What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars a person gets in their late teens or early twenties. These teeth can be valuable to the mouth when they are healthy and fully aligned. However, that is usually not the case. More likely than not wisdom teeth are misaligned and require removal.
When should I get them removed?
You may need to get your wisdom teeth removed even if you don’t feel any pain. Not having pain doesn’t mean that there is nothing wrong. The teeth could be stuck or impacted. They could also be growing in the wrong direction and damage the other teeth in your mouth. They may need to be removed now to prevent problems later on. Removal is needed when the wisdom teeth can cause jaw damage, sinus issues, inflamed gums, cavities, and alignment issues. Misaligned wisdom teeth could also crowd or damage the adjacent teeth, jawbone, or nerves.
Sometimes wisdom teeth partially erupt, which can also be dangerous. Since the partial opening could permit the entrance of bacteria around the tooth and lead to infection. The infection can result in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease due to their awkward position and hard to reach area to brush and floss properly.
It is important to contact us immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
Wisdom Teeth Removal Process
These days the removal of wisdom teeth has become a standard practice for young adults. At Whitby Smile Centre, we provide an environment of optimum safety. Our Whitby dental team utilizes modern monitoring equipment and staff who are experienced in anesthesia techniques. Before the tooth can be extracted the tooth and the surrounding gums are numbed with local anesthetic. We offer nitrous oxide as a sedative to keep you calm. The removal of the tooth is the same as the removal of any other tooth. However, if the tooth still hasn’t fully erupted from the underneath the gums, a small incision is needed to get it removed.
For any questions or concerns regarding wisdom teeth extraction, contact our Whitby Smile Centre dental office for more information.
