Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars to erupt in the human mouth, and they typically start to emerge in young adults who are anywhere between 17 and 25 years old. The West Edmonton dentists at Westmount Dental Centre often recommend wisdom teeth removal for our patients whose wisdom teeth are coming. Many people, however, wonder whether wisdom teeth really do need to be removed. Let's take a look at why wisdom tooth removal is sometimes necessary or highly recommended.
What Sorts of Issues Can Be Caused by Wisdom Teeth?
The main problem with wisdom teeth is that, while the human jaw has decreased in size over the last several millennia, many people still carry the gene for wisdom teeth development. There now simply isn't enough room in the mouth for these large and powerful molars, forcing them to become impacted or to cause damage to your existing teeth. This, in turn, can result in bite problems, a greater chance of developing tooth decay and gum disease, and even jaw damage. Edmonton dentists perform wisdom teeth extractions in order to prevent these and other problems.
People whose mouths and jaws are not large enough to accommodate their wisdom teeth will often experience tooth pain and jaw pain when their wisdom teeth begin to erupt. Your jaw may feel stiff and you are likely to experience headaches as well. Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause sinus pain, sinus congestion, and red and swollen gums. Over time, the swelling from the gums can extend down to the jaw. If ignored, the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth will only continue to progress.
What If My Wisdom Teeth Aren't Giving Me Any Trouble?
It is possible for wisdom teeth to begin erupting without any pain or immediate signs of trouble. However, wisdom teeth can still cause problems as they continue to grow, and they won't be as easy to remove as you get older. It is always advisable to visit an Edmonton dentist to make sure that your mouth will be able to accommodate your teeth in the future.
Additionally, even when wisdom teeth are able to successfully grow in without causing any problems, they can be quite difficult to brush and floss due to their location in the back of the mouth. For this reason, wisdom teeth are highly susceptible to tooth decay and often require extraction later on.
Family Dentist in Edmonton Providing Wisdom Teeth Removal
If your wisdom teeth are growing in, then it's advisable that you visit an Edmonton dentist. At Westmount Dental Centre our experienced dentists will perform an X-ray and an examination to determine if your teeth have a chance of becoming impacted or of causing you any other issues in the future. For wisdom teeth that do need to come out, we use local anesthetic to ensure that the procedure is as comfortable as possible.
Do you have any more questions or concerns about wisdom teeth removal? Don't hesitate to contact Westmount Dental Centre today.
