An adult usually has thirty-two teeth, and each of the teeth performs distinct functions. The front teeth perform the function of gripping the food and biting them into pieces, whereas the back teeth grind the food, allowing easy swallowing. Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to come in during the late teens or early twenties, and when they emerge, they might lead to several problems if they don't come out well. A typical adult mouth has space only to fit 28 teeth comfortably. So, it might be uncomfortable and lead to overcrowding when all the thirty-two teeth try to fit in the mouth. If someone's mouth has no sufficient space for the wisdom teeth, they might become impacted, partially erupt, or emerge sideways, resulting in pain and infection.
Should wisdom teeth always be extracted?
If your wisdom teeth have emerged fully out from your gums and are straight and uncrowded, they may not need extraction. However, if the wisdom teeth have the possibility of causing serious complications because they emerge impacted, sideways, or cause overcrowding in the mouth, they need an extraction. The major issues caused by impacted wisdom teeth include cysts, tumors, pain, shifting teeth, and infection. So, All Smile Dental's dental experts recommend you remove troublesome wisdom teeth before they lead to any oral health complications.
What Are the Problems Associated with the Emergence of Wisdom Teeth?
So, whether the wisdom teeth have emerged or not, they may cause various oral problems:
- Jaw and teeth misalignment
- Tooth decay, when the partially impacted wisdom teeth trap bacteria and food.
- Severe pain and infection due to the impacted teeth.
- Swelling and stiffness
- Periodontal disease
- Nerve damage
- Cysts and tumors around the wisdom teeth and the jaw
- Damage to the neighboring teeth
- Difficulty in maintaining oral hygiene due to their positioning
- Sinus pain and congestion
- Bite issues
- Overcrowding of teeth
Procedure for Wisdom Teeth Extraction
The dentist starts the wisdom teeth extraction procedure by sedating the patient using local anesthesia so as to prevent any pain or discomfort during the procedure. Once the site is numb, an incision is made on the gum to access the wisdom tooth. If bone covers the impacted tooth, a portion of the tooth will be removed as well. Using surgical instruments, the dentist extracts the tooth after loosening it. The area is sutured, and suitable medication is recommended to ease pain and enable faster healing.
Do you want to know more about the Wisdom Teeth Extraction procedure at All Smile Dental? Call our Dentist in Turlock, CA at (209) 668-3736 or Dentist in Modesto, CA at (209) 409-8839.
