Wisdom Teeth Removal
Say that during your most recent visit to the dentist, your dentist told you that you need to remove your wisdom teeth. Though you may know people who have had them pulled before, you may have never considered that you may need to remove yours, too. Even if the eruption of your wisdom teeth hasn’t caused you any discomfort, there are other reasons why you need to have them extracted. Continue reading to learn the reasons for wisdom teeth removal and how the procedure works.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are also called third molars. We call them this because they are the third set of molars to come in. They generally start to erupt between 17 and 25, but some people don’t have them at all. The reason why we have wisdom teeth is because ancient humans used to use them to chew and gnaw on tough foods. But, since our diets have changed over time and human facial structure has become narrower, wisdom teeth no longer have enough space to fit in our mouths.
Do I Need to Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Though wisdom teeth removals are standard, only some need to get them removed. If your wisdom teeth or 3rd molars are growing in straight and aren’t causing oral health problems, you probably won’t have to pull them. There are a few reasons why people need to undergo wisdom teeth removal, including:
• Gum inflammation makes it difficult to clean partially erupted wisdom teeth properly
• Jaw damage due to cysts forming around your teeth and harming the nerves
• Damage to adjacent teeth due to third molars pushing against them
• Alignment issues from wisdom teeth pushing on other teeth
• Sinus issues, such as increased pressure and congestion
• Cavities due to gum pockets
How Will My Wisdom Teeth Be Extracted?
Before your dentist removes wisdom teeth, they will administer a simple local anesthetic to numb the target area and prevent you from experiencing any discomfort. If part of the tooth is peeking through the gums, your dentist will wobble it back and forth until it detaches from the jawbone. But, if the tooth is stuck under the gum line, they may need to make a small incision to expose it. They will then remove the tooth in sections.
If your dentist says you need to remove your wisdom teeth, scheduling the treatment as soon as possible is essential. Seeing Dr. Spellman as quickly as possible will help ease any pain that you may be experiencing. Also, it will prevent your third mowers from damaging your gorgeous grin!
