How much of life’s pain can be solved by the liberating feeling of wisdom tooth extraction?

In the Korean novel Obaltan, the protagonist Cheolho is freed from a toothache by having his wisdom teeth removed, but it doesn’t solve the underlying pain in his life. This process symbolizes human evolution and the complexity of modern dental care, emphasizing the need for thorough care.

 

In the Korean novel Obaltan, there is a scene where the main character, Cheolho, suffers from a toothache caused by wisdom teeth on both sides. More than just a physical pain, this toothache serves as an important symbol of Cheolho’s internal conflict and social injustice. At the end of the novel, Cheolho eventually gets his two wisdom teeth pulled and gets into a taxi, which is where the story ends. This scene is a moment of temporary relief for Cheolho, but it also foreshadows the hardships he will continue to face in his life.
Here, we’ll take a look at what wisdom teeth are, why they cause toothaches, and how to get them out. Wisdom teeth are molars that erupt between the ages of 17 and 25, also known as third premolars, and are called wisdom teeth because they “come in during the period of first love” or “getting wisdom teeth hurts as much as falling in love for the first time”. In the modern world, many people have their wisdom teeth extracted because they are not very useful, and the pain and discomfort they cause is sometimes severe. So why do we have wisdom teeth if they are so useless and painful?
To understand this, we need to look at it from an evolutionary perspective. In ancient times, humans were raw feeders, and their jaws and teeth were more developed because the food they ate was much coarser than it is today. However, as time went on, the food we ate became softer and softer, and the size of our jaws shrank accordingly. In modern times, the aesthetic aspect of the jaw is emphasized, with concepts like the “V-line” being coined, but the jawbone and teeth were not perfectly matched during evolution. This is why wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, even when the jawbone has shrunk.
The process of wisdom teeth eruption often causes problems. The narrowed gums can cause the tooth to erupt in an abnormal direction, or it can fail to erupt at all and become an ambush tooth, trapped in the gums. In these cases, the wisdom tooth cannot function properly and can become a source of decay or inflammation, and extraction is recommended. If your wisdom teeth are able to stay in place and function normally, you may want to keep them, but many times this is not the case and extraction is necessary.
There are two main types of wisdom tooth extractions. One is when the wisdom teeth are normally erupted, and the other is when they are not. While properly erupted wisdom teeth can be used like molars, unerupted wisdom teeth can become ambush teeth or a source of inflammation, making extraction essential.
So how does wisdom tooth extraction work? The wisdom tooth extraction process begins with taking antibiotics one hour before the treatment. This is done to minimize the chance of infection. Just before the extraction, your mouth will be rinsed with a mouthwash, which is also to prevent infection from bacteria. Next, a local anesthetic will be applied to the gums to reduce pain. The local anesthetic blocks the nerve endings of the tooth so that the patient does not feel pain during the extraction process.
If the wisdom teeth are normally positioned, the extraction is relatively straightforward. The tooth is simply pulled out using medical instruments designed for extraction. However, if the wisdom tooth is not properly positioned, or if it is an ambush tooth, the process is much more complicated. In this case, an incision is made in the gum to expose the tooth and, if necessary, the tooth is extracted in several pieces. After the extraction, the gums are sutured and gauze is applied for hemostasis.
Post-extraction wisdom tooth care is also important. After an extraction, you should take good care of the extraction site to prevent inflammation. A blood clot will form at the extraction site, which is not recommended to be removed or touched as it helps in quick recovery and prevents infection. Within two days of the extraction, you should avoid heavy exercise to prevent rebleeding and avoid irritating the extraction site. It is also important to apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.
At the end of the day, wisdom tooth extraction is only as good as its aftercare. If you neglect post-extraction care, the inflammation can return and cause a bigger problem. As the saying goes, “what a hoe can’t stop, a phlegm can,” so if you notice anything unusual after an extraction, it’s best to visit your dentist right away.
Similarly, the scene in the novel Obaltan where Cheol Ho gets his wisdom teeth extracted is symbolic of more than just physical healing. The temporary release he gets from having the tooth removed suggests that the pain in his life doesn’t go away, and like the thorough care required after wisdom teeth extraction, Cheolho needs a way to resolve his inner conflict.