Do Not Delay to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth

An oral examination and mouth x-rays allow our doctors to determine the position of the wisdom teeth, as well as whether there are any current or potential problems. Recent research has shown that early evaluation and treatment result in better outcomes for patients. Dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons typically evaluate patients for the first time in their mid-teenage years.

Adults have 32 teeth by the time they reach the age of 18, with 16 on top and 16 on bottom. There is a function and name for every single tooth in our mouths. Biting and grasping food is best done with the teeth in front of the mouth (incisor, canine, and bicuspid teeth). The molar teeth are being used for food grinding into such a consistency which is easy to swallow. Finally, wisdom teeth erupt at the end of a person’s life. Wisdom teeth do not have to be removed if they are properly aligned and have healthy gum tissues. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in the majority of instances. If you have a mouth that is designed to hold 28 teeth, it can get a little crowded when these last four wisdom teeth appear.

They must be removed if the mouth prevents them from fully emerging. Sometimes they develop sideways, only temporarily emerge from the gum, or even remain trapped underneath the bone and gum. Many different positions can be taken by impacted teeth in the bone, as they search for an exit route that allows them to emerge.

Poorly placed impacted teeth can cause a variety of issues. A partially erupted tooth allows bacteria to grow and cause an infection. Stiffness, swelling, pain, and illness are the result. A growing wisdom tooth’s force may cause other teeth to shift, disrupting the orthodontic or natural synchronization of teeth in the process. Tumors or cysts that develops surrounding the impacted wisdom teeth are the most dangerous, as they destroy the healthy teeth and jawbone. These problems are usually resolved by going for wisdom teeth removal.

In order to avoid future complications and to reduce the surgical risk associated with the procedure, early removal is highly recommended.

Problems with Wisdom Teeth

They must be removed in most cases because they affect the rest of your teeth. This is due to the fact that they are often unable to grow due to the presence of existing teeth. Instead of growing from one angle in the jaw — even horizontally — they must emerge.

Wisdom teeth problems can also lead to the following problems:

• Infection or abscesses that damage the roots of other teeth and erode bone support.
• Hiding in the gums and eventually have become trapped or impacted within the jaw
• As it is difficult to see and clean, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria that causes gum disease and oral infection
• As a result of growing at an angle, adjacent teeth are crowded and damaged

The wisdom teeth removal, even if they have not fully emerged, is recommended by some dentists. Some dentists recommend tooth extractions at a young age, before the teeth and jawbone have fully developed, in order to prevent future problems. Adults have a much lower chance of having an impacted or infected wisdom tooth if they are younger.

It is the high time for you to contact an oral surgeon if your case is too severe. Book your schedule with Dr Wooten from Oral and Facial Surgery of Oklahoma.

**Disclaimer: This site content is not intended to be medical advice nor establishes a doctor-patient relationship.