Why Are Wisdom Teeth Extracted?
January 24, 2018
Your teeth erupt in stages throughout childhood and into early adulthood. The first teeth to erupt are incisors, then canines, then premolars and molars, and lastly third molars. Wisdom teeth are also known as third molars, as they are the third set of molars and last teeth to emerge. Third molars emerge in the very back of the mouth. Usually there are four wisdom teeth; one tooth on the top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right. Some people may have no issues with the eruption of their wisdom teeth. For many people, wisdom teeth can cause pain, swelling, and infection. When these types of complications occur, it can become necessary for wisdom teeth to be extracted.
Complications From Eruption
Wisdom teeth usually erupt between the ages of 17 and 22. As the teeth emerge from the gums, it can become quite painful. Many people do not have room in their mouth for the wisdom teeth, which can make the wisdom teeth come in misaligned or sideways. It could cause the teeth to press on nerves and bone, and overcrowd the surrounding teeth. As the teeth emerge, bacteria may infect the area of the gum tissue. The bacteria can cause the gums to become inflamed, swollen, red, and/or painful. In other cases, wisdom teeth can be impacted, which means they are blocked by bones or other teeth and may never emerge. Any of the above complications could make it necessary to extract the wisdom teeth to protect the mouth’s health.
What To Expect From Extraction
The type of extraction necessary can vary depending on if the wisdom teeth are emerged, impacted, or partially impacted. An extraction can be straightforward when the teeth are visible, as they can just be removed like any other tooth. However, an impacted or partially impacted tooth may require surgery. If there is bone covering the tooth, it may need to be removed to reach the wisdom tooth. An oral surgeon’s goal would be to preserve as much bone and tissue as possible while removing the wisdom tooth.
Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Complications
If you are experiencing pain from your wisdom teeth, they may need to be removed. To schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.