What are the common symptoms of appendicitis. How is appendicitis diagnosed and treated. Can you live a normal life without an appendix. What are the potential complications of untreated appendicitis.

Understanding Appendicitis: A Potentially Life-Threatening Condition

Appendicitis is a medical emergency characterized by inflammation of the appendix, a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. This condition affects approximately 1 in 1,000 people in the United States, with most cases occurring between the ages of 10 and 30 years. If left untreated, appendicitis can lead to serious complications, making prompt diagnosis and treatment crucial.

What is the appendix and its function?

The appendix is a thin tube connected to the large intestine, located in the lower right part of the abdomen. In young children, it plays a role in the immune system, helping to fight diseases. As we age, the appendix’s function diminishes, with other parts of the body taking over its immune-supporting role.

Common Causes and Risk Factors of Appendicitis

Appendicitis occurs when the inside of the appendix becomes blocked, leading to inflammation and swelling. Several factors can contribute to this blockage:

• Infections in the digestive tract (viral, bacterial, or parasitic)
• Obstruction of the tube connecting the large intestine and appendix by stool
• Tumors (in rare cases)

Who is at higher risk for developing appendicitis?

While appendicitis can affect anyone, certain factors may increase the risk:

• Age: Most common between 10 and 30 years old
• Family history: Especially for men
• Cystic fibrosis: Increases risk in children

Recognizing the Symptoms of Appendicitis

Identifying the symptoms of appendicitis early is crucial for timely treatment. The most common symptom is abdominal pain, which often follows a specific pattern:

1. Starts around the navel and moves to the lower right side of the abdomen
2. May begin directly in the lower right side of the abdomen
3. Typically worsens over time
4. Intensifies with movement, deep breathing, coughing, or sneezing

What other symptoms accompany appendicitis?

In addition to abdominal pain, other common symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fever and chills
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Difficulty passing gas
• Abdominal swelling

Is it advisable to take pain medication for suspected appendicitis? No, it’s best to avoid pain medicines as they may mask symptoms that your healthcare provider needs to evaluate for an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnosing Appendicitis: Tests and Procedures

Accurate diagnosis of appendicitis is essential for proper treatment. Healthcare providers typically use a combination of physical examination, medical history, and diagnostic tests to confirm the condition.

What tests are used to diagnose appendicitis?

Common diagnostic procedures include:

• Blood tests: To check for signs of infection, such as elevated white blood cell count
• Urine tests: To rule out urinary tract infections
• Imaging tests:
  • Abdominal ultrasound: Visualizes internal organs and blood flow
  • CT scan: Provides detailed images of bones, muscles, fat, and organs
  • MRI: Sometimes used instead of CT scans, especially for pregnant women

Treatment Options for Appendicitis

Appendicitis is considered a medical emergency due to the risk of the appendix rupturing and causing a serious, potentially life-threatening infection. In most cases, surgical removal of the appendix (appendectomy) is the recommended treatment.

How is an appendectomy performed?

There are two main surgical approaches for appendix removal:

1. Open (traditional) surgery:
   • Involves a larger incision in the lower right side of the abdomen
   • Allows direct access to the appendix
   • May require placement of a drainage tube if the appendix has burst
2. Laparoscopic surgery:
   • Uses several small incisions and a camera (laparoscope)
   • Offers a less invasive approach with potentially faster recovery
   • Can often be performed even if the appendix has ruptured

What is the recovery process like after an appendectomy?

Recovery time varies depending on whether the appendix has burst:

• If the appendix hasn’t ruptured: Recovery typically takes only a few days
• If the appendix has burst: Recovery time is longer, and antibiotic treatment is necessary

Living Without an Appendix: What to Expect

Can you lead a normal life without an appendix? Yes, it’s entirely possible to live a healthy, normal life following an appendectomy. The body adapts well to the absence of the appendix, and most people experience no long-term effects.

Are lifestyle changes necessary after appendix removal?

In general, no significant changes in diet or exercise are required after recovering from an appendectomy. However, it’s always best to follow your healthcare provider’s specific recommendations for your individual case.

