Wisdom teeth are the last of the molars to grow in. When they do, they can be impacted, causing problems like gum disease. Sometimes they come in at an angle, making it difficult for them to fit with your other molars. Some people don’t have room for wisdom teeth or their jaw isn’t big enough to grow properly. It’s important to know what can happen when they come in and what you can do about it, so you don’t need surgery in this article. We’ll cover everything you need to know and when you should speak to your dentist.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
They are the last molars to grow and typically erupt between 16 and 20. Sometimes they come in at an angle, making it difficult for them to fit with your other molars. Suppose you have a tooth too big to fit with the rest of your teeth. It can cause problems like gum disease or pain.
Common Problems With Wisdom Teeth
They are the last teeth to come in, but they can cause many problems. Here are some common ones:
- Gum disease: Wisdom teeth often push against your other molars as they come in, making it difficult for them to clean as effectively. It means bacteria and plaque will build upon your wisdom tooth and under your gum line, leading to gum disease.
- Impacted Wisdom Tooth: An impacted tooth develops at an angle or doesn’t fully emerge from the gums and has no room to grow straight down like the other teeth. The root of the wisdom tooth can then press against other teeth or become infected.
- Cysts: Sometimes, there is not enough room for your wisdom teeth to grow incorrectly, and they will form a cyst, which is just pus that has built up around the area of the unerupted wisdom tooth.
- Extractions: If you have any problems with your wisdom teeth or if there’s not enough room to grow correctly, you may need surgery to remove them altogether.
What Happens If You Don’t Remove Them?
In the past, they were seen as a sign of intelligence. Nowadays, they’re more likely to cause problems than anything else. If they don’t come out independently, they can cause pain and discomfort, like gum disease or tooth decay. And if you don’t remove them when they do come in, there’s a chance that you’ll need surgery to have them removed later.
Removing your wisdom teeth is usually an outpatient procedure done under sedation or general anaesthesia. It usually takes about an hour and a half to complete. Still, a few risks are associated with this type of surgery, such as infection, excessive bleeding, and nerve damage that could happen during the procedure. That said, talking to your dentist about what will happen if you wait too long before removing your wisdom teeth is essential.
How To Know If Your Wisdom Teeth Is Infected
Wisdom teeth are another set of molars that can come in after adolescence. However, the problem with these teeth is that if they don’t fit well in your mouth, they can cause cavities and other dental issues.
Suppose you have a wisdom tooth coming in. In that case, you may experience some symptoms, including tooth pain, redness or swelling around the gums, prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, and possibly even a fever. If any of these symptoms happen, it’s essential to see a dentist as soon as possible for an evaluation.
How Do Dentists Remove Wisdom Teeth?
There are many different methods for removing them, depending on the severity of the problem. Your dentist may refer you to a specialist. Like an oral surgeon, for extraction if they think there are potential complications.
If it’s determined that removal is necessary, there are two common ways to take care of it:
- Open Extraction: Placing a surgical cut through the gum so that the tooth can be pulled out with pliers or other instruments
- Closed Extraction: Pulling out the tooth without making an incision in the gum
Your dentist will recommend the most appropriate method for each patient. Based on their needs and situation and if they need to have their wisdom teeth removed. It can happen at all ages, from youth to the elderly.
Are There Any Risks With Wisdom Teeth Removal?
You can experience pain, swelling, bruising, and bleeding, which are expected after surgery. There may also be more severe complications like nerve damage or infection. Your mouth may not heal properly or experience problems with your bite after the surgery.
