There are a lot of reasons wisdom teeth should be removed, like the fact they can't break the gum's surface or the fact they might be involved in serious disease procedures. Wisdom teeth, the third molars which erupt throughout late teens to the beginning of adulthood, are normally a source of dental surgery today.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
The majority of wisdom teeth will bust through the gum surface between the ages of 18 and 24. However, many people will experience the eruption of the wisdom teeth during an earlier or later age with no abnormalities.
When a wisdom tooth will not erupt, it is impacted. This can occur if there's too little room for the tooth to come in properly, or if other teeth hinder the conventional eruption path. In addition, wisdom teeth can be impacted if the wisdom teeth come in at an unusual angle.
Several of the reasons wisdom teeth could be removed include:
- Infection of the wisdom tooth
- Tooth decay in the wisdom teeth
- Poorly aligned teeth
- Likely damage to the nearby teeth from the eruption of a wisdom tooth
- Pain or reoccurring soreness from an impacted wisdom tooth
- Periodontal disease
Even though the reasons wisdom teeth are extracted are plentiful, some conditions would contradict removing the teeth other than in intense case. These conditions could include things like:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Bleeding disorders
- Bad tolerance of anesthesia
- Nerves in close approximation to the impacted wisdom tooth
To determine the condition and positioning of the wisdom teeth, a dental professional will need to x-ray your mouth. Some people do not have a complete set (four) of wisdom teeth. Missing out on a few or even all of the wisdom teeth is normal and is not an underlying cause for alarm.
When looking at your x-rays, the pediatric dentist will evaluate the condition of your wisdom teeth and look for current or potential problems that might warrant extraction. He or she may also look for conditions that would contraindicate elimination of the wisdom teeth like possible nerve damage during removal as a result of close proximity of nerves in the jaw that may be injured through the extraction process.
Clearly not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, but some can cause great pain or discomfort. This pain often leads to a dental evaluation where the wisdom teeth tend to be found to be impacted, inflamed, or affecting encircling teeth. Overall, the decision to remove the teeth is to help avoid any problems and to promote overall wellness. If you suspect your wisdom teeth should be removed, see your dentist for a comprehensive evaluation to talk about your options.
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