Potential Complications of Untreated Appendicitis

The primary concern with appendicitis is the risk of the appendix rupturing if left untreated. This can lead to severe complications, including:

• Peritonitis: A serious infection of the abdominal cavity
• Abscess formation: Collection of pus near the inflamed appendix
• Sepsis: A life-threatening systemic infection

How quickly can appendicitis progress to a rupture?

An inflamed appendix can rupture as soon as 48 to 72 hours after the onset of symptoms. This underscores the importance of seeking immediate medical attention if appendicitis is suspected.

Preventing Appendicitis: Is It Possible?

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent appendicitis, certain lifestyle factors may help reduce the risk:

• Maintaining a high-fiber diet to promote regular bowel movements
• Staying hydrated to support digestive health
• Practicing good hygiene to reduce the risk of infections

Can appendicitis be hereditary?

While a family history of appendicitis may increase the risk, especially in men, it’s not strictly hereditary. Environmental and lifestyle factors also play a role in its development.

Appendicitis in Special Populations: Considerations and Challenges

Diagnosing and treating appendicitis can be more challenging in certain groups, including:

• Pregnant women: Symptoms may be atypical, and imaging choices are limited
• Elderly individuals: May present with less pronounced symptoms
• Children: May have difficulty communicating their symptoms accurately

How does appendicitis diagnosis differ in pregnant women?

For pregnant women, healthcare providers often rely more on clinical judgment and may use MRI instead of CT scans to avoid radiation exposure to the fetus. The position of the appendix can also shift during pregnancy, making diagnosis more challenging.

Advances in Appendicitis Treatment: Current Research and Future Directions

While surgical removal remains the standard treatment for appendicitis, researchers are exploring alternative approaches:

• Antibiotic therapy: For uncomplicated cases of appendicitis
• Minimally invasive techniques: Further refinements in laparoscopic procedures
• Biomarkers: Development of more accurate diagnostic tools

Is antibiotic treatment a viable alternative to surgery for appendicitis?

Recent studies have shown that antibiotic treatment may be effective for some cases of uncomplicated appendicitis. However, this approach is still being researched and is not yet considered standard practice. Surgery remains the most reliable treatment for preventing complications and recurrence.

The Importance of Timely Action: When to Seek Medical Help

Given the potential for rapid progression and serious complications, it’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly if you suspect appendicitis. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce the risk of complications and improve outcomes.

What are the red flags that indicate immediate medical attention is necessary?

Seek emergency medical care if you experience:

• Sudden, severe abdominal pain, especially in the lower right side
• Fever accompanied by abdominal pain
• Abdominal pain that worsens with movement or coughing
• Nausea and vomiting along with persistent abdominal pain
• Signs of shock, such as rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or confusion

Remember, appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt evaluation and treatment. Don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare provider if you’re concerned about your symptoms.

Appendicitis | Johns Hopkins Medicine

What is appendicitis?

The appendix is a thin tube that is joined to the large intestine. It sits in the lower right part of your belly (abdomen). When you are a young child, your appendix is a working part of your immune system, which helps your body to fight disease. When you are older, your appendix stops doing this and other parts of your body keep helping to fight infection.

The appendix can get infected. If not treated it can burst (rupture). This can happen as soon as 48 to 72 hours after you have symptoms. Because of this, appendicitis is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms, see a doctor right away to avoid more infection, which can be life-threatening.

What causes appendicitis?

Appendicitis happens when the inside of your appendix is blocked. Appendicitis may be caused by various infections such as virus, bacteria, or parasites, in your digestive tract. Or it may happen when the tube that joins your large intestine and appendix is blocked or trapped by stool. Sometimes tumors can cause appendicitis.

The appendix then becomes sore and swollen. The blood supply to the appendix stops as the swelling and soreness get worse. Without enough blood flow, the appendix starts to die. The appendix can burst or develop holes or tears in its walls, which allow stool, mucus, and infection to leak through and get inside the belly. The result can be peritonitis, a serious infection.

Who is at risk for appendicitis?

Appendicitis affects 1 in 1,000 people living in the U.S. Most cases of appendicitis happen to people between the ages of 10 and 30 years. Having a family history of appendicitis may raise your risk, especially if you are a man. For a child, having cystic fibrosis also seems to raise the risk of getting appendicitis.

What are the symptoms of appendicitis?

The following are common symptoms of appendicitis. Your own symptoms may vary.

