Wisdom teeth, when they develop, are the last teeth to emerge in a smile. Because they erupt as the final set of molars, they are also known as third molars. Wisdom teeth can cause complications for some smiles that include infection, pain, and damage to the rest of your smile. Removing wisdom teeth preemptively before complications occur can be a way to avoid pain or discomfort. Do you know when and why wisdom tooth extraction is necessary? Your dentist can help you determine if your wisdom teeth are or are going to be problematic for your smile.
When Does It Typically Occur?
Wisdom teeth usually emerge when people are between the age of 17 and 22, although the problems can start to occur later. When the third molars arrive, there may not be room in your mouth to accommodate the new teeth erupting.
Why? Potential Problems
As soon as wisdom teeth begin to cause discomfort in your mouth, you should reach out to your dentist to discuss it. Pain associated with wisdom teeth is often caused by crowding in the mouth due to the lack of room in the mouth or alignment, poorly angled growth, partial eruption, or impaction, which is when they do not erupt from the gums at all. If the teeth partially emerge through the surface of the gums, bacteria may infect the area causing the gums to become inflamed, swollen, red, and painful. Impacted wisdom teeth may be blocked by bones or other teeth and may never emerge. Any of these listed causes can lead to damage to your other natural teeth. Your dentist can use x-rays to see the path of the wisdom teeth, which can help determine if there is a need to extract them before pain or discomfort begins. Extracting wisdom teeth can prevent future problems, while also eliminating any current pain and discomfort.
There Are Times When Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Extracted
Wisdom teeth often need to be extracted for the health of your smile. To schedule a consultation, call E-Care Dentistry, PA in Olathe, KS, today at 913-210-1701. We also proudly serve patients from Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood, Gardner, and all surrounding communities.