Wisdom tooth extraction is usually the standard treatment when one of the third set of molars develops a problem. Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to emerge, and that leaves them vulnerable to a number of problems.
For starters, their position at the back of the mouth makes them harder to clean, increasing their risk of decay. Secondly, since wisdom teeth are the last to erupt, there is no guarantee there will be enough space for them on the jaw. This leads to problems like overcrowding and impacted teeth.
Wisdom teeth are a relic from a time when humans were mostly herbivores. They are no longer essential for functions like chewing or speaking, so losing one or more does not harm one's dental health.
Here are some signs that you might need to have one or more of your wisdom teeth removed:
At times, a wisdom tooth develops issues that affect a person's airways, leading to pain, congestion and sinus pressure. Dentists typically recommend wisdom tooth removal when a person develops such issues.
Wisdom teeth sometimes have a hard time breaking through the jaw, and they sometimes grow into other teeth. This can lead to bite problems and damage being done to surrounding teeth. This condition is called an impacted tooth, and it also increases a person's risk of tooth decay.
A dentist will typically recommend wisdom tooth extraction when a patient has an impacted tooth.
As we mentioned earlier, wisdom teeth are more vulnerable to tooth decay due to their location on the jaw. When food particles are left on teeth surfaces for prolonged periods of time, bacteria feast on them and produce acids that damage enamel. These acids will eat away at a tooth, creating holes called cavities.
A cavity that is left untreated will expand until it compromises the pulp chamber – where the tooth's nerve and blood vessels are housed. At this point, the person will experience excruciating toothaches and the tooth might become infected.
Most dentists are not fans of performing restorations on wisdom teeth, so if a patient has a severely decayed tooth, an extraction is typically recommended. This option saves the patient money and prevents future issues from developing.
If there is not enough space on a person's jaw when wisdom teeth erupt, there is a good chance the tooth becomes impacted. It can also crowd other teeth, leading to them moving out of their proper alignment. If a dentist determines a patient's poor teeth alignment is being caused by a wisdom tooth, it is usually extracted as part of the patient's orthodontic treatment.
Having a wisdom tooth extracted is probably not your idea of a good time, but it can improve your oral health and prevent a variety of nasty oral ailments from getting worse. Anesthetics are used during the treatment so you will not feel much.
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