Pain in the abdomen is the most common symptom. This pain:

• May start in the area around your belly button and move to the lower right-hand side of your belly. It may also start in the lower right-hand side of your belly.
• Often gets worse as time goes on.
• May feel worse when you are moving, taking deep breaths, being touched, and coughing or sneezing.
• May be felt all over your belly if your appendix bursts.

Other common symptoms include:

• Upset stomach and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fever and chills
• Trouble having a bowel movement (constipation)
• Loose stool (diarrhea)
• Trouble passing gas
• Swollen belly

Do not take pain medicines. They may hide other symptoms your healthcare provider needs to know about.

Appendicitis symptoms may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider to be sure.

How is appendicitis diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your past health and do a physical exam. He or she may also have you take the following tests:

• Blood tests: To check for signs of infection, such as having a high white blood cell count.
• Urine tests: To see if you have a urinary tract infection.

You may also have some imaging tests, including:

• Abdominal ultrasound: Lets the doctor see internal organs as they work and checks how blood is flowing through different blood vessels.
• CT scan: Shows detailed images of any part of the body, such as the bones, muscles, fat, and organs.
• MRI: Sometimes used to diagnose appendicitis, especially in a pregnant woman, instead of CT scan.

How is appendicitis treated?

Appendicitis is a medical emergency. It is likely the appendix will burst and cause a serious, deadly infection. For this reason, in almost all situations, your healthcare provider will advise that you have surgery to remove your appendix.

The appendix may be removed in an open procedure or using laparoscopy:

• Open (traditional) surgery method. You are given anesthesia. A cut (incision) is made in the lower right-hand side of your belly. The surgeon finds the appendix and takes it out. If the appendix has burst, a small tube (shunt) may be placed to drain out pus and other fluids in the belly. The shunt will be taken out in a few days, when your surgeon feels the infection has gone away.
• Laparoscopic method. You are given anesthesia. This surgery uses several small cuts (incisions) and a camera (laparoscope) to look inside your belly. The surgical tools are placed through a few small incisions. The laparoscope is placed through another incision. A laparoscopy can often be done even if the appendix has burst.

If your appendix has not burst then your recovery from an appendectomy will only take a few days. If your appendix has burst, your recovery time will be longer and you will  need antibiotic medicine.

You can live a normal life without your appendix. Changes in diet or exercise are usually not needed.

Complications of Appendicitis

The main problem with appendicitis is the risk of a burst appendix. This may happen if the appendix is not removed quickly. A burst appendix can lead to infection in the belly, called peritonitis. Peritonitis can be very serious and even cause death if not treated right away.

Can appendicitis be prevented?

At this time, there is no known way to stop appendicitis from happening.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

If you have any of the symptoms of appendicitis listed above, call your healthcare provider right away. Or go to an emergency department. Appendicitis is a serious medical emergency. It should be treated as quickly as possible.

Key Points About Appendicitis

Appendicitis is when your appendix becomes sore, swollen, and diseased.

• It is a medical emergency. You must seek care right away.
• It happens when the inside of your appendix gets filled with something that causes it to swell, such as mucus, stool, or parasites.
• Most cases of appendicitis happen between the ages of 10 and 30 years.
• It causes pain in the belly, but each person may have different symptoms.
• Your health care provider will advise that you have surgery to remove your appendix.
• You can live a normal life without your appendix.

Next Steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.
• At the visit, write down the names of new medicines, treatments, or tests, and any new instructions your provider gives you.
• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.

Early Symptoms, Causes, Pain Location, Surgery, Recovery

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is Appendicitis?
• Where Is Your Appendix?
• What Causes Appendicitis?
• What Are the Symptoms of Appendicitis?
• How Is Appendicitis Diagnosed?
• What Is the Treatment for Appendicitis?
• What to Expect During an Appendectomy
• Appendicitis Complications
• Appendicitis Prevention
• More

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. It’s a medical emergency that almost always requires surgery as soon as possible to remove the appendix. Luckily, you can live just fine without it.

This 3 1/2-inch-long tube of tissue extends from your large intestine on the lower right side of your body. The appendix has specialized tissue that can make antibodies, but no one is completely sure what its function is.

