Have you avoided visiting the dentist for quite some time? Or, has your dentist recommended that you have your wisdom teeth removed by an oral surgeon but you feel it is unnecessary because you have no noticeable symptoms? If you have put off having wisdom teeth extracted, it is important to know the risks associated with retaining wisdom teeth. Keeping these teeth can greatly affect your oral health, quality of life, and overall wellbeing. Following is some important information about wisdom teeth and your oral health.
How Wisdom Teeth Cause Problems
Wisdom teeth, the third set of molars, come through the gums during one’s adulthood. This means that existing adult teeth are at risk for becoming crowded, overlapped, and diseased because they have erupted many years before third molars begin to come in. Since modern human beings retain their biological teeth much longer due to access to dental care and effective oral hygiene, third molars are unnecessary to oral function.
With little room to erupt the gums, third molars most often become stuck in the jaw and gums (or impacted). This means that surrounding tissue as well as the tooth itself is prone to becoming diseased. In fact, patients who keep their wisdom teeth will increase their risk for periodontal disease, tooth decay, and abscesses.
What to Expect from the Procedure
Having third molars removed is an oral surgery that extracts the entire tooth, including its roots. During this procedure, patients will receive anesthetic and sedative medication so that they are comfortable and have a positive experience. There are some post-operative instructions patients will need to follow to control discomfort and recovery quickly. Due to post-treatment considerations, we will send patients home with detailed packets that include all the instructions necessary to take care of the extraction site and heal optimally.
Our team is here to answer your questions about wisdom teeth and our services. Call us today at the office of Dr. Chris Tye to reserve a consultation with our oral surgeon or to inquire about our treatments and procedures.
