All You Need To Know About Wisdom Teeth: The first thing that you need to know about wisdom teeth is the fact that they are a part of your dental health. In order for them to grow properly, it’s necessary for these teeth to have enough space inside of your mouth. Unfortunately, as you age and develop more teeth this becomes much harder because those spaces become occupied
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the teeth at the very back of your mouth that tend to come in, or erupt, between the ages of 16-23. At this time, it is normal to experience some growing pains and swelling as they break through the gums. This can easily be remedied by a cold compress, ibuprofen, or mouth-numbing gels like Baby Orajel.
Some people are born with all 4 wisdom teeth (1 in each corner of the mouth) and some don’t have any, however, having fewer wisdom teeth isn’t an issue — they may have been useful for our ancestors, but they aren’t anymore! You probably know someone who has had their wisdom teeth (or tooth) removed before. The process can seem very daunting, but the procedure is very common.
In fact, millions of people have their wisdom teeth extracted each year. Roughly 85% of people need them removed during their lifetime. As a rule of thumb, it is always best to keep your healthy teeth, but sometimes they need to go! So, how do we determine whether you should keep your wisdom teeth or have them removed? Your dentist will start by taking a panoramic x-ray of your teeth to examine the growth of your wisdom teeth and then evaluate whether they need to be extracted or not. They may not need to be removed If wisdom teeth get fully erupted without compromising the adjacent teeth and can be easily cleaned,
What problems do wisdom teeth cause?
It’s always a good idea to get wisdom teeth removed because they can cause various dental problems. Problems include overcrowding of existing teeth, and impaction when one comes through at an angle pushing into gum or tooth beside it; this leads onto pain during chewing along with bad breath
1- Lack of space (crowding)
If you lack space in your mouth, your wisdom teeth may be impacted, or unable to erupt, and can cause harm to the roots of neighbouring teeth. The longer an impacted tooth is allowed to develop, the more complications can result from removing it as its roots may “wrap around” sensitive facial nerves or fuse to surrounding bone. If they do come in, they may push on other teeth and cause misalignment on your necessary teeth; this effect can also happen if the wisdom teeth do not grow straight.
2- Difficult to clean
Wisdom teeth are difficult to clean because they reside at the back of your mouth where there is less space. If they are noticeably more difficult to clean and are susceptible to decay, the dentist may recommend removing them as a preventative measure against gum disease. If they do decay, it’s best to extract rather than fix them because their position makes them difficult to maintain and the probability of future decay is high.
3- Pericoronitis
Pericoronitis is swelling and infection of the gum that occurs when wisdom teeth only partially emerge. Bacteria, food, and plaque can get trapped in the remaining soft tissue that covers the tooth and irritates the gum surrounding it. In severe cases, swelling and infection can occur in the cheeks and neck.
4- Cyst Development
Wisdom teeth develop in a sac within the jawbone. Sometimes cysts form when the sac fills with fluid; this can destroy the surrounding bone, teeth, and nerves. This is another important reason to remove troublesome wisdom teeth.
Should I remove my wisdom teeth?
There are pros and cons to removing wisdom teeth, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Some of the pros of removing wisdom teeth include:
– less pain
– improved oral health
– better appearance
Some of the cons of removing wisdom teeth include:
– cost
– surgery
If you are experiencing pain, swelling or other symptoms that last for more than a couple of days, it is recommended to see your dentist immediately. Wisdom teeth which cause problems can remain impacted and be very difficult to remove later on in life if there has been no intervention during adolescence. Visit our dental clinic in Burlington for all your wisdom teeth needs.