Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to file in but usually the first ones to be pulled out!
They typically appear in your late teen years and get positioned in the lower and upper corners of the back of your mouth. Many of them require being extracted due to different causes.
Thankfully, modern technology has made wisdom teeth removal a commonplace practice with little discomfort.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Some wisdom teeth may get impacted against another tooth and erupt not fully because they are affected against another tooth or may be partly covered by the gums. Having erupted partially, your wisdom teeth can cause discomfort, pain, swelling, tooth decay, or gum diseases.
Impacted wisdom teeth do not necessarily appear with symptoms and require checkups to be detected. If left alone, the impacted wisdom teeth can cause sharp pain.
You should visit a dentist to examine your wisdom teeth if you’re prescribed specific medications for your medical issues.
In most cases when there is an impacted wisdom tooth, or a high risk of developing one, the dentist suggests an extraction.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal
The dentist will cut the gum over the target tooth if a wisdom tooth has partially erupted into the mouth. Sometimes it may even be required to remove some surrounding bones and cut the tooth into pieces before removal. Once the dentist removes your wisdom tooth, he will put the gum back into place with dissolvable stitches.
When it comes to impacted wisdom teeth, you should react quickly by removing them, or they will affect other teeth. Sometimes, you are advised to remove your wisdom teeth even if they are not causing any oral issues.
Why remove your impacted wisdom teeth early?
You do not look forward to removing your wisdom teeth, of course. However, you need to extract them at the proper time. Most of the time, the sooner you remove the wisdom teeth, the better it will be.
There is no specific perfect time to extract your wisdom teeth. Most dentists agree that the best time to remove the third molars is when tooth roots are one-third developed. This means that you are between the ages of 16 and 21 when the bones are comparably soft, and your body can recover easier. According to the AAOMS, the American Association for Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons, the average age of tooth removal is between the ages of 17 and 18.
Your teeth need enough place to develop, and if they fail to erupt fully, there will be a greater chance of inflammation and cavities because it is harder to brush or floss them. Wisdom teeth can get less space than required, leading to tumors, infection, or pain.
If you delay removing the wisdom teeth, you will face a greater chance of sinus issues, tooth overcrowding, and jaw issues. It is often risky and dangerous to remove your wisdom teeth after the age of 40 as the nerves next to your wisdom teeth may get impaired during the removal process.
- If your wisdom teeth get impacted, they may break through the gums, causing bacteria growth which can lead to infections and decay. To prevent the development of pain and inflammation due to this condition, removing your teeth is recommended. Located in the very back of your mouth, your wisdom teeth are hard to reach for care, making them inclined to cavities. Also, when they are left too long, they will face such risks due to swollen gum tissues. When cavities impact your wisdom teeth, it is very challenging to treat them due to their location. To avoid this problem, you can mitigate the risk of cavities with the help of wisdom tooth removal.
- Breeding bacteria in the mouth usually occurs due to your wisdom teeth which can cause widespread infections. You can protect your gums from periodontal diseases and care for the integrity and health of your other teeth by extracting wisdom teeth early.
- Cysts may develop around your wisdom teeth, leading to severe damage to deeper tissues. Removing your wisdom teeth early can protect your mouth from this unfavorable problem.
- Wisdom teeth can affect your smile by crowding, especially if you do not have a large enough arch to house more molars. In this case, when your wisdom teeth erupt, the other teeth will crowd. Even if you have corrected your misaligned teeth, you may experience this disappointing condition. Over-crowding can be avoided if you remove your wisdom teeth early.
- Sinus issues, which sometimes last a lifetime, can be directly associated with your wisdom teeth’ emergence because the roots of the wisdom teeth can rub against the sinus cavities. You can avoid sinus pain and chronic congestion by removing wisdom teeth early.
- The root system of the teeth becomes harder and denser as you age, making teeth extractions more demanding and painful. You can experience easier removal of your teeth when younger and avoid the difficulties accompanying the problematic eruption of your wisdom teeth.
- The tooth removal process is typically less complex in youth and will be followed by a shorter recovery time. It involves a much quicker procedure as well. Therefore, there will be less risk of bleeding or fractured teeth once you remove your wisdom teeth early.
You should refrain from playing the waiting game with your wisdom teeth, even if they are not causing any concerns. Impacted wisdom teeth removal becomes much more challenging with time. It is best to visit a dentist to discuss the removal of your wisdom teeth to prevent discomfort and enjoy peace of mind as you age.
Backed by decades of experience, our professional staff at Aria Dental offers personalized solutions for your oral problems. Here, we are committed to providing the highest standards of dentistry for all oral issues, from routine checkups to complex therapies, in a convenient environment. You can find responses to all your dental queries with various services at Aria center.
Our dentists tend to save every tooth with same-day emergency care, even on Saturdays.
If you are in California, you can easily find us in Orange County; if not, look no further. We are with you on the phone for a free consultation.
