You probably know more than a few people who have had their wisdom teeth removed. While some people never get these third molars and some others can keep them without any problems, they can cause serious oral health problems if they don’t come in properly or if the mouth does not have room for them. Here’s why wisdom teeth are so commonly removed along with a brief overview of the signs that you could benefit from having yours extracted.
Why Would Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
There are typically two reasons why wisdom teeth would need to be removed. These are:
The mouth does not have enough room
The third molars are quite large compared to the other teeth, and they can push other teeth out of place if the mouth does not have enough room for them. This can cause chronic, aching pain, and the shifting of the other teeth can ruin their alignment, thereby spoiling the results of financially costly and time-consuming orthodontic treatments from years past. This can make teeth harder to clean and easier to injure, which can lead to nasty oral infections.
The wisdom teeth do not emerge properly
If the wisdom teeth come in sideways or crooked, or if they fail to emerge from the gums completely, they become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth are difficult to keep clean, easy to damage, and they can provide shelter for harmful oral bacteria.
How Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Your dentist will begin the extraction process with anesthetic treatment, rendering the process completely painless. They will then create a small incision in the gums to expose more of the wisdom teeth. Using forceps, they will gently and gradually work each tooth out of the socket. If these teeth are especially large, they may be separated into pieces that can be removed more easily.
Don’t let wisdom teeth compromise the future of your oral health. Consulting with your dentist can determine if wisdom tooth extraction is right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Deidra Harrison-McClain earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Meharry Medical College in Nashville and completed her residency at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. She is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Tennessee Dental Association. Her office in Goodlettsville, TN offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as wisdom tooth extractions. If you are concerned about your wisdom teeth, contact her office online or dial (615) 819-1644.