In the U.S., 1 in 20 people will get appendicitis at some point in their lives. Although it can strike at any age, appendicitis is rare in children younger than 2. It’s most likely to affect people between the ages of 10 and 30.

Appendicitis happens when the appendix gets blocked, often by poop, a foreign body (something inside you that isn’t supposed to be there), or cancer. Blockage may also result from infection, since the appendix can swell in response to any infection in the body.

The classic symptoms of appendicitis include:

• Pain in your lower right belly or pain near your navel that moves lower. This is usually the first sign.
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting soon after belly pain begins
• Swollen belly
• Fever of 99-102 F
• Can’t pass gas

Other less common symptoms of appendicitis include:

• Dull or sharp pain anywhere in your upper or lower belly, back, or rear end
• Painful or difficult peeing
• Vomiting before your belly pain starts
• Severe cramps
• Constipation or diarrhea with gas

If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor right away. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important. Don’t eat, drink, or use any pain remedies, antacids, laxatives, or heating pads.

Diagnosing appendicitis can be tricky. Symptoms are often unclear or similar to those of other illnesses, including gallbladder problems, bladder or urinary tract infection, Crohn’s disease, gastritis, kidney stones, intestinal infection, and ovary problems.

These tests can help diagnose appendicitis:

• Examination of your abdomen to look for inflammation
• Urine (pee) test to rule out a urinary tract infection
• Rectal exam
• Blood test to see whether your body is fighting an infection
• CT scans
• Ultrasound

Appendicitis is almost always treated as an emergency. Surgery to remove the appendix, which is called an appendectomy, is the standard treatment for almost all cases of appendicitis.

Generally, if your doctor suspects that you have appendicitis, they will quickly remove it to avoid a rupture. If you have an abscess, you may get two procedures: one to drain the abscess of pus and fluid, and a later one to take out the appendix. But some research shows that treating acute appendicitis with antibiotics may help you avoid surgery.

Before your appendix is taken out, you’ll take antibiotics to fight infection. You’ll usually get general anesthesia, meaning you’ll be asleep for the procedure. The doctor removes your appendix through a 4-inch-long cut or with a device called a laparoscope (a thin telescope-like tool that lets them see inside your belly). This procedure is called laparoscopy. If you have peritonitis, the surgeon will also clean out your belly and drain the pus.

You can get up and move around within 12 hours after surgery. You should be able to go back to your normal routine in 2 to 3 weeks. If you had a laparoscopy, recovery is faster.

After an appendectomy, call your doctor if you have:

• Uncontrolled vomiting
• Increased belly pain
• Dizziness/feelings of faintness
• Blood in your vomit or pee
• Increased pain and redness where your doctor cut into your belly
• Fever
• Pus in the wound

Left untreated, an inflamed appendix will burst, spilling bacteria and debris into the abdominal cavity, the central part of your body that holds your liver, stomach, and intestines. This can lead to peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the abdominal cavity’s lining (the peritoneum). It can be deadly unless it is treated quickly with strong antibiotics and surgery to remove the pus.

Sometimes, an abscess forms outside an inflamed appendix. Scar tissue then “walls off” the appendix from the rest of your organs. This keeps the infection from spreading. But an abscessed appendix can tear and lead to peritonitis.

There’s no way to prevent appendicitis. But it may be less common in people who eat foods high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

Top Picks

Acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the appendix (vermiform appendix of the caecum), requiring urgent surgical treatment, one of the most common inflammatory diseases of the abdominal organs.

What is the “appendix” and why does it become inflamed?

The appendix arises from the lower end of the caecum (the beginning of the large intestine). It is believed that the appendix is ​​one of the links of the immune system, since the mucous membrane of the appendix is ​​rich in lymphoid tissue. It is generally accepted that inflammation of the appendix may occur due to blockage of the appendix lumen by enlarged lymphoid tissue, fecal stones (hard stools resulting from chronic constipation), a foreign body, and sometimes helminths. Blockage leads to expansion of the appendix cavity, the rapid development of infection and inflammation. However, the exact cause of this common disease is not clear.

