I have always been an avid hockey player, and my love took a bad turn one day when I got struck in the mouth with the puck. It was a painful moment that left me with two teeth knocked out of my mouth. Had I taken the right steps after the accident, I could have possibly saved the teeth, but I did not know I had that option at the time. Thankfully, I worked up the courage to visit a dentist and ask what my options for teeth-replacement were. I was worried I would would have to live the rest of my life without smiling, but I was ecstatic to learn that I was the perfect candidate for dental implants. I created this blog to help others realize that there are so many options to replace missing teeth today that no one has to "just live with" an imperfect smile!
Some people may have wisdom teeth that do not cause them any problems, not requiring them to be removed. Others may have one of several possible complications that lead to necessary wisdom tooth extraction surgery. Make sure to visit a dentist, such as Alaska Oral Surgery Center, immediately if you notice any of these 4 problems.
Impaction
Chances are that your wisdom teeth will not grow in completely straight like the rest of your teeth. Chances are that the teeth will actually be growing sideways or at an angle. This is most noticeable if you have wisdom teeth that only partially come out of your gums, but it can also happen where the tooth is completely underneath the gum line.
Partially exposed wisdom teeth can cause food to get trapped in the gum line, making it easier to develop gum disease. Wisdom teeth that are completely impacted can cause difficulty chewing, swelling, and pain.
Infection
An impacted wisdom tooth can also cause inflammation in your gums around the location of the tooth. The formal name of the condition is periocoronitis, and can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
It may cause your jaw to have muscle spasms, pain, swelling, or leaking fluid. Your wisdom tooth that is infected can also cause a cyst to form, which can cause major damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw.
Tooth Decay
Even if your wisdom teeth do come in, the placement of them in your mouth makes them more susceptible to tooth decay. This is because they are far back in your jaw, and it will be difficult to properly brush them.
If a cavity does form in your wisdom tooth, it is possible to fill it just like any other cavity in your mouth, but your dentist could have difficulties performing the procedure. Difficult-to-fill cavities can sometimes be a good reason for having the tooth removed, especially if there are multiple cavities in the same tooth.
Damage To Adjacent Teeth
Since wisdom teeth do not always grow in straight, there is a possibility that they will cause damage to the molars in your mouth. It can cause your jaw to become crowded, and slowly misalign the rest of the teeth in your mouth, ruining any previous orthodontic work.
Even if the teeth do come in straight, it will be more difficult to floss between your wisdom tooth and adjacent molar, allowing cavities and plaque to form.
By understanding these 4 problems caused by wisdom teeth, you can have them removed before they cause any significant damage.
Share6 January 2015
