Devine

Blog

Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums

Four Facts You May Not Know About Wisdom Teeth

The last teeth you never require are the third molars, commonly called wisdom teeth. Scientists think they needed some time in the past, but human jaws have been reduced, and many people need more space to accommodate these four other teeth.

It is not unusual for some individuals to develop wisdom teeth problems during their teenage years or early adulthood. The third set of molars usually appears at the ages of 17 and 21 and can cause issues if they have not developed well. Such wisdom teeth symptoms can sometimes include pain and discomfort.
If these extra molars are painful or you have overcrowding, you must visit your dentist for a removal.

Is it necessary to have my Wisdom Teeth Pulled Out?

Special attention is paid to the fact that a person should have healthy teeth from the moment he evaluates a tooth. Since teeth care and maintenance are critical, pulling out adult teeth might be embarrassing.

However, some people end up with functional wisdom teeth. Regarding wisdom teeth removal, what is okay for one may not apply to the other. Wisdom teeth’s role in tooth eruption contributes to the decision as to whether you require them to be extracted.

1. Wisdom Teeth Tend To Get Diseased

Wisdom teeth start developing at seven but only show in teens or young adulthood, growing through the gum. Despite this, a few individuals do not experience any discomfort associated with their wisdom teeth and can retain them. Some people complain of pain, infection, or other complications.

Our staff monitors your wisdom teeth during your scheduled checkups at Riverwalk Dental Devine. We check to make sure:

  • Your wisdom teeth have only developed and erupted through the gum line.
  • You have adequate room in your mouth
  • They’re not trapping food
  • It is possible to floss all of your molars

If we discover factors that indicate you may have issues with the third molars, it might be necessary to have them extracted.

2. Impaction Leads To Extraction

If your wisdom teeth are impacted, they do not have enough space to grow out normally. They may be erupting crookedly. Or they have gotten lodged under your gums and can lead to issues like eroding the roots of neighboring teeth.

If a wisdom tooth is damaged and only half emerges through the gum line, it can become a breeding ground for germs. It can result in plaque presence and, subsequently, cavity formation. That is why it is important to take care of our teeth. The extraction method can only solve the difficulty and suffering caused by the impacted wisdom tooth.

3. Cysts Can Cause Problems

Sometimes, a wisdom tooth can grow a cyst toward the roots before entering the mouth. A cyst is a pouch or sac not part of the body but contains fluid or soft material. Such cysts can take years to develop; the earlier one knows what needs to be treated, the better. They are seen more frequently when the wisdom teeth cannot come through the gum.

* Dental cysts are dangerous. They can become infected, cause the jaw bones to grow weak, or apply pressure on the other structures in your mouth. Lately, cysts have been shown to cause bone resorption as well.

4. Some Extractions Require Surgery

If your wisdom teeth fully erupt, you just need a regular extraction, and your dentist can do it for you. However, we may have to resort to surgical removals if they are below the gum line. You can feel uncomfortable for a few days after the simple extraction. It is suggested that you should not brush your teeth within the next 24 hours. Salt water gargling several times a day for a week reduces pain, swelling of the tonsils, and the likelihood of an infection.

Summing It Up

A surgical extraction, on the other hand, is slightly more complicated. First, you must be asleep or in a stage of twilight and thus get an anesthetic. Based on the circumstances, you might require prescription pain relief after a surgical removal.

Generally, wisdom teeth are quite intriguing, given that they are useless in an individual’s lifetime. However, they can be serious if not removed in late teens or early adulthood, as research scientifically dictates. If you ask yourself whether to have your wisdom teeth pulled, you should consult Riverwalk Dental Devine to assess your specific dental care requirements. Making an appointment before these problems arise for the recovery to be as pain-free as possible would be preferable.