Symptoms of acute appendicitis

Manifestations of acute appendicitis depend on the location of the appendix, the time elapsed from the onset of the disease, the severity of the inflammatory process in the appendix and the involvement of nearby organs and peritoneum, as well as the age of the patient and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Since the appendix is ​​a mobile organ, its inflammation can mimic almost any disease. In some cases, doctors have difficulty in making a diagnosis, since the main symptom of appendicitis – pain – can occur not only in the right lower abdomen, where it should be located according to the anatomy of the caecum, but also in the navel, in the groin, above the pubis , in the lower back, in the right hypochondrium and disguised as diseases of the liver, kidneys, female genital organs.

As a rule, the disease begins with the appearance of pain in the upper abdomen, which gradually increases, moves to the right iliac region (right lower quadrant of the abdomen). The pain is aggravated by coughing and movement. Usually there is a subfebrile body temperature of 37.2-37.5 ° C. Examination of the abdomen reveals involuntary tension of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall and pain in the right iliac region. The pain is constant and may be accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting. There is often loss of appetite and refusal to eat, as well as stool retention caused by restriction of intestinal motility due to inflammation spreading through the peritoneum.

Unfortunately, these classic signs of appendicitis are observed in just over half of patients with acute appendicitis. The pain may not have a clear localization, especially in children under 3 years of age. In elderly and senile patients, reduced reactivity of the body, connective tissue replacement of all layers of the appendix wall and its blood vessels contribute to poor symptoms of acute appendicitis and a large number of complicated forms. In pregnant women in the second and third trimesters, a uterine appendix may cause an atypical clinical picture. Therefore, so often patients with acute appendicitis come to the emergency surgery department already with complications (perforation of the appendix, peritonitis).

What is “phlegmonous” and “gangrenous” appendicitis?

If the patient’s symptoms of appendicitis are mild, but, nevertheless, the inflammatory process develops (the pain is not very strong, there is no nausea and vomiting), he is in no hurry to seek medical help, and then catarrhal appendicitis turns into a phlegmonous form. The appendix fills with pus and ulcerates. Inflammation begins to spread to the surrounding tissues: the walls of the intestine, the peritoneum. The pain becomes more pronounced, aggravated by the tension of the abdominal muscles; in thin people, the inflamed process can be felt as a dense roller.

Phlegmonous appendicitis can turn into a gangrenous form, when the inflammatory process develops already in the abdominal cavity. With gangrenous appendicitis, there is a decrease or complete absence of pain associated with the death of the nerve endings of the appendix, but signs of general intoxication, deterioration of the general condition: weakness , pallor, bloating. If at this stage the patient is not helped, the patient’s life is at risk due to the development of peritonitis.

How is appendicitis diagnosed?

If acute appendicitis is suspected, the patient must be urgently admitted to a surgical hospital. In the EMC Surgical Clinic, emergency operations are performed around the clock for acute appendicitis and its complications.

At the stage before hospitalization, even in the presence of a pronounced pain syndrome, one should not take painkillers, as this may complicate the diagnosis of the disease. You should also not use antibiotics, as this can blur the picture with the further development of complications (perforation of the process, diffuse peritonitis).

Diagnosis begins with a thorough questioning and examination, as well as taking a blood test (a complete blood count usually reflects inflammation – an increase in the number of leukocytes, leukocytosis occurs). In the classic course of acute appendicitis (high temperature and pain in the right iliac region from tolerable to very strong), the diagnosis is not difficult. For patients with questionable or unclear symptoms, doctors may order an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound and/or computed tomography when admitted to the hospital.

In some cases, a diagnostic Laparoscopy can be performed, a diagnostic procedure in which a thin fiber optic tube with a camera is inserted into the abdominal cavity through a small opening in the abdominal wall. Laparoscopy allows you to see the appendix and other organs of the abdominal cavity and pelvis and assess their condition.

Acute Appendicitis Emergency

Surgery to remove an appendix (inflamed appendix) is called an “appendectomy” in which the inflamed appendix is ​​removed.

In the presence of perforation (rupture) of the appendix, the surgical intervention becomes technically more difficult to perform. There is a need for a thorough “washing” of the abdominal cavity from pus. Consequently, both the operation itself and recovery can be delayed.

Removal of the appendix is ​​preceded by intravenous antibiotics to prevent complications. If there is a perforation of the appendix, antibiotic treatment continues until the blood tests normalize (approximately 5-7 days). The question of the abolition of antibiotics is decided by the attending physician.

