Why are there stitches on the tooth that's next to the socket that was left by m!


Question:

Why are there stitches on the tooth that's next to the socket that was left by my extracted wisdom tooth?

I just got my wisdom teeth extracted, and I noticed that on my bottom right, there are stitches on the molar next to the wisdom tooth that I got extracted. Why would there be stitches on that molar, when it isn't even the wisdom tooth that the oral surgeon pulled out? And what's more surprising, there's no stitches on the wisdom tooth socket. I don't think it makes much sense that the molar that wasn't extracted (non-wisdom tooth molar) has stiches, while the actual wisdom tooth socket has no stitches.


Answers:

Oftentimes, when we extract a wisdom tooth, we have to flap the gums (actually detach the gums from the bone underneath) for access. That means cutting through the little strip of gum that separates two teeth (what we call the papilla).

Once the wisdom tooth is out, we need to suture the papilla back to where it was so your gums will reattach to the bone underneath properly-- We couldn't very well leave your gums flapping in the breeze. That is why you have a suture near the tooth in front of the extraction site.

Hope this helps.




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