Wisdom Teeth - Oral Surgery

Wisdom Tooth Removal 

A few people are born without wisdom teeth or have room in their mouths for them, but many of us get our wisdom teeth taken out during our college years. And many of us are first alerted to the problem when our wisdom teeth don't emerge (erupt) into the mouth properly because there is not enough room for them to fit.

A part of the tooth may remain covered by a flap of gum, where food particles and bacteria can get trapped which causes a mild irritation and a low-grade infection called pericoronitis and swelling. This usually happens with the lower wisdom teeth. Pericoronitis and the pain it causes is the most common reason people need their wisdom teeth taken out.

Pericoronitis is just one of the reasons that you may need to have a wisdom tooth or more than one removed. In many people, the wisdom teeth never even partially enter the mouth. Often the teeth are tilted under the gum and blocked from coming in by bone or other teeth. These impacted teeth may cause pain, but you may feel nothing at all for years. You may not even be aware that you have wisdom teeth until your dentist sees them on an X-ray.

Regular dental visits are important during your teens and early twenties because this is the time when teeth are most likely to decay. Regular visits allow your dentist to follow the progress of your wisdom teeth with X-rays.

Even if your wisdom teeth aren't causing any pain or other problems, they may cause problems at some point. The most common problems are decay, infection, and crowding or damage to other teeth. But more serious complications can occur, including the development of a cyst that can cause permanent damage to bone, teeth and nerves.

However, not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. If removing wisdom teeth is necessary, it's easier in younger people because the tooth roots are not fully developed and the bone in which the teeth sit is less dense. Extracting your wisdom teeth before any complications develop also allows for shorter recovery time and less discomfort after the surgery.

The bottom line is that wisdom teeth most often don't fit well in our mouths and they can cause other teeth to move or lead to gum disease or bone problems. Dr Armstrong or any of our dentists can provide guidance whether you're a candidate for wisdom teeth removal (extraction).

If you have any questions about wisdom teeth, oral surgery, or would like to schedule an appointment, please click here:  Contact Us