Laparoscopic Appendectomy

As a general rule, in EMC, most of the surgical interventions for acute appendicitis, even in the case of severe forms of the disease, are performed laparoscopically, which guarantees a minimum of pain and a shorter recovery period. In uncomplicated appendicitis, if the appendix has not been perforated, the patient is usually discharged the next day. Patients with a perforated appendix may stay in the clinic longer (up to 7 days), especially if peritonitis has developed.

However, there are some cases where traditional open surgery (open appendectomy) is preferred.

With timely surgical intervention, recovery occurs quickly.

Wisdom teeth – malocclusion and eruption

Alexander Spesivtsev
orthodontist, clinical director Star Smile

Do we need wisdom teeth?

I use a single compound word. In biology, there is such a concept0062 RUDIMENT – a part of the human body that has lost its function in the process of evolution. The most famous rudiment is the vermiform appendix of the intestine or appendix. So – a large number of doctors and people believe that there is nothing superfluous in the body and wisdom teeth can serve a person at an older age, when the main teeth are lost and the doctor can use figure eights to install, for example, a bridge prosthesis.

Unfortunately, in most cases this is impossible and even wrong!

Most people simply don’t have room for their eighth teeth in their jaws, and mother nature will start mocking them (and, of course, our doctors) in every possible way: painful eruption, irregular shape, incorrect size of the tooth itself, poorly developed root system – all of the above leaves no chance for the correct use of “eights”.

How wisdom teeth are formed

Unlike other teeth, the rudiments of wisdom teeth are not formed in the process of prenatal development, but at the age of 3-5 years, when the child’s body is preparing to change milk teeth to a permanent dentition. At this age, you can determine the number of future eights (and there can actually be from one to four). But at this age, it is not yet possible to detect any possible developmental pathologies.

It becomes more or less clear a little later, the crown part of the wisdom teeth begins to form. The process of formation starts in a child at about 12 years old, but at the same time, the development of the root part of the figure eight takes several more years and can continue even after teething. Considering that the most common age for the appearance of wisdom teeth is 18 – 25 years, the eruption of eights occurs already in quite an adult age. It was not in vain that I said earlier the phrase “actually from one to four”, since approximately 10 – 15% of the eight are absent in principle. That is why it is normal to consider the number of teeth in an adult from 28 to 32. These are wisdom teeth, right? How unwisely they treat us and make puzzles!

Fix it
bite or defect of the dentition with the help of invisible
aligners
Find out what it is

Teething of wisdom – a continuous “headache”

“Born into the world” a wisdom tooth in the oral cavity is always painful. The main causes of the pain effect are thick walls of the dental sac, thickened mucous membrane and reduced growth factors. In addition to the pain of the process itself, the eruption of eights can cause many other complications. What? Let’s talk about this in a little more detail.

The wisdom tooth sometimes does not erupt completely, restricting the surrounding teeth. This situation, as a rule, entails local inflammation and pain.

The time during which a wisdom tooth is cut can be quite long, and inflammation can constantly bother you, manifesting itself as an increased temperature of the whole body and sensitive pains, which sometimes make it difficult even just to open your mouth! This condition is fraught with inflammation of the tissues surrounding the problematic tooth, up to the bone, and therefore requires the immediate intervention of a qualified dentist.

The first problem of teething eights – caries

Often, at the time when the wisdom tooth is growing, its effective cleaning is difficult (due to the location of the wisdom teeth in the depth of the jaw). This is how caries occurs. Incorrect position during the eruption of the wisdom tooth also increases the risk of caries on the adjacent tooth due to difficult access to the spaces between these teeth. If symptoms of caries appear, you should consult a dentist and carry out appropriate treatment. Very often, in this case, the removal of a wisdom tooth is recommended, especially if all other teeth are developed normally.

In practice, it happens that a wisdom tooth erupts already … sick, that is, it becomes infected with caries while still in the gum. In such cases, the figure eight should be removed immediately so that the diseased wisdom tooth does not negatively affect the rest of the teeth.

Second problem – cyst

In rare cases, in the tissues surrounding the erupting wisdom tooth, a cyst and swelling may occur, which requires immediate surgical intervention by a dental surgeon.

