Once you're late into your teenage years, you might be thinking the teeth you have are the only ones you'll ever get. But I have news for you! There's a strong possibility this isn't true. You could have up to four more large teeth appearing.
Wisdom teeth can still break through even in early adulthood, and they're often a hot topic of conversation for many patients. These pesky teeth can sneak up on you, and a lot can happen if you don't get them removed.
Often the development of wisdom teeth can actually be pain-free. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case and you may need to have them extracted.
We understand that having teeth, especially large ones with multiple roots removed can be scary, but the dentist is here to help.
If wisdom teeth go ignored, they can start to work their way to the surface, which is most likely when they need to be removed. If they're not extracted there are some not so nice things that can happen.
The main reason why most wisdom teeth need to be removed is that there is just not enough room in a mouth for new teeth. Dental X-rays can show whether or not there will be space for wisdom teeth, most often there is NOT.
When your mouth doesn't have adequate space for these extra teeth, and you don't get them removed, it can lead to overcrowding, crooked teeth, or worse, an impaction.
Sorry, what's an impaction? Impacted wisdom teeth are when the teeth are pretty much stuck in your bone below the line of the gum. This can be pretty painful and can also lead to a nasty infection.
Your wisdom teeth sometimes have a funny manner of coming in sideways. If they start to come through horizontally instead of vertically through the gums, the teeth living next door can be seriously damaged, causing larger, more painful, serious problems.
Now if your wisdom teeth come through perfectly and there's space in your mouth that's fantastic. But you are one of the lucky few! And the chances of keeping your wisdom teeth happy are unlikely. Problems may occur later down the track.
Because your wisdom teeth live way in the back of your mouth, they are challenging to take care off. If you don't maintain proper oral hygiene, your teeth can decay and the risk of you developing gum disease increases. It is harder to floss at the far reaches of your mouth.
Maintaining regular visits to your dentist will help protect your existing teeth from decay and also identify your wisdom teeth before problems arise. If you're lucky enough to have wisdom teeth that don't need to be removed, great. But if not there's nothing to worry about the procedure as it is so incredibly common and the dentist will do everything they can to keep you comfortable before, during and after treatment. We want to keep you smiling and happy.
Don't hesitate to contact us for any of your dental work needs.
