking third molars, usually called wisdom teeth) the gum flap remains, and can get traumatised with food/bacteria/opposing tooth etc.
Removing a bit of soft tissue fron the mouth is generally very easy - pop some LA in (numbing, small injection) and remove the soft tissue with a scalpel, electrocautery or laser, depending on how high-tec you are.
Once the anaesthetic wears off the area will probably be a little sore, keep it nice and clean and take a simple painkiller like Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
This sort of treatment is not suitable in every case, it is very much depends on the position of the tooth and the surrounding anatomy.
HTH
An operculum is just some gum tissue sitting over an erupting tooth, and most commonly it sorts itself out as the tooth comes in. When a tooth gets a bit stuck (typically we're talking third molars, usually called wisdom teeth) the gum flap remains, and can get traumatised with food/bacteria/opposing tooth etc.
Removing a bit of soft tissue fron the mouth is generally very easy - pop some LA in (numbing, small injection) and remove the soft tissue with a scalpel, electrocautery or laser, depending on how high-tec you are.
Once the anaesthetic wears off the area will probably be a little sore, keep it nice and clean and take a simple painkiller like Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
This sort of treatment is not suitable in every case, it is very much depends on the position of the tooth and the surrounding anatomy.
HTH
Get the buggers ripped out.
I had one of mine done by my normal dentist as it had collapsed on top and was now a raw open tooth. It was erupting sideways into the next tooth and created a great trap for food and plaque to gather. Local and a bit of pulling later and out it came.
The other three I had done under general in hospital and was absolutely fine afterwards (apart from the surgeon forgetting I had three done when I went for the stitches out. I had to remind him twice that there was another set of stitches to remove.
I had very little swelling or bruising and was eating ok later the same day.
I had one of mine done by my normal dentist as it had collapsed on top and was now a raw open tooth. It was erupting sideways into the next tooth and created a great trap for food and plaque to gather. Local and a bit of pulling later and out it came.
The other three I had done under general in hospital and was absolutely fine afterwards (apart from the surgeon forgetting I had three done when I went for the stitches out. I had to remind him twice that there was another set of stitches to remove.
I had very little swelling or bruising and was eating ok later the same day.
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