Need help?

Need help?

Sign up for a free consultation

By clicking on the “Waiting for a call” button, you confirm your

consent to the processing of user data

Thank you for your application, our manager will contact you

Third problem – malocclusion

In the case of an incorrect position of the wisdom tooth during eruption, it is highly likely that such a tooth will significantly affect the position of the remaining teeth, which causes a change in bite. And the appearance of aesthetic problems – the teeth begin to stand crooked in the mouth. And this entails orthodontic treatment, bringing the dentition in order.

The fourth problem is language dysfunction

In addition to aesthetic problems, this can also cause functional problems. For example, if the wisdom tooth is displaced towards the vestibule of the oral cavity, serious injury to the mucous membrane of the cheeks, lips or tongue can occur, causing erosions and ulcers.

Fifth problem – the wisdom tooth wanted to, but could not erupt

Rarely, but there is a situation when, with a lack of space in the dentition or in the case of an incorrect inclination of the wisdom tooth itself, an anomaly develops, called “submerged wisdom tooth”. Such “submerged” teeth are usually removed.

It is possible that the wisdom tooth does not erupt at all. Despite its absence, such a tooth is dangerous for its complications. It can damage the roots of neighboring teeth or provoke neuralgic pain. In this case, you need to contact the surgeon and, most likely, the figure eight will have to be removed.

Sixth problem – pericoronitis

At the moment of eruption of the lower (!) wisdom teeth, when only part of the tooth appeared, acute inflammation and even accumulation of pus in the formed hood between the gum and the tooth can occur. This causes such a serious disease as pericoronitis (pericoronitis).

The main symptoms of the inflammatory process in pericoronitis are pain and swelling of the gums surrounding the wisdom tooth, bad breath and an unpleasant aftertaste.

In case of the appearance of the listed symptoms during the period of wisdom teeth cutting, you need to urgently consult a dentist

The seventh problem of wisdom teeth – periodontitis

When the figure eight erupts quite smoothly, due to its inconvenient location when cleaning, the wisdom tooth is not properly cleaned of plaque. It is also problematic to remove tartar and plaque on this tooth in dentistry. Because of this, bacteria begin to accumulate around the wisdom tooth, causing inflammation of the gums – periodontitis, which can then turn into osteoperiostitis. In this case, the tooth must be removed.

Total – seven problems of wisdom teeth. What conclusions do we draw?

Dentists have such a saying that if the patient did not notice how his wisdom teeth erupted, then he was very lucky. In many ways, this statement is true, because according to statistics, for most of us, the appearance of “eights” does not pass without complications.

You can get a quality consultation on wisdom teeth in your city

I want to check my “eights”!

Treat or remove eights?

Now with regard to orthodontic treatment and wisdom teeth. Believe me, it is very unpleasant for us doctors, as well as for patients, to make radical decisions. But there are good reasons! These are your stories. The stories of patients who underwent treatment with braces in adolescence achieved excellent results and….

All the beauty of even teeth, especially the lower incisors (they just started to enjoy a beautiful smile) – it disappears in 20 years and beyond. It is when most of us fully have these very “eights”. Two, three and even four years of medical “torment” to correct crooked teeth, turning them into a beautiful / sweet / courageous smile, as they say, down the drain … Yes, yes – the only option to become the owner of beautiful teeth again is repeated orthodontic treatment. Whether it will be aligners or braces again, it doesn’t matter anymore, the important thing is that there is a good saying: forewarned is forearmed! No one is immune from mistakes and relapse.

Our body is beautiful and magical in that it almost always adapts and compensates for almost any pathology. Therefore, the “eights” with difficulty, but cut through and after themselves deform very important teeth in front!

So what do we do with the eights?

The moral of this fable is this – trust qualified and educated doctors, and not kind and humane “neighborly” advice. Be wise. Especially at such crucial moments in life, when wisdom teeth make themselves felt. And in general, I wonder who was the first to call them “wisdom teeth”?

Moreover, an interesting point from medical practice: if you (what if?) Decided to remove the eights, it’s not a fact that they will be removed for you. The reason is banal – the removal of wisdom teeth should be carried out exactly according to the indications. A normal doctor will never remove a healthy tooth just because you feel like it.

