Are your wisdom teeth coming in? Impacted wisdom teeth could turn out to be a painful experience, particularly if they are misaligned.
The wisdom teeth, also referred to as third molars, usually appear between 16 and 25 years of age. Frequently wisdom teeth do not have enough room to fully erupt, therefore not contributing to your bite. The position of wisdom teeth makes it very difficult to keep clean, so they often become decayed or develop gum disease. Third Molars frequently cause discomfort and require extraction.
People often experience complications caused by wisdom teeth, even without any pain, when it is partially or fully covered by bone or gums. Therefore, it is wise to consult an experienced oral surgeon to get your wisdom tooth extraction surgery.
Complications Caused by Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth can cause various complications down the line, even if they are not causing any discomfort currently. The common complications that may arise are as follows:
- Teeth Damage: the additional molars can place pressure on other teeth and cause tooth resorption or decay of the neighboring teeth, bite problems and mouth pain.
- Sinus Issues: wisdom teeth issues can result in sinus congestion, pressure, and pain.
- Inflamed Gums: the tissues around wisdom teeth may become inflamed and swell up.
- Alignment: when the wisdom teeth are misaligned or impacted, they can start crowding the surrounding teeth. You would eventually need to get oral treatment to straighten the teeth if the wisdom teeth aren’t extracted.
Your oral surgeon would examine your mouth and the alignment of the wisdom teeth to determine the right course of action.
Major Reasons to Get Wisdom Teeth Surgery
Aside from the complications that may arise due to wisdom teeth, there are numerous reasons to get wisdom teeth extraction. Here are the top reasons:
1. Infection and Inflammation
Wisdom teeth can lead to gum inflammation because of partial impactions and limited space. Eventually, this results in gum diseases that may affect the neighbouring teeth and other health issues. Once the inflammation starts growing, it can get difficult to reduce it as it can quickly spread and possibly develop into a serious infection.
Moreover, with a partially impacted wisdom tooth, the space between the teeth and the gums allows bacteria to grow, resulting in an infection. Wisdom tooth infection treatment can be more expensive than getting your tooth extracted.
2. Overcrowding
Often the space is insufficient for the wisdom teeth to grow. When they start appearing, they try to push the other teeth to make room. This overcrowding leads to misalignment, which can undo a perfectly straight line of teeth and a beautiful smile.
3. Tumors or Cysts
A partially or fully impacted wisdom tooth can cause small cysts of tumours in the surrounding areas that can cause joint pain and requirement of TMJ treatments.
4. Difficulty Cleaning
Even if you don’t experience the complications or pain typically associated with wisdom teeth, it can still put your dental hygiene at risk. Since there is usually minimum space, it can create difficulties in flossing and brushing around the wisdom tooth. The result? Plaque buildup and cavities.
Many individuals are fortunate enough not to experience discomfort or other issues with the arrival of their wisdom teeth, but others aren’t that lucky. Some experience complications that further intensify as they grow older.
Moreover, wisdom teeth can also cause issues among people who don’t initially experience any problems. Therefore, it is wise to consult an oral surgeon to evaluate your situation and consider getting your wisdom teeth extracted.
Make your appointment with your Oral Surgeon today, and your team will help you through the process. Oral Surgeons also do emergency wisdom tooth extractions.
About the Authors:
Texas Oral Surgery Specialists: Dr. Chris Tye, MD, DDS & Dr. Andrew Sohn, MD, DMD are Board Certified Oral Surgeons located in Colleyville, TX, serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan Area and North Texas.