You have decided to have your wisdom teeth removed. How traumatic is it?

If the wisdom tooth has grown normally, its roots are not intertwined, the extraction usually takes place, without any complications. The edges of the tooth socket after extraction are often not even sutured.

What is most important after removing the figure eight is to let the hole of the newly removed wisdom tooth heal. Quite a big wound.

What to do is absolutely impossible? Do not rinse vigorously, even with such seemingly useful solutions as chamomile or calendula.

What to do. To get rid of food debris, you need to gently take water into your mouth and do short mouth baths without intensive rinsing. Instead of water, you can use a solution of chlorhexidine, miramistin or analogues, which is specially sold in pharmacies, – they disinfect the oral cavity. And so – at least three days. If this recommendation is neglected, the hole may become inflamed. Then the dentist prescribes treatment with drugs, up to antibiotics.

What if the roots of the insidious wisdom tooth are intertwined or fused?

Alas, in this case, complications are not excluded – soft tissues can be damaged. If an inflamed tooth is removed, in rare cases, the neurovascular bundle (!) of the lower jaw is injured. In this case, separate treatment may be required.

When is it advisable not to remove wisdom teeth?

There are situations when the “seventh” or “sixth” chewing teeth are to be removed. And in this situation, a wisdom tooth that has grown correctly can still come in handy. It will become one of the two supports for the future bridge prosthesis. However, in this case, a healthy sixth (or fifth) tooth will suffer, because it will have to be processed under the supporting crown.

A little now about the sad . It will take 10-15 years, the bridge will “work out” the prescribed time of operation. And sometimes it will not work to insert an implant – the jawbone atrophied under the bridge will not allow: in the absence of teeth, any person develops adentia of bone tissue. So, on the horizon of life, removable removable dentures of the jaws and newfangled gels appear, making them easier to wear.

Now a little about the positive . In such situations, you can initially consider dental implantation in specialized medical centers, where they will help restore bone volume and take control of the situation with the teeth.

What do we do after removing the eights?

We evaluate the possible damage that eights could cause to neighboring teeth. If the adjacent teeth are deformed, then the pathology can spread according to the domino principle, and here it is already necessary to carry out systemic orthodontic treatment aimed at correcting the malocclusion.

Aligners are the most sparing and aesthetic type of teeth correction today. The site contains a lot of information on aligners, but I would like to say about one indisputable advantage, namely, the patient can see the result of his treatment on aligners without even starting it! How so, you ask? The answer is simple – all future treatment of the patient is calculated using modern computer technology. The example below shows a real clinical case, a patient with crowding of teeth, caused just by the pathological effect of “eights” on adjacent teeth.

See how wisdom teeth lead to crowded teeth

And how crowded teeth are eliminated with Star Smile aligners

The video shows how the 3D setup is done. I am commenting on the video, orthodontist Alexander Spesivtsev, clinical director of Star Smile, a doctor with many years of experience in the successful use of aligners in orthodontic practice. To restore even dentition, the wisdom teeth themselves – figure eights – had to be removed.

At Star Smile – more precisely, at the clinics of its partners (and this is more than 70 cities in Russia), any treatment begins with a diagnosis and a virtual setup. The doctor takes photographs of the patient’s face, dentition, as well as x-rays and dental casts. With the help of special software, the obtained data is processed and a three-dimensional model of the patient’s dentoalveolar system is obtained. And already this allows you to calculate the trajectory of tooth movement, the duration of treatment, the required number of sets of caps. Also, the final result of the treatment will be visualized – the patient will be able to evaluate the aesthetics of the smile after the treatment. Patients really like this approach – to see their future smile, their straight teeth. The prediction of a 3D setup when teeth are aligned with aligners comes true in almost 100% of cases. You see, this is completely different from the “blind” bite correction, as is usually the case with braces. Everything is clear here, without any guesswork and assumptions.

Gevorkyan Oscar Vladimirovich

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Maxillofacial Surgeon, ZNIIS, Scientific Consultant Star Smile

” awn”?

feel free to contact the doctors of Star Smile company, they will help you understand this sometimes difficult, but very important life problem for many. Do not delay the decision in order to avoid possible complications in the future”

in your city, where you can discuss the problem of wisdom teeth and determine the